Textile Art - What do you do?

So lately, as I've been designing things for Fellowship of the Flowers, I've been thinking about "The Question." What question you ask? Well the question you only get asked as an adult. You see, when you are a child you get asked, "Hi, what's your name?" As an adult you get asked, "Hi, what do you do?"

Mister Finch

For many of us adults, the answer can change over time. For me it certainly did. The answers use to be: payroll clerk, bookkeeper, lead secretary, office manager, project manager and interior designer. Now, the answer is textile folk artist, author and instructor. Out of all my answers, this one is my favorite and the best fit to describe who I really am. It's also the one I will keep. I honestly can't imagine myself as anything else. I love to design, share and inspire others. It is my passion.

My art is in this issue

I've been a quilter since 1989, but in 2005, after making my gazillinth traditional quilt, I found textile art and artists. Then the whole mixed media thing came on the scene. Oh what fun! The colors, the textures the mixture of well...medias! Folk Art Fusion was inspired by all of this. It is my love of traditional quilts fused together with art quilts. It's all folk art as I'm not professionally trained. I don't have a degree or lots of letters behind my name. My art and designs simply come from my heart.

I'm inspired by music, nature, interior design and other textile artists. Recently on Pinterest, I discovered Mister Finch. Mister Finch is a male textile artist living in England. His work just reached out and grabbed me. Yes, the hares were what first caught my attention. How could they not?

Then, his bees. Glorious bumblebees!

Then these magical mushrooms!

Then there was the giant moth. Oh my!

It reminded me of the giant moth on my porch this summer. Magnificent!

Mister Finch recently had a feature article in Sweet Paul Magazine. You can read more HERE. I never heard of this magazine, but now I'm hooked!

It is people like Mister Finch who inspire me to create. It's also what fuels my passion to inspire you with my designs. I know you can do it and I truly love to show you how!

(Taping on Quilting Arts TV 1300 series)

Hello, my name is Michelle May. I'm a textile folk artist, author and instructor. I spend my days with bunnies, designing textile folk art, and inspiring others to create. I love my job. It's who I am and who I always wanted to be.

So, what do you do?

xx,
Michelle and the Bunnies