Issue 32 – Washington
Issue 32 | Washington
Ships October 12
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Washington is not just a place—it’s an experience. Defined by its vibrant culture, diverse communities, and spirit of innovation and adventure, it combines urban sophistication with rural charm, where bustling cities like Seattle, Spokane, and Bellevue intersect with quaint towns such as Leavenworth, Winthrop, and Port Townsend. Seattle, the state’s largest city, is famous not only for its iconic Space Needle and music scene but also for its thriving arts culture, with numerous theaters, galleries, and venues scattered throughout the city.
Drenched in natural beauty, Washington is also a state that values its outdoor lifestyle. The accessibility of its mountains, rivers, and forests provides countless opportunities for hiking, skiing, kayaking, and more and has cultivated a strong environmental consciousness among its residents. Many Washingtonians are passionate about sustainability and protecting the natural wonders that make their home unique. The state is also a leader in innovation and technology, thanks to the presence of major corporations like Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing, along with a thriving startup ecosystem.
Washington’s culture is a unique blend of the old and the new, the natural and the technological, the rural and the urban. Across the state, quilting circles, guilds, and shops contribute to a deeply rooted tradition of craftsmanship and ingenuity, creating works that are as varied as Washington itself. Whether it’s in a cozy quilting studio or a cutting-edge startup, the spirit of creativity and community is alive and well in this corner of the Pacific Northwest.
Writers: Rebecca Bratburd, Mel Burke, Meg Cox, Teresa Duryea Wong, Diane L. Murtha, Frances O’Roark Dowell and Sharbreon Plummer.
Photographer: Azuree Holloway
Photo Stylist: Trevor Holloway
Previews From Issue 32
The 1876 Centennial Quilt Project
When quilt historian Karen B. Alexander saw a photo of the extraordinary 1876 Centennial Quilt on Facebook, she set out to find the quilt’s owner, in the hope that her group of quilting friends on Lopez Island might make replica 1876 quilts of their own. Barbara Menasian agreed to share her quilt with the group, and Anne Dawson set out to draft the complex pattern. Two and a half years later, 23 replica quilts, in a wide variety of styles, were completed, and The 1876 Centennial Quilt Project exhibit premiered at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.
Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry
“I share my cheap tricks, so you can share your magic” is something Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry used to say to her students during her 30-year career as a quilting teacher. While that favorite phrase is sweet, in reality, what Caryl taught were highly sophisticated techniques, and many quilters today remember her as a generous teacher and an incredibly talented artist. An art quilter with an unforgettable aesthetic, she helped pave the way for machine-made art quilts to take their place at the quilting table and has spent over 50 years creating and exhibiting her work.
Charisma Horton
Charisma Horton has deep roots in Washington, but she explained, “I’m a homebody. I enjoy working on the homestead, cooking, baking, and spending time with the animals.” Yet she is the quilter version of the Energizer Bunny. This powerhouse quilter has accomplished a mega amount in a relatively short time, including 500 published quilt patterns and three fabric lines. An incredibly talented fiber artist and savvy entrepreneur, Charisma is doing it all.
Colette Keith
From her home on the cliffs of Puget Sound in Tulalip, Colette Keith spends her workday as a teacher and administrator at a local college. She is a quiltmaker, but you’d never know because there are no quilts in her home — she’s given them all away as is the custom in her Native American Lakota culture.
David Owen Hastings
Known for his abstract and modern art, David Owen Hastings layers textures and machine stitches into his quilts and stitched paper artwork. Working within a limited color palette, he explores texture, pattern, and variations on a theme. With his hat hung up on his four-decade graphic design career, he’s free to teach his modern quilting techniques near and far from his home in Sequim. As a self-described personal cheerleader for quilters, he finds it exciting to teach and encourage others and to see what new art comes out of his workshops.
Ella Mae Franco
Ella Mae Franco learned to make Star quilts when her 13-year-old sister, Meredith Kay, died in the genocide known as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Her mother, Eleanor Marie Denny James, taught her the art of quiltmaking, a tradition she carries on from her Isanti Sioux Nation roots. She lives with her daughter, Grace Franco, in the Bothell and Mill Creek area (about 20 miles north of Seattle), where they continue to design, make, and sell Star quilts.
Emilee Shield
Emilee Shield’s passion for creativity has led her to try her hand at a myriad of different mediums, the most recent of which is quilting. When this avid cosplayer’s love of American Girl dolls resurfaced during COVID-19, she found herself embarking on a journey to recreate the Addy Walker doll’s iconic quilt. This would also lead her to discover her family’s own quilt history—turns out, Emilee is a fifth generation quilter!
