Issue 33 – New Mexico
Issue 33 | New Mexico
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One look through this issue, and it’s easy to understand why New Mexico is called The Land of Enchantment. The state’s breathtaking views, rich history, and, of course, the stunning quilts and their talented creators are sure to leave you captivated. Though it’s often portrayed as an arid desert, New Mexico boasts some of the most diverse landscapes in the US, with everything from expansive, red-hued deserts and lush grasslands to mesas and towering, snow-capped mountains. The landscapes of New Mexico feel almost otherworldly.
And speaking of the otherworldly, New Mexico is also home to one of the most famous conspiracy theories—the Roswell incident. In 1947, a United States Army Air Forces balloon allegedly crashed near Roswell, sparking rumors of a downed extraterrestrial spacecraft. (There’s a joke in here somewhere: while aliens might “Come in Peace,” quilters “Come to Piece.” Okay, maybe that one needs a little more time on the design wall.)
Over the years, the Roswell story has grown into a mix of mythology and mystery, analyzed by everyone from social anthropologists to skeptics. As you know, we at Quiltfolk love a good tale, and this issue is full of them. We may not have any extraterrestrial sightings to report, but we think you’ll agree—New Mexico’s quilters are out of this world.
Writers: Mel Burke, Meg Cox, Frances O’Roark Dowell, Courtney Mabeus-Brown, Kestrel Michaud, Diane L. Murtha, Sharbreon Plummer, Carmen Schell, and Teresa Duryea Wong
Photographer: Azuree Holloway
Photo Stylist & Videographer: Trevor Holloway
Guest Photographer: Cate Dingley
Previews From Issue 33
Blair Stocker
When she made the transition from fashion designer to quiltmaker, Blair Stocker found that repurposing fabrics gave her quilts extra layers of memories and meaning. A recent transplant, this popular teacher and designer loves making colorful quilts in New Mexico’s high country, and while she no longer works in fashion, she still sees it as a source of inspiration for her art.
Carol Wilson Spigner
Carol Spigner’s quilting journey is rooted in childhood memories and a lifelong love of fabric, which was reignited when she turned a piece of indigo cotton from Nigeria into her first quilt. Over time, her passion for quiltmaking evolved, fueled by her love of African fabrics and the sense of community she found through the African American Quilters’ Gathering. Now living in New Mexico, Carol reflects on her creative journey, seeking peace and self-expression through quilting while embracing the limitless possibilities of the craft.
Debbie Schulze
Having sewn 800 quilts over the last 12 years, it’s safe to say Debbie Schulze is prolific. She discovered her passion by making a set of placemats with a friend, but from there, it didn’t take long to upgrade her domestic machine to a longarm. Four longarms later, Debbie now balances her quilting career with part-time work at a local quilt store and a gallery co-op. From wall hangings to king size quilts, anything goes. For Debbie, her joy comes from the simple process of creation.
Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead’s career in engineering laid the foundation for a pivot into the precise and calculated world of pattern design. Inspired by the beauty of the world around her, especially landscapes, she often incorporates vignettes of her travels into colorful pieces via her business, Windmill Quilts.
The Fab Five
The Fab Five are Betty Busby, Nicole Dunn, Gail Garber, Michelle Jackson, and Judith Roderick. These five incredibly talented and intriguing art quilters from New Mexico are a powerhouse. One article is hardly enough space to capture their commonality and uniqueness. Find out who is the whimsical one, the fashion designer, and native to New Mexico—which ones paint on silk and which use embellishments, buttons, and “pointy dudes.” One is a longarm quilter, and one even started out as a ceramic tile designer.
George Mendoza
After going blind at age 15, George Mendoza began having visions of fiery suns and colorful pinwheels, which pushed him toward a life of painting. Images from his work now grace FreeSpirit fabrics and countless quilts across the country.
Georgia Cortez
Georgia Cortez danced around quilting for a long time before she decided to make one…and didn’t enjoy the process. But then, she found the delight of improv quilting and also found meaning in injecting her own self and culture into her quilts. Now, she loves the process and makes quilts that represent her life and her faith.
