Hello… my name is Pamela Mostek, and I'm a quilt artist. To me that means I'm a quilter….and I'm also an artist.
My beginnings as an artist go back (way back!) to when I was just a child. My mother was an artist, and above all else she inspired me to see beauty everywhere… whether it was in the glory of a garden rose or the glitz of a rhinestone-beaded bag! She taught me that to be an artist is first to see beauty… then to create it.
And create it I've done over the years. My college degree is in art…but that was just the beginning. If it's used to make art, I've probably experimented with it….watercolor painting, oil painting, surface design, weaving, decorative furniture painting, oil pastels…..what else? I'm sure I've missed a few, but it's been a wonderful journey.
About 20 years ago, I began quilting. I loved handling the fabric…and those colors! I was instantly hooked. My quilts have always been about color, even from those early quilts. It all seemed to come together, and I set out making quilts. About eight years ago, I left my job as a high school English and art teacher, and took the big plunge into professional quilting.
I was thrilled to be hired by Debbie Mumm as an editorial and creative assistant. Imagine, having a real job doing the things I'd always loved to do! Amazing! After working for Debbie for several years, once again I set out to break new ground and started my own pattern design company, Making Lemonade Designs.
But that was just the start. I've authored six books in the quilting industry that have been published by Martingale & Co, designed fabric, and taught quilting through out the country. I've never worked as hard… or had as much fun doing it!
After about six years of designing and publishing more or less traditional quilt patterns….I find that more and more I'm pulled back to those early years studying and working as an artist. I guess I've come full circle… artist, quilter, and finally quilt artist! I still publish quilt designs to inspire and instruct other quilters, but my passion has become art quilts.
I approach my art quilts like a painting. I work in a collage style, cutting pieces and blending colors as I go. The results can be even more rewarding than painting because I have the advantage of texture and pattern…not just color. I'm unbelievably excited as I see the quilt develop. And once I'm satisfied with that phase, next comes the stitching… the absolute finishing touch. To see more about my collage process, click here.
So now you know a little about me as an artist… but do I have a life outside of quilting? Yes, absolutely. My husband Bob, of 37 years, and I live near Cheney, Washington where my studio overlooks the woods and my gardens. We have two lovely adult daughters (yes, they both do a little quilting) and four absolutely wonderful grandchildren. My life has always been about balancing my family and my art… but my family will always come first.
Thanks for taking the time to learn my story. I hope it inspires you, too, to work your passions. It makes for a wonderful life!
