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Nancy Halvorsen
Background:
I have been interested in creating, drawing and sewing since I was a little girl. I made dolls and doll furniture by hand before I was old enough to use a sewing machine. My mother did some quilting with her friends when I was young, and I remember playing under the quilt frame while she quilted. As I got older I experimented with all sorts of creative outlets including sewing, drawing, woodcrafts and even pottery and stained glass. I also became very interested in interior design. Several years ago I started an interior design business. In reality, it was just another outlet for my artistic yearnings with the added bonus of it being a business.
A friend who was teaching a class on hand piecing and hand quilting introduced me to quilting. I was comfortable working with fabric because I had done a lot of sewing in the past, but that was my first experience putting together different fabrics to make up a wall hanging.
Getting Started:
It didn't take long before I was having fun designing my own quilts. I am drawn to art quilts because I enjoy putting together my love for all sorts of artistic expression into tham. When I first started designing quilts, I was just making them for myself, but when so many people asked me where the designs had come from I decided to try publishing a few pattern packets. I felt comfortable self-publishing my patterns as I worked for a printer all through high school and college, until I was married. I originally took four pattern packets to my local quilt shops. They were all very enthusiastic and encouraged me to continue designing and to attend Quilt Market. That's when things really took off! I've been in business since the spring of 1992 and have loved every minute of it.
My Inspiration:
I get my inspiration for my designs absolutely everywhere. Often times it will be something that is totally unrelated to quilting that will spark an idea. But mostly, I love putting together different colors, prints and textures, the unexpected results of the fabric combinations is of unending fascination to me.
My Day:
I have four children; three of whom still live at home. My only daughter, Marin, is twelve, Hayden is fifteen, Ethan is eighteen and Trent is 20. If I could start the day my way, I would jump out of bed at the crack of noon. (I'm not a morning person!) Instead, I get up at 6:00 am to help the kids get off to school. I make breakfasts, lunches and check that last night's homework gets into the backpacks. I usually spend the first part of my day in the office answering Email and checking what needs my attention. It took me four years to realize that I couldn't do everything myself. I now have two employees who come in to take care of getting orders out, keeping track of accounts and trying to keep things running smoothly.
My workspace consists of two rooms in the basement. One room is fitted out as my sewing and creating room. I have a big cutting table in the middle of the room. There is an area with my sewing machine. The room has two large windows for lots of natural light. Two big double closets are packed full of fabric. All my fabric is sorted according to color and stacked on shelves. When I am working on a project I pull out whatever catches my eye. The result is creative chaos. When I've completed my projects, I fold the fabric up and put it away to wait for another day. The other room is used for packaging and shipping.
I work in the basement until my kids get home and then do the Mom thing. If I have a lot to do I will keep on working, but I try to be there for my family. In keeping with my nocturnal body clock, some of my most productive hours are between 10 pm and 3 am. It's a perfect block of uninterrupted time.
Because my children and family are my priority right now, I do not currently teach or speak at seminars. Kids grow up too fast, and there will be plenty of opportunities for that later on.
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