INTERVIEW: Meet Emily, Vacilando’s Production Quilter
For the Scrap Collection, we gave our remote production team carte blanche and a few loose parameters to make whatever they dreamed up from our leftover fabric scraps. Each and every quilter and seamstress that we work with is wildly talented and creative in their own right - we wanted to provide an outlet for that creativity while repurposing our fabric scraps into something beautiful and useful. But first, let’s get to know the team!
Emily is our newest production quilter, having just joined the Vacilando team in February 2021. Her background in sculpture and fine art, her attention to detail, along with her years of experience working in the quilting and sewing industry caught our eye. Emily brings an inquisitive eagerness, precise perfection, a love for the great outdoors, and two very cute cats to the team.
We asked Emily a few questions about her background and sewing skills - let’s get to know her!
How long have you been quilting?
I made my first quilt in 2013 during winter break. I was in upstate New York where it was very cold, I wasn’t going home for Christmas, and I needed some time away from the sculpture studio. It was the perfect recipe for making my first quilt and needing some comforts of home. I’ve been a self-taught sewist for a bit longer. I turned to sewing in 2008 as a way to gain independence and not rely on others to help move my heavy sculptures. I worked in units to build larger installations and I find that familiarity in quilting; repetitive blocks that come together to create a larger whole. I think that’s what I love so much about quilting, the labor and control of repetitive tasks that result in the reward of a finished quilt.
Where is your studio?
I live and work south of Dallas. I’m lucky now to have a large home studio space designated for sewing and quilting. In the past I’ve made it work in corners of my apartment and even still I’m known to take over my sister’s basement when I visit. My quilting practice is certainly more portable than my sculpture studio ever was. I love the accessibility sewing offers whether you have a large space or not. The most important thing is to have a cat or two to keep me company while I work.
What machine do you use?
When I first started sewing I would sneak into the textiles department to use their machines. I’ve sewn on a BERNINA ever since.
Most valuable tool?
As a quilter who is so untrusting of marking tools, my most valuable tool is a hera marker all the way.
Favorite fabric color?
I’ve made a lot of quilts with rusty tones or a bit of peach. I feel like the desert is always calling me but lately I’m all about olive green accessories so maybe that will work back into my quilts.
Best sewing tip/hack?
I have to follow this one myself sometimes but there is always more fabric and always more quilts to make so just keep making.
Squares + rectangles, triangles, or curves?
All of it! I love making traditional quilting feel modern and I love how funky curves can be.
What’s your favorite thing about quilting/sewing?
Combo answer above
What's your least favorite thing about quilting/sewing?
My least favorite thing about sewing is that I’ll never be able to create as fast as I can think. It’s actually a great thing to sustain a lifelong passion.
Your favorite Vacilando piece?
Rialto in a pillow, Golden Hour as a bed quilt, and YKB as a wall quilt. Sorry, can’t pick just one but I love how different each of these feel in a home.
Preferred drink + snack while you’re working?
I’m not much of a snacker but I have to have morning and afternoon coffee and water all day.
What’s your most memorable travel moment?
Any time I travel out west I can’t get over how many different types of rock formations and landscapes there are. Arizona and New Mexico have been my favorite landscapes so far but growing up in the Midwest I imagine I find most places pretty interesting.
What are you up to when you aren’t making quilts/sewing?
I’m a homebody and love being home with my cats but I like to balance that with exploring new places, kayaking near Dallas since the hiking trails are nonexistent and occasionally eating really good food.
Where can we find you on the interwebs? (if you want to be found)
You can see what I’m up to as well as my quilt supervisors Ruthie and Eleanor on Instagram @orangecatstitches.
