Meet Christa Watson!

So do you remember back to the beginning of this year? I barely do.
One of my big goals this year was to bring new life into my blog. It is not easy because it is so much more work than Instagram!  But you can say so much more in a blog post!

I felt like I was kinda getting my groove back…. then Dad died.

So the last two months have been very weird for me. And my feelings were all over the charts.

And with everything ELSE also going on in the world right now, I am sure your feelings have been too!

All that to say, Here I am, dusting myself off and back at it…. and today, we have a guest!

I have met Christa on and off again at Quilt Market and a long time ago, when I was Community Editor at Generation Q Magazine, I  interviewed her as well. She has come a long way since those days!

Back then she was running her own online store and just starting to write patterns I think.
Now she teaches everywhere (well until this current plague-life smacked us all upside the head!) has written multiple books, and is now designing fabric.

She is super busy, but she was able to carve out some time to answer some of my normal and not so normal questions.

You have been quilting a long time now, how has the process changed for you? Do you like certain aspects better than you used to?

Yes, I’ve been quilting for over 25 years and teaching off and on for about 20 years. I’ve really grown to love machine quilting on a regular machine. When I started, it was out of necessity because I didn’t know there were other options. But now I really love taking ownership of the entire quilting process. The biggest change for me was embracing the modern quilt movement in 2013. My style of quilting is really carefree and unfussy – it’s all about the texture for me and that fits in so well with the modern aesthetic and attitude!

What are you longing to do next in your quilting career/life?

I would like to get a handle on all of the ideas that I have. It takes so much longer to physically do things than it does in my head, LOL!! I love the commercial work that I do (writing books, making quilts for patterns, etc), but I want more time to focus on play, and explore making really interesting quilts that don’t need to be patterned or promoted. I used to enter a lot of my quilts into shows and want to start focusing on that again in the next year, because these tend to be more unique, one of a kind quilts.

What do you like best about meeting other quilters?

That we all speak the same language!! I feed off their enthusiasm and love talking shop, whether it is figuring out how to solve a quilting dilemma with my students, or gabbing about the business side of things with other industry professionals.

Favorite Color? Least favorite Color? What Color has surprised you lately?

I actually really love the combination of black and white. Although my fabric lines mostly focus on bright saturated colors, I’ve been working in more black and whites and am currently working on future black and white line with just a pop of color. I haven’t really met a color I didn’t like, but it’s all about what you put with with them that makes them pop! Purple has been surprising me lately. I didn’t really think I liked it but I’ve been drawn to a saturated plum that can almost work as a neutral.

Favorite Movie or TV show?

I love to binge watch older series on Netflix. Right now we are re-watching Parks & Rec with the kids (after watching The Office until Steve Carell left – then it just went downhill!) I love anything that will make me laugh. We also just finished watching ALL the Avengers movies with the kids and really enjoyed that too.

I love a good log cabin and sawtooth star and really enjoy putting a modern spin on them. I made traditional quilts in my early years before I discovered modern quilting and it taught me the fundamentals. Good design and workmanship applies no matter what style of quilt you are making.

Tell us a little bit of how you got started designing fabric.

It was such a fluke, but a case of “the universe listening.” I attended an industry event several years ago with the goal to decide if I wanted to design fabric or not. After listening to several big name designers discussing their process and what it meant for them, I came home inspired to start learning how to design. Literally 2 days later I got a call out of the blue from Benartex, asking me if I wanted to be a fabric designer for them. It took me about 2 seconds to say yes, but I don’t think I would have had the confidence to try had I not attended that conference. So it was a really good timing.

Your Quilting heroine/hero is _________________ and why.

Eleanor Burns. She was the first quilt “celebrity” I ever heard about and I loved watching her on PBS in my early quilting years. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and when I finally met her in person years ago I was so awe struck with how down to earth and genuinely caring she is. She hasn’t let fame go to her head and she makes you feel special whether or not you’ve asked her something she’s been asked hundreds of times before. Now I get to call her my colleague and friend since she’s also a fellow Benartex fabric designer.

Tell us a bit about your family. 

I’ve been married to the love of my life Jason for 27 years and we have 3 kids ages 23, 20, and 16. They’ve all worked for us in the family business but none of them is interested in quilting (which is ok by me because then I don’t have to share my supplies, LOL!!) We are surviving the teenage and young adult years and it’s interesting watching them turn into the people they were meant to be.

What is your go to meal right now?

I’m on a bit of a health kick right now so anything with lots of protein, fruits and veggies. And if I absolutely need a bite of chocolate it needs to be gourmet to be worth the calories.

During this crazy time with everyone staying at home, I’m glad that the quilting community is embracing technology and continuing to be a vibrant lifeline for those who need it. I sure am missing meeting with others in person, but am so glad for social media that makes me feel connected to everyone!

I’m also missing my favorite vacation spots – Disney and the Beach! I can’t wait until life returns to a bit of normal and I can visit those places again!

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I hope you enjoyed visiting a little with Christa. Make sure you follow her wherever your favorite online place to hang out is.
She is busy, productive, and inspiring Quilter to be sure!

Christa sent me a Charm Pack of her  line Gridwork that came out earlier this year. I didn’t really have time, but I thought that I would whip up one of her free patterns, Rainbow Taffy, using the Charm Pack. I added one of my favorite Green Ketan  from Banyan Batiks.  The Ketan basic line is from the genius of my friend, Karen Gibbs.

That’s it. Christa did most of this post with her answers. I probably could have had this posted earlier… but you know… well… Everything…….

Good to be back (again)!

That’s it for today,

Keep Sewing, Keep Happy, Keep Safe,

Scott