By Gail Scogin
A member since 2013, Diana Quinn currently serves as the ECQG Webmaster. This Webmaster role echoes a 40-year career in various IT-related fields, and, at first, involved considerable effort. Over time, it’s become a more manageable job, and Diana enjoys a true collaboration with the other website volunteers.
As a young girl, Diana lived in Colorado, sharing fond memories of “sewing” with her grandmother and aunt. From the tender age of five or six, she was handed an embroidery hoop, needle, and thread to keep her occupied while they worked on their own projects. These delightful memories are the backdrop to a lifelong love of all things related to fiber.
Although Diana had done other types of needlework, her quilting journey actually began in 2011, after she moved to a new home in Marietta. She unpacked her mother’s 40 year-old Kenmore sewing machine, intending to make new curtains—only to find that the machine’s clutch had failed, and there were no available parts to fix it. She ended up buying a small Brother sewing and embroidery machine from Ashby Sewing Center―and, inspired by her grandmother’s Sunbonnet Sue quilt, eventually embroidered a few Sunbonnet Sue and Sam designs onto fabric blocks.
Diana loves traditional quilts and is especially proud of two Wedding Ring quilts she made using Judy Niemeyer paper-pieced quilt patterns. One of these quilts commemorated the 50th wedding anniversary of her mother and father-in-law (below left); the other was a gift for her son’s wedding (below right). When asked if she had any stories about quilting disasters, Diana shared that, while not a disaster, “I noticed after quilting my son’s Wedding Ring quilt that there was an incorrect block. It was too late to fix it, but unless you knew the pattern and looked very hard, you’d never see the mistake.”
Perhaps due to her childhood memories, Diana still loves hand embroidery and embellishment work. More recently, she enjoys making Sue Spargo Block of the Month quilts. Diana is shown here with one that ribboned at Georgia Celebrates Quilts. The use of appliqué along with the detailed, elaborate stitching for each block is especially appealing.
For the quilting itself, Diana quilts exclusively by machine using an Innova Longarm. She also uses this Innova machine for computerized quilting in her longarm quilting business (Quilt Stickx). Typically, her preferred (but not sole) choice for batting is Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 because it has a bit of loft plus minimal shrinkage.
She tries to stay up-to-date on quilting trends, takes classes to learn new techniques, and recently returned from a trip to John C. Campbell Folk School. She’d like to further develop her custom-quilting skills, which she (as you can begin to appreciate) hasn’t yet had time to fully master.
Among her favorite aspects of guild membership, Diana prizes the benefits of interacting with fellow quilters as well as the inspiration and quilting knowledge she gains from other members. She’s developed a network of friends through quilting, which has launched her further into the world of fiber arts.
A self-described “fiber junky”, Diana now pursues a broad range of fiber techniques― knitting, crocheting, weaving, dyeing fabric, spinning yarn, felting (wet and needle), and making books. (After all, paper is made from fiber too.) With her expansive interest in the fiber arts, it’s fitting that she also serves as current president of the Southeast Fiber Arts Alliance (SEFAA), having just started a 2-year term. In fact, she’ll be teaching a beginner’s quilting class at SEFAA in June–July.
You might be surprised to know…
Growing up with a step-father who ran an auto body shop and also loved motorcycle racing, Diana formed a similar passion for cars and motorcycles. She actively participates in the national Mercedes-Benz Club of America as well as in the local Peachtree chapter.
Final Thoughts…
Diana’s advice for someone who is thinking about learning to quilt―“Be patient with yourself, and forgive yourself for not being perfect.”
A Quilter’s Story is an ongoing series of interviews with ECQG members. If you’d like to suggest a member for a future A Quilter’s Story, please email the Communications Committee.