Fiber artist Jeanne Sullivan can't remember a time when she wasn't enjoying a creative love affair with needle, thread, and hook. For Jeanne, the seeds of passion were "sewn" when she was a very young child, stitching small crossstitch motifs that her mother would draw for her on scraps of fabric. Growing up, she always had a project going—sewing her own clothes, embroidery, knitting, and crochet. Early in her teaching career, Jeanne became totally obsessed with making yo-yos—completing a 2,700-yo-yo quilt while sitting in stalled Long Island traffic on her way to work. Then a quilt exhibit ignited her interest, and she set about creating a design for a pillow, puzzling out a way to appliqué on her own without the benefit of books or instruction. The die was cast: That little project spurred an interest in appliqué that knows no bounds.
Raising a family along with the demands of serving as an elementary school principal left little time for playful meandering; however, now retired, Jeanne spends nearly every waking hour happily immersed in mountains of fabric, leaving a thread trail wherever she goes. While her first love remains appliqué, Jeanne also enjoys traditional rug hooking, spinning, and weaving.
Recognized for her beautiful appliqué designs and outstanding needle skills, Jeanne has been the recipient of Best of Show and Heirloom Quilter awards and has secured top honors for her appliqué in the international Northcott Quest for a Cure Challenge for three consecutive years. Her unique blend of traditional and dimensional appliqué along with Broderie Perse and embroidery embellishment gives her work distinctive appeal. Jeanne delights in teaching hand and machine appliqué using her simplified, success-oriented methods. She hopes that the fine art of appliqué will take up its proper place as an easy and enjoyable needleart technique. Jeanne's explicit instruction and straightforward techniques make this a realistic goal for anyone willing to give it a try.
Jeanne now calls Annapolis, Maryland, home. Visit the author's website, JeanneSullivanDesign.com
By this author:
Simply Successful Appliqué
