MEET THE QUILTER: FRAN GULICK

We talk to Fran of Cotton and Joy about her quilting journey, advice for quilting beginners and more…

How H did you first get g into quilting?

I wouldn’t say I got iinto quilting properly uuntil after the birth oof my second son. I had pretty bad depression and was ttryingi to holdl onto anything that brought me joy, even in the smallest way. I remembered enjoying sewing so I hopped onto Pinterest, trying to find a project to make. After that first quilt (a free pattern from Nicole Daksiewicz of Modern Handcraft) I felt like I was coming back to myself a little bit. So then I made another quilt, and another, and another. And, well, the