Hi I’m Pat Sloan the Aurifil Designer of the Month coordinator.
February’s Designer of the month is the very talented Marie-Claude Picon-Iperti. I was delighted to meet her at the trade show in October, Marie-Claude lives in Milan Italy and often travels to her home in France. She works in a folk art style and is incredibly talented! She teaches and vends at the quilt shows in Europe, now I have another reason to visit!
EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize! Winners are all contacted via Flickr email and posted at our Flickr page in the winner topics.
You can make ANY of the 2013 blocks to be in the running (and we hope you make them all!). Share your photos at our Flickr Folder… we can’t WAIT to see what you do!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/2013aurifildom/
Let’s Meet Marie-Claude!
When was your FIRST quilt sighting? Did it inspire you to start quilting?
While I was studying at art school a women came to our painting class with a small white cushion in Boutis. It was beautiful and I loved it. I discovered that she taught Patchwork at her home and immediately decided to take lessons.
My company “Les Secrets de Marie” was born 7 years ago. I have been quilting for 20 years and meeting Judie Rothermel, while I was visiting the United States about 15 years ago, has been a turning point for my quilting style. A second trip to Ohio opened me up to the country style, wool work in quilts, rughooking and punchneedle. My quilts are embellished with appliqué pieces and embroideries… to put it in a nutshell, my “French Country Style” which has become my personal quilting style. A few months ago, I started up an emag (downloadable magazine) available in French and English under the name of “Les Secrets De Marie”
Do you still have your first project you ever made?
Yes I do. It was a log cabin quilt with a trapunto centre which I designed myself 2 months after starting my patchwork classes. I won 1st price at an exhibition which took place in the South of France.
When you go to a quilt show, what types of quilts are you drawn to?
Mostly traditional quilts with reproduction fabrics. I love the colors quilters used in their antic quilts, the browns, pinks and blues. I also love hand pieced and miniature quilts, and Country and primitive style quilts. I love using wool in my quilts.
“Wool is the best Brilliant colors that never fade and so nice to work with.” Dixit an Amish professional designer.
We all have parts of the process we ‘prefer’ more than others. What part of quilt making do you ‘Prefer’ most and why? And which the least.. and why?
Most of all I love choosing the fabrics and while I’m doing this I picture the new quilt in my head. I can spend up to one whole day choosing the right fabrics for a new project as if I was playing with a painter’s palette.
What I don’t like is cutting up all these beautiful fabrics I have chosen!
Did you have a career prior to making art, and what was it? Do you still do that career while having your design business?
I studied law at university and at a business school and later studied politics.
After that I worked in a bank as a trader, I was good at my job but didn’t really enjoy it. I then left to follow my husband to the North of France for his work.
When you want to ‘recharge your batteries’ what do you do, where do you do this?
All the time I need to recharge my batteries and to let off steam!!! I’ve found an excellent way of doing this… singing and dancing!!!
As I now live in Milan, Italy, I love going back to my house on the French Riviera, There I can really relax and enjoy special moments with my 2 sons. I also try to take time to cook which I love doing.
Do you have a tip or trick to make your quilt making easier?
I don’t like cutting up beautiful fabrics and sometime spend up to 2 whole days cutting all the small pieces, but after that it’s just wonderful piecing them all back together to make the quilt
What are your 3 favorite colors of Aurifil thread?
There are so many but when it comes to threads I love working with Lana Wool Threads and feeling the texture which is so different from cotton.
8951 (green), 8920 (yellow), 8460 (red)
Do you travel to teach?
Yes, I have travelled to Spain, Belgium and of course all around France. I have given many classes at shows, quilt shops and have also organized quite a few quilters retreats, one being in a castle in Burgundy , Château de Bessey, where we had so much fun.
What does your studio look like?
I am having a new studio built in my house in the south of france, but otherwise my studio is everywhere in my home… dining room, bedroom… when I can’t sleep I sew. You will find fabrics and threads everywhere !
If you could train with, or work with, or follow one person for a day.. who would it be and why?
One person ? That’s too difficult as there are so many.
Judie Rothermel for her expertise in antic quilts, Kathy Schmitz, Bonnie Sullivan, Maggie Bonanomi for the primitive styles… and many others.
But if you really want me to choose one person then I’ll choose you Pat! Our styles may be different but I’m sure we’d have a lot of laughs together! (awwww… smooches to you!)
