Eileen Neill is my guest fibre artist this month. She's perhaps best known as "The Bead Lady", however, she's more of a gem and treasure to Vancouver Island fibrearts groups, quilters and beyond. Her workshops showcase her intricate projects and patience for teaching. I always enjoying having her as my "neighbor" when we're merchants at the various quilt shows. Geographically, we share Qualicum Beach, B.C. as our home base. Beading is a detailed art form and just one of her favorite art mediums, which she has been sharing and teaching for several years and is still having lots of fun. We can all learn a lot from her!

How would you describe your own style of QuiltArt?

I don’t know as I have a single style of QuiltArt. I do like to use many different processes and techniques to make my art pieces. I once had an art teacher who said to me, “You are a process junkie.” I’m not sure she meant that as a complement. She went on to say that, “If you don’t settle down and concentrate on one process you will never be good at anything.”  I didn’t take her advice and have continued to get excited about many new techniques and processes throughout my art career. I think this keeps my work looking fresh and interesting. Back to style: I like to work with abstract images and I like to incorporate a whimsical element in my art quilts.

What is your favorite workshop(s) to teach?

 My favorite workshop to teach has always been my beading workshop. I like to see how excited people become when they are able to make their designs sparkle with beaded accents.

 What are some of your favorite projects, which you’ve created?

 My favorite project is a tiny beaded landscape depicting a paradise garden. I used a computer board as the base of the garden and made trees, a pond and a stream all out of beads. It is a miniature wonderland. (below)

 Another favorite project is a butterfly quilt that I made some years ago. It is about 4 feet by 5 feet and depicts a carpet of Monarch butterflies who fell to the ground and died when their nesting forest in Mexico was logged.  I used raw edge reverse applique to form the butterfly wing patterns and then added many hundreds of black iridescent beads to make it sparkle like their wings. (below)

 Which instructors or workshops have most inspired you? (3-5)

 I have had many wonderful teachers and I owe so much to them for their inspiration and encouragement.

 BJ Adams set me on the road to experimentation with techniques and materials in a workshop that she taught in the early 90’s in London Ontario at Brescia College. She said “Think of a rule in quilting, sewing or embroidery and then break it.” She encouraged us to experiment with the variations that are possible when you stretch the rules and boundaries of your art.

 David Walker taught an inspirational workshop in reverse applique stitching and collage. He has greatly influenced my outlook on design, and colour.

 Below is a David Walker inspired piece.

 Jennifer Dixon was my drawing and painting teacher at the University of Ottawa, School of Art. She taught us to really see what we are drawing, not just take a cursory glance and then go our own way but to look with intent and reproduce what you see not what you think you should see.

 Judith Dingle was my first quilting instructor. I learned my basic quilting lessons from her at adult education classes she taught in Toronto. Judith is a fine quilter and has designed many unique and beautiful quilts. She has won many awards worldwide for her innovative quilts.

What other things inspire you to teach?

I love the interaction with people in my workshops. I love to see how my students take the techniques I teach and interpret them in their own individual ways. It is always so inspiring to see how others use what I have said and taught to make unique art of their own. I love to see people get excited about a new technique or a new way of seeing things and then incorporate these discoveries into their own art.

Whom is on your ‘instructor/quilter wish list’ to meet and why?

Jane Dunnewold is an inspiring surface designer who lives and teaches workshops in Texas. I have long admired her work and would love to take one of her surface design/screen printing workshops.

What would you like other quilters to know about you—besides being “THE Best Bead Lady”?

I do enjoy being the Bead Lady but I think it is time for me to branch out. To that end I have purchased thermo-fax machine that makes silk screens. These screens are easy to use to print your own design on your fabrics. I will make silk screens for anyone for a reasonable price and show you how to print your fabrics to make them truly individual and unique. You can send your pictures or designs to me by e-mail and I will quickly send back the silk screens all ready to use.

What determines your Thread choices in your projects?

My thread choices are determined by the needs of the project that I am working on. For a beaded piece I need a strong thread that has a nice hand and doesn’t tangle easily. I have found that Coats Dual Duty Hand Quilting thread works well for this application.

 For top stitching quilts I love the variegated threads that Cindy’s Threadworks sells. I am continually astonished by the wonderful variety and colour combinations that are available from her shop. I know I have a lot to learn from Cindy about threads.

*For custom made silk screens and workshop information contact:  eileenneill@shaw.ca

  Cinderella

Cindy Scraba (CindysThreadworks.Com)

*All photos are copyright© and shared by permission from Eileen Neill

• Please click below (Focus on Quilters/FibreArtists) for past profiles in this guest series.

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