Guest Quilt Artist - Ellenina Gaston

I met Ellenina for the first time many years ago. She was taking my Fast-Piece Applique workshop and the thing I remember most was, she bought up a ton of my little yarn packages. Not for couching as they had been packaged, but for something entirely Ellenina. Within a couple of days she shared not only her quilt, but a whole small series of woven treasures that she had designed with all the yarns. Her mind is always creating and I know you will enjoy seeing her work.

In her own words:
Hello! I am Ellenina Gaston and I currently live in Southern California with my husband and two children. My hometown is Chicago, Illinois. I grew up sketching in charcoal and pencil with my father, an accomplished illustrator, and doing crafts and needlework projects with my mother. I enjoy experimenting in various media and have tried just about every thing from paints and pastels to water colors and wax. While continuing my art education as an adult, I found my passion in blending pattern and color using fabrics, fibers, thread, ink, paper, found objects, metal and paint -- basically, anything may turn up in a project!

My art is characterized by a vibrant use of color and pattern and cam be a unique mixture of media that often combines skills in quilting, basketry, painting and drawing. The presence of natural elements and female forms predominate in my most recent work.

I have had the pleasure of having my work show in galleries as part of group shows and exhibits. I teach classes on expressive drawing and surface design techniques. The rest of 2010 will be a very active time for me creatively. You can follow my latest adventures on the my website and I always welcome new Facebook friends.

Cheers! Ellenina