Navajo Quilt Project
The Navajo Quilt Project bridges the gap for Navajo Nation residents who are passionate about sewing but lack access to essential supplies. With donations pouring in from around the globe, volunteers like Roberta Roberts and co-founder Susan Hudson ensure that quilting tools and mentorship reach even the most remote corners of the 17.5-million-acre reservation.
Nicki Stewart
After leaving a career in costume design for TV shows and commercials, Nicki Stewart adopted Taos as her new home. The area’s respect for textiles, history of production, and fertile creative energy was the perfect place for her to nourish her artistic practice. Now, she finds herself returning to more playful techniques in addition to the ancestral research and emotional processing her art affords her.
Priscilla Bancroft
Priscilla Bancroft is an enrolled citizen of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and she is also part Pueblo. She grew up in Ohkay Owingeh, just north of Santa Fe, and she simply loves making Star quilts. She started quilting in 2019, and since then, it’s become an important part of her life, as well as that of her partner. The Star quilt pattern is especially precious to Priscilla because it is a beloved icon in Native American culture and a favorite quilt pattern to make and give away.
Susan Hudson
Receiving the nation’s highest award for folk and traditional arts was a bittersweet moment for Susan Hudson. On the one hand, she was honored to know that she, and her artistic output of story quilts, were being recognized in this way. But on the other hand, the award was coming from the very same government who inflicted the atrocities on the Navajo people that Susan depicts in her quilts.
Terrie Hancock Mangat
Terrie Hancock Mangat is a skilled artist who creates maximalist quilts that are filled with color, paint, embellishment, humor, and, most of all, a unique and unforgettable point of view. Her love affair with New Mexico began in the early 1990s when she bought property in Taos, and in 1999, she moved there for good. Being surrounded by such a rich Indigenous culture, not to mention the gorgeous landscapes, has been a priceless muse.
Western Wonders Quilt Show
Every state has a capital, but not every Capitol Building can boast having an art exhibit within its walls. New Mexico can, thanks to the Capitol Art Foundation, a nonprofit formed by the state legislature in 1991. Since then, the foundation has directed the Capitol Art Collection, a permanent exhibit of works by New Mexico artists that gets added to on an ongoing basis. In 2024, Betty Busby and the New Mexico Region of Studio Art Quilt Associates were invited to contribute their works to the collection, in an exhibit entitled Western Wonders.
You Might Win a Quilt at the Balloon Fiesta
Making a raffle quilt is a common fundraising practice for quilt guilds. The New Mexico Quilters Association in Albuquerque has an unusual riff on that tradition. The biggest balloon event in the world happens every year in their city, so they always make a balloon-themed quilt featuring actual balloon designs. It helps that multiple guild members are balloon pilots themselves.
Look for the following articles on the Quiltfolk Journal!
Josie Valdez
Josie Valdez was a reluctant quilter, until she discovered how to use her craft to help others. Now, she donates quilts to hospitals, young mothers, and veterans while also maintaining a small longarm services business.
Available in the Journal on January 7.
Vicki Conley
Vicki Conley’s artistry celebrates the natural world, transitioning from the functional beauty of pottery to the boundless creativity of art quilting. Known for her vibrant national parks poster quilts, she combines abstraction, bold color, and innovative techniques to craft pieces that inspire appreciation for public lands. Her work invites viewers to reflect on the importance of preserving these spaces for generations to come.
Available in the Journal on January 7.
Bobbi Lucero
Barbara “Bobbi” Lucero is on a journey to incorporate her Native American heritage into her work. The owner of Edge Water Quilting in Albuquerque and a paralegal by day, she grew up sewing but largely set her machines away until the death of her son in 2009. Quilting provided an outlet for her to channel her grief, and she loves the calm and creativity that quilting brings her. The creativity lit a spark in her husband, Johnny von Hollen, who was inspired by his wife, and now, the two share a bond in quilting, though each has their own unique style.
Available in the Journal on January 7.
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