Harold and Pam Turpin
Always a collector, Pam Turpin began bringing folk art pieces home from craft shows in the late 1980s. Inspired, her husband, Harold Turpin, decided to try his hand at crafting. His quilt-decorated folk houses are hot sellers online, and they fit right in at home they share, where they’re surrounded by Pam and Harold’s collection of nearly 200 quilts.
The Hartsfield African American Slave Quilts’ Last Caretaker
An 1850s Checkerboard quilt made by young girl when she was 13 years old, plus 11 other quilts made by her and her descendants, has been preserved and protected by one family through many generations. The quilts are part of the Hartsfield African American Slave Quilts Collection and are currently in the care of Seattle resident Jim Tharpe, who calls himself their last caretaker. These extremely rare quilts have been exhibited many times, most recently at the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson.
Mathew Boudreaux
Mathew Boudreaux, aka Mx Domestic, is on a journey of self-rediscovery and authenticity. Though they had to hide their love of fabric and sewing as a child—since it was considered a gendered activity—they have long considered creativity to be central to their life. Now an avid quilter, brand collaborator, fabric designer, and more, Mathew is on a mission to create meaningful change in the quilt industry, especially for those who feel they fall outside quilting’s perceived demographic.
Pacific Northwest African American Quilters
Quilt guilds are easy to find from coast to coast, but the sisterhood that Pacific Northwest African American Quilters (PNWAAQ) represents is unique. With an active roster of 21 quilters and dozens of others who keep in touch, PNWAAQ’s focus for the past quarter century has been on getting African American quilts into the community as a means of amplifying a cultural tradition.
Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum
Under the leadership of Amy Green, the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum experienced a transformation, in which she navigated a complex identity shift from historic mansion to vibrant cultural hub. Confronting the museum’s dual role, Amy made quilts the museum’s priority, and modernized operations to attract broader support and engagement. As Amy passes the torch to Carla Funk, the museum enters a new chapter poised for growth and community enrichment, blending tradition with innovative programming in the picturesque town of La Conner.
Patricia Belyea
A dream vacation to Japan was just the tip of the iceberg for Patricia Belyea. She went on to take many more trips there and to launch a business to import a little known Japanese cotton—one intended to be used for making a type of summer kimono known as a yukata. Okan Arts has gone on to inspire countless American quilters to explore this exotic cotton fabric that is made in a 14-inch width.
Scott Hansen
Scott Hansen calls himself The Mad Color Scientist, and there’s no doubt that he’s mad about color. His “urban folk” aesthetic is rooted in his desire to cram as much color into a quilt as he can—as well as a habit of using even the tiniest scraps of fabric.
Tabitha Lustig
Patients at the Lustig Health and Wellness Center have called the family practice clinic “cozy,” “welcoming,” and “homey.” They’ve also dubbed one of the exam rooms “the Pineapple Room.” And it is all thanks to Tabitha Lustig’s second-most passion in life — quilting.
Look for the following articles—plus more stories to come—on the Quiltfolk Journal!
Allie Aller
From her studio in Washougal, WA, Allie Aller spends hours each day immersed in quilting. Though her style has traversed many phases, and she’s tried her hand as an array of techniques, for the past 14 years crazy quilts have been her main passion. Her evolution from traditional techniques to the spontaneous artistry of crazy quilting reflects a life driven by creativity, connection, and a profound love for fabric and flora.
Available in the Journal: October 9
Brenetta Ward
Brenetta Ward began quilting as a child, when she attended quilting bees with her Aunt Alma in rural Illinois. Her quilting style is grounded in southern tradition, but incorporates cultural textiles, vintage photos, and embellishments. Above all, Brenetta’s quilts seek to tell stories of history and heritage through her art.
Available in the Journal: October 9
Robin Long
In the scenic high desert of East Washington, Robin Ruth Long showcases her vibrant Mariner’s Compass quilts, which she began crafting with a unique ruler she developed in the early ’90s. Her recent open house event drew locals to admire over 70 of her intricate quilts, marking a milestone since she founded her business in 2015. Robin’s passion for quilting, inspired by her family and travels, continues to thrive as she creates new patterns and engages with the quilting community both locally and online.
Coming soon to the Journal!
Taylor Krz
Seattle-based quilter Taylor Krz pours her heart and soul into her quilting business, Toad and Sew. What started out as a way to pass the time during the COVID-19 lockdown has transformed into a community larger than herself. In 2022, she started Toad Circle, an exclusive online club where Taylor leads sewalongs and shares her knowledge and artistic instincts on color theory.
Coming soon to the Journal!
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