Feature Friday: Glenna of Hollyhock Quilts

For this Friday's feature, I am so happy to have Glenna from Hollyhock Quilts. Glenna and I met on the internet about a year ago and in real life six months ago at the fall Quilt Market. We had so much fun together at Sample Spree. She is an accomplished pattern and fabric designer and I couldn't be more pleased to have her here today. Take it away, Glenna.

I've been quilting for about 30 years now. Like many of us quilters, I came to it as the 'new' craft that looked interesting. Once the bug bit, all other crafty endeavors were laid aside.

I worked and taught in local shops for about 10 years. During that time I began collecting vintage fabrics and feedsacks along with old rescued pieces that I remade or restyled into usable items. I always tried to retain the integrity of the quilt by making wall quilts and table runners or toppers. No bunnies or bears for me! Over the years I have sold a lot of those pieces which I call "Tattered Treasures". That is the art quilt side of my business.

My vintage fabric collection became so big that in 2003 I opened an online business to sell feedsack squares and vintage fabric called Hollyhock Quilts. I also wanted to sell patterns that looked good made up in those fabrics. I was not finding many patterns that I liked, so I decided that, having quilted for 20 years, surely I could design a pattern! And that's what led to my pattern business.


Shortly thereafter, I noticed that although many feedsack designs were being reproduced, no one was actually marketing them as feedsack. I thought there might be some interest there and approached a fabric company to produce a feedsack collection. They liked the idea so my first fabric collection with P&B Fabrics called "Fun with Feedsacks" was introduced at Spring Market in 2005! I loved working with P&B, but they don't produce many collections each year, so I moved to Maywood fabric with whom I designed Hydrangea, Sugar & Spice, Bees Knees and Rise & Shine. Interest in feedsacks spurred me to write a book called "Sugar Sack Quilts" in 2008. The first half of the book is dedicated to the designs that were produced during the heyday of feedsacks and the 2nd half includes patterns for 12 projects. I'm happy to say it has been very successful for me.

In 2008 my mother was really going downhill so I pretty much put my business on hold.  I spent the next year tending to her needs and she passed away in August 2009 at 97.  I am just now beginning to grow my business again, but in a completely different direction.  Actually, I'm coming full circle.  My main focus once again is the internet and Hollyhock Quilts.  I am introducing die cut feedsack designs, many which are ready to fuse.  They are SO much fun to work with and I'm offering one of my designs as a giveaway on my blog/website http://www.hollyhockquilts.com/ right now!  Stop by to find out more.

I've had quilts featured in several books and magazines and have a quilt coming up in the new 2012 APQ calendar.  I'm also looking forward to joining Pat Sloan on her Creative Talk Radio program in May.  We seem to be traveling more for pleasure than business these days and are enjoying life.  Please visit whenever you can!

Thanks so much Glenna! This was really fun.

Love,

xoxo