Page 7 - The Digital Cloth Issue 3
P. 7

Cindy Watkins















       5000 Textile Trees Project   something Helen is exceptionally good at.   Then I practised and experimented as much as   10,000 was a bit daunting so I thought I would
                                                             try the half way point.
 by Cindy Watkins  Coming from a painting background this was   I could.
     Slowly I developed my style and technique
 very appealing. I enjoy the tactile nature of
 textiles. Its art work that you can touch.  I am   through practice and experimentation. A class
 Two things were pivotal in setting me on the   terrible at piecing and can’t sew a straight line   with UK machine embroidery artist Alison Holt
 path of working in textiles. One was an article   to help myself, let alone get all those points to   also had a big impact on my current work. If
 in one of my Mum’s quilting magazines about   line up.  you haven’t come across her check her out she
 quilter and artist Helen Godden. And the other,   For all those ladies who can I am in awe.     is amazing.
 the life shattering death of my brother from   I taught myself free motion quilting via
 cancer in his early 30’s. His death had a   YouTube. I practice a lot, in-fact I wore out the   I come to the decision to create my 5000 Trees

 profound impact on my life direction helping   sewing machine Mum gave me. I went to as   project after reading a book on how to make
 me decide to do what I loved and to follow my   many classes as I could find on art quilting.   money for your artwork. In the book Art
 dreams.  Which were few and far between in Tasmania.   Money Success the author talked about a lady
 I remember being very excited when I learned   I read every book and magazine I could get my   in the USA paining 10,000 Buddhas. This
 that it was okay to paint on your quilts -   hands on.  inspired me to set a goal to stitch 5000 Trees.
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