What is the Rock and Roll Song that Inspired your Quilt Block (and it’s name)
« Heavy Cross » by Gossip. Just hearing the music gets me moving. And of course it was the music which was used in the video clip for the perfume ”J’adore” by Dior filmed at Chateau Versailles… So Very French !!! CLICK HERE to listen and watch the video
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CLICK HERE to download the Heavy Cross pattern
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The Book you are currently reading – I really don’t have much time to read these days as I seem to be working day and night but I sometimes like to pick up an economy or marketing magazine.
Your Favorite Movie – Frankie and Johnnie, starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer
The Song Stuck in your head – Satisfaction from The Rolling Stones
Do you like to Dance? – Oh yes, I’m always dancing when I’m not quilting
The Color you have always LOVED…..Pink
Visit Marie-Claude!
www.lessecretsdemarie.com
http://lessecretsdemarie.blogspot.it/
http://emag.lessecretsdemarie.com/en/
https://www.facebook.com/marieclaude.iperti?ref=tn_tnmn
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Here is my block using my “Eat Your Fruits n’ Veggies” fabric!
CLICK HERE to read my blog post. I show you some step by step photos.
And Both My blocks!
and I hope you join me, Pat Sloan, at my facebook FUN PAGE
http://www.facebook.com/PatSloanQuiltFun
And read my daily blog http://blog.patsloan.com
Sign up for my Newsletter CLICK HERE
or join my quilt group! http://www.quiltmashup.com
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CLICK HERE to get the January Pattern
Looking for Aurifil? CLICK HERE to our shop finder!
We also would love you to ask your local quilt shop to carry our thread if they do not do so already. If they do carry our thread, yippee!
If your local shop carries our thread and is not on the shop finder list, write to me pat@patsloan.com and I’ll be sure they are added!
EACH MONTH we will pick one random winner that has made a block.. that person will receive a special Aurifil thread prize! Winners are all contacted via Flickr email and posted at our Flickr page in the winner topics.
You can make ANY of the 2013 blocks to be in the running (and we hope you make them all!). Share your photos at our Flickr Folder… we can’t WAIT to see what you do!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/2013aurifildom/
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j’aime beaucoup Marie et ce qu’elle fait ,j’habite dans le nord de la France et l’ai déja rencontré plusieurs fois ,elle est extraordinaire
Merci Jeannine, tu es trop gentille…Une petite pensée ce soir pour le ch’Nord
Marie-Claude, I LOVE your sense of design style! Bravo!
Thank you so much Susan!
What a fabulous giveaway a girl can never have to much thread and i would love the chance to win some aurifil thread Exciting !
The background is a 14″ x 9″ rectangle (square to 13½” x 8½” after appliqueing), the borders are 3½” wide, and the corner blocks are 3½” squares.*Update* – I assume prior applique knowledge for this pattern. I will post another appliqued mini quilt tutorial with more detailed instructions and pictures soon.If any one can tell me how to make a PDF that would be much appreciated! I would love to add some applique patterns to the Thread Head Quilt Along quilt, and I think it would be very useful for people wanting to print out patterns for the quilt along.
On se croise sur face, on ne se connait pas encore… mais j’ai entendu beaucoup parler de toi par une certaine Christina de Tournai (Ca te dit peut être quelque chose? 😉 ) Beaux projets comme toujours, et toujours pour rêver…. Bravo!!
Merci Sarah
It’s been a couple months coming, but I’m so happy to be able to show it to you now… A 12 spool box of 12wt Aurifil Cotton Mako threads for you to use with Splendor 1920 … and any other projects you might see fit. It’s awesome for both hand and machine stitching with a top stitch needle. I absolutely love this stuff, and I’m sure you will too.
Marie-Claude, thank you for such a great block! I am new to quilting, and this was the most challenging block I have ever done. I was fairly nervous to start it, but I went very slowly and was able to complete it! Unfortunately, I started with too scant of a 1/4″ seam, so the middle part of the block suffered a bit. Lesson learned there! Thank you, again. I really had a lot of fun with this one!
Dear Christine, I’m very happy you liked this block and hope you’ll make all the others . Send me a picture when your quilt will be finished.
Marie-Claude
I seldom drop comments, but i did a few searching and
wound up here February Designer of the Month is Marie-Claude Picon-Iperti | AURIbuzz.
And I actually do have some questions for you if you tend not
to mind. Is it only me or does it appear like some of these remarks appear like coming
from brain dead visitors? 😛 And, if you are posting
at additional online social sites, I would like to keep
up with anything new you have to post. Could you make a list of the complete urls of your shared sites like your twitter feed, Facebook
page or linkedin profile?