Meet an Amazing Quilter - Krista Hennebury

CQA/ACC is so excited that we got to chat a little with the talented Krista Hennebury about her quilting, her book... and keep reading there is a little surprise at the end!

Cutting Garden

Krista Hennebury is a geologist by training and quilter by choice. She's been quilting for 15 years from her small home studio near Vancouver, B.C.  Passionate about sharing her love of quilting with others and growing community through stitching together, Krista began a successful day-retreat business over 11 years ago. She teaches both locally and internationally.  Krista enjoys making traditionally-informed modern quilts using designer prints, solids, linen and retired clothing.  She enjoys sharing the world of modern quilting with traditional quilters, reassuring them that the art of quilting is in good hands for the future. Her patterns have been published in Stitch, Australian Homespun, Quilters Connection, Simply Moderne and Quilt Now magazines and most recently, her "Blackbird Fly" quilt won a first place ribbon at QuiltCon 2015. Her book of retreat-inspired projects Make It, Take It was published by Martingale in 2015 and she’s twice been a guest on American Patchwork & Quilting Podcast with Pat Sloan. 

When do you find time to quilt? 

I try to find time to sew, write blog posts, design patterns, edit photos or just play with fabric daily. I get the most concentrated sewing done at my day retreats, or while away from home at the several weekend retreats I enjoy every year.  With one very busy teenager still at home, my days are pretty chopped up with mom-duties, yoga and walking. There's nothing like a retreat for focus!

I'm a member and active volunteer of the Lions Gate Quilter's Guild, the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild and CQA/ACC.

Light of May

Tell us about the book that is published. 

I've been quilting for about 15 years and running quilting retreats and teaching workshops for over 10 years. Since 2009, I've written over 700 blogposts on Poppyprint. I'm constantly flooded with ideas and tend to jump around from project to project. The book was a way for me to gain some control over my creative time and create an actual job for myself.  I knew that I wanted to produce a book that people would find useful and inspiring, with beautiful projects designed by talented people.  Since retreating is something I know a lot about, I felt it was a solid theme for me to work on.  

003

Make It, Take It is like a virtual retreat with my blogging friends from around the world; we've created gorgeous and useful projects to help get quilters to retreat with their equipment and supplies, as well as a number of projects to make while you are on retreat with friends (or at home in your sewing room).  The book includes lovely, amusing and heartfelt retreat stories from all of the 11 contributors. I really wanted the book to feel friendly and have great photography.  For the first time, my publisher shot a book 'on location' at a sewing lounge instead of in a photography studio. I think Martingale really came through for me and I'm thrilled with the results!

Ice Road

What are you up to now? 

I'm enjoying teaching my Structural Improv workshop to traditional and modern quilters alike. In September, I'm once again teaching on an Alaskan cruise - we'll be working on my Cutting Garden quilt pattern using Sizzix cutting systems to help us get through our scraps.  The Mahone Bay Quilter's Guild has invited me to be their Exceptional Quilter in April 2017; I'm thrilled to head to Nova Scotia to teach!  I'm still designing for magazines, working on publishing a group of patterns to be available sometime this summer as .pdf downloads and finalizing an e-book Retreat Manual for people interested in starting their own retreat business. 

I love supporting guild activities and am excited to be a part of the Lions Gate Quilter's Guild bi-annual show June 10-11 where I run the boutique. Look for me white glove hosting at the NJS, too! My final big volunteer commitment for summer is coordinating the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild's first modern quilt showcase here in North Vancouver, August 27-28.

Lastly, what is your favourite food?

Fish tacos

QR Code (try it, it really works!)

What a thrill to have a little chat with the super talented Krista!

Here is the big news! Krista will be at Quilt Canada 2016 in the Fabric Spark  booth #209 and  is signing books at noon on Friday. Drop by and say hi!