It all began at a young age when my mother gave me a box of fabric scraps and taught me to use a sewing machine. From my first projects making little stuffies to remaking thrifted outfits in high school, I followed my passion and earned a BFA majoring in Fiber Arts. Working with fabric in the form of quilted wall hangings lets me approach large solid-colored forms and shapes in a simple way and is a nod to the long history of domestic quilt makers.
Education
• School of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, BFA in General Studio Arts
• School of Art and Design at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, BFA in Fiber Arts, recipient of the Rickert-Ziebold Trust Award for graduating seniors
Media
Textiles, fibers, sometimes alternative materials
Areas of Focus
Quilting, sewing with alternative materials, creative sewing machine techniques
Website
https://sewsitall.blogspot.com/
Exhibition Highlights
• 2023 Biennial juried exhibition, Evanston Art Center, Evanston IL
• 2023 QuiltCon juried exhibition of the Modern Quilt Guild, Atlanta GA
• 2022 QuiltCon juried exhibition of the Modern Quilt Guild, Phoenix AZ
• 2022 Midwest Modern group exhibition, Iowa Quilt Museum, Winterset IA
Other Interests and Aspirations
Midcentury modern art and design, vintage sewing machines, and color theory.
Erika's Teaching Style
She believes in teaching basic skills, techniques, and methods for working with materials in a way that still lets students’ individuality and creativity come through in their own way.
Erika loves the EAC because...
it is one organization that fosters continual learning of the arts while reaching out to the community and teaching folks the love for appreciating visual arts – what’s not to love!