An Interview with Christina Belding

Have you ever met a person that just exudes charisma?   You love being around them as they are so passionate about something they adore?   I had the good fortune of meeting such a person in Halifax at Quilt Canada 2012.   Her name is Christina Belding, a CQA/ACC member living in Nova Scotia. 

Tell us a little about yourself.

  I consider myself to be an independent, creative, free spirited, and active world   traveller, with a strong sense of order and organization.

I have been working for Air Canada as a Lead Station Attendant since 1987. I marshall the aircraft on the ramp and load and off-load airplanes.

A collage based on the portrait above.

My hobbies are scuba diving, fitness, yoga, movies, reading, cooking and baking. Quilting was an unexpected activity that has tapped into my creative nature. It is now a passion and an identifier of who I am, where I've been, inspiring me on where I like to go creatively-future fabric expression!

How did you start quilting?

I took a class in the fall of 2009 to make Christmas stockings, rented a machine, discovered it was fun and it seemed easy. For Christmas that year I received a sewing machine. I started making pajamas and bags.  I still make and design my own clothes and bags when I am inspired. I like creating things with fabric; quilts are just one of the things I like to do.

I belong to the Mariners QG in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Mahone Bay QG.

I am inspired by colour; I flirt around with art, traditional, and modern quilting. I create my own designs, depending on what grabs me.

Christina's first foundation pieced quilt called 'Lady Liberty Goes to Hawaii'

You have some exciting news about a recent quilt?

My quilt 'Jeweled Diamonds' has been a home run for me. It was juried into the NJS 2013, AQS Paducah 2013 and now juried and selected as the Signature Quilt for the Houston International Quilt Festival 2013! It is on the promo materials, tote bags etc. After Houston it will travel as part of an exhibit called 'In American Tradition 2013'. I am beyond thrilled and still can't wrap my head around it.

Christina in front of 'Jeweled Diamonds' wearing a skirt she made.

I was inspired by Kaffe Fassett's 'Bordered Diamonds' quilt pattern. I began collecting Kaffe Fassett  fabric, as well as metallic fabrics. If it's shiny, I am smiling. 

My idea was to make a large 100" by 110" king size quilt.  I wanted it to look like stained glass, luminous, which is why I sashed each diamond with a metallic fabric. Each block is unique and does not repeat in the quilt. There are 70 + fabrics and 30+ sashing fabrics.

I used wool batting which is why you really notice the overall quilting pattern. It was machine quilted locally. I am currently using the scraps from this quilt on an ambitious foundation pieced project.

Original Collages titled 'Mermaiden' and 'King Neptune' inspired by Susan Carlson

I like to quilt fabric then make jackets from it. I choose my own fabrics and avoid safe choices. I follow what works for me, my vision of the project and what makes me smile.

Do you hand or machine quilt?

I have no interest in hand quilting. I like to quilt my own work if it small enough for my home machine - a Janome Horizon 7700. I would love a larger machine to be able to quilt all my work.

I try to complete one project at a time and don't have any UFO's. I am goal orientated and have a running list of future projects. Winning the 649 would allow me the time and money to make things happen sooner than later in that department!

'Glitz' made entirely of metallic fabrics and quilted with metallic thread by Donna Hazelton.

 What is your favourite food?

Pizza is my all time favourite ..Montreal pizza and bagels ..hands down! I keep M&M almonds and peanut butter pretzels by my machine so I can snack and sew without getting my hands dirty.

Thanks so much Christina for giving us a glimpse into your life.   We look forward to seeing where quilting takes you!

Jackie W.