I'm Jacquie and I live on the outskirts of the loop in Chicago, IL. I've been sewing all my life, but discovered quilting in 2008 and have been obsessively making quilts ever since. Chicago is my new home as of September 2011. I am a midwest girl and my blog name comes from the Tallgrass Prairie which is near my former Kansas home.
How do you make so many quilts?
I love to sew and I try to spend as much time during the day as possible sewing, designing, or thinking about sewing and designing. Despite the fact that I make many quilts, I'm not really a quick quilt kinda gal. I try to savor every stitch, every part of the process. If the quilt takes a day or two, great, a year or two, that works for me too.
Do you quilt your own quilts?
Yes and No. The best answer is that it depends on the quilt. Longarm quilters, Angela Walters, Sheryl Schleicher, Karen Kielmeyer and Anne Christopher have all quilted quilts for me. I highly recommend all four of these talented woman.
Where do you buy fabric?
Anywhere I can. Tammy, of Marmalade Fabrics sponsors this blog and she is my go to fabric supplier. Tammy has amazing customer service and wonderful taste. She carries so many fabrics that I love as well as great selection of solids and she has fair prices. My other go to online shop is Pink Chalk Fabrics. Like Tammy, Kathy has excellent service and a great variety to choose from.
So far locally, my favorite fabric shop is The Needle Shop in Bucktown. It's in a corner store in a great neighborhood. It's not large, but the fabric selection is exquisite. The fabric is beautifully displayed on rolls rather than bolts which is inspiring for me in a weird way. The focus is not specifically on quilting, but that doesn't bother me when I'm surrounded by beautiful fabric.
Where do you get the inspirations for your quilt designs?
I try and look to myself, my experiences, and my surroundings for inspiration. I love art and tend to spend as much time as I can in galleries and museums. I'm am teaching myself to "notice." I've found that I can go through a day with blinders on if I don't consciously think about what is around me. I find inspiration in shapes, lines, emotions, etc...all those things that surround me each day. It's important to take time to "notice."
Do you sell your work?
Sometimes. If you're interested in a quilt, please feel free to contact me. Most of the quilts that I don't use are donated to the BASICS program in New York City.
