This month, we're once again featuring a customer whose background and interest are in both quilting and crafting. We hope, as in past months, that you enjoy and are fascinated by each person's work. Come in and see a sample of their talent on display in our store.

The quilter/crafter selected for our February showcase is Katie Vaclavik. Katie is fantastic! She's not just an exceptionally talented artist, she's also an extremely kind and wonderful person.

 

1.  How did you get started in quilting/crafting?

I came to quilting through art.

In 1975, my husband, daughter, and I moved to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, where I worked as a nurse in the hospital. During that time, a traveling artist offered oil painting classes on the reservation. I took several classes and discovered I had a natural ability for painting.

After moving to Temecula, California, I returned to college and earned a BA in Art from UC Riverside. I opened an art studio, entered shows, won a few ribbons, and sold some of my work.

In 1986, following the death of my father, we moved to Three Rivers, California. Shortly after settling in, I visited a quilt shop in the town of Lindsay and signed up for every quilting class they offered. That experience marked the beginning of my quilting journey.

By the time we moved to Platteville, Wisconsin in 1991, I knew quilting was truly my medium. I quilted constantly and felt I had found my creative voice.

 

2.  What is one quilting/crafting notion that you can’t do without?

A good seam ripper — and patience.

I’ve spent weeks ripping out quilting that was nearly half finished because I didn’t step back and look carefully before starting. Quilting has taught me to slow down, pay attention to details, and not take myself too seriously. Mistakes are part of the process.

 
3.  If you’re willing, please share a funny quilting/crafting experience that taught you a memorable lesson.

More than once, I’ve quilted a large section only to realize something was off — orientation, balance, or detail — because I'd rushed ahead. While it wasn’t funny at the time, it taught me an important lesson: always step back and really look before quilting. It also reminded me that quilting should bring joy, not stress.

 

4.  If it’s possible to choose just one, what is your favorite quilt/project that you’ve made?

My favorite projects are the quilts that were accepted into the Paducah Quilt Show. Having my work displayed there and admired by so many quilters was incredibly encouraging.

Watching people respond positively to my quilts eased my fears, and the kindness of fellow quilters meant a great deal to me. The judges’ thoughtful comments and acknowledgment of my workmanship were affirming and helped me grow as an artist.

 

5.  What do you do with your quilts/crafts?

I’ve only made two quilts as gifts — it’s very hard for me to give my quilts away. Many are used as teaching samples when I lecture, with different quilts supporting different topics.

Others hang in my home alongside my paintings, and some are carefully stored for future use.

 

6.  Have you ever received a quilt as a gift? If so, please share a bit about the experience.

Yes, and receiving a quilt gave me a deeper appreciation for the time, care, and love that go into every stitch. It reinforced how personal and meaningful quilts can be, both to give and to receive.

 

7.  What type of quilting/crafting do you most enjoy?

I most enjoy art quilting and landscape work, especially raw-edge appliqué. I love texture, depth, and movement in quilts.

I’ve recently begun exploring 3D abstract art quilting and am enjoying developing a style that suits me. I prefer creative freedom over repetition.

I’m an artist at heart and have spent my life balancing creativity, teaching, and entrepreneurship. One of the most meaningful milestones in my career was having a one-woman art exhibition at the Roundtree Gallery in Platteville, which became a major community event with over 1,200 visitors. During the exhibition, I also presented a lecture on Quilts and the Underground Railroad, which was standing room only.

I was also invited to present a one-woman exhibition at a museum in Rockford, Illinois representing African American quilt artists. The exhibition was successful, my work was well received, and pieces were sold.

I have taught quilting and landscape techniques at quilt guilds throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, and served as a quilt instructor at the annual Sewing Expo presented by Southwest Wisconsin Technical College.

In addition, I completed an in-depth seminar on the quilt judging process, shadowed Klaudeen Hansen, and went on to judge independently. This was a great responsibility and an honor, deepening my respect for the craftsmanship and love invested in each quilt.

Beyond quilting, I transformed a former funeral home into a creative retail space, earning the Best Adaptive Reuse Project Award for the State of Wisconsin. I worked as a nurse for 22 years, owned four retail businesses, and have traveled extensively.

I met my husband 57 years ago while working as his nurse, and his encouragement has always supported my creative journey. I continue to quilt, paint, teach, and explore new creative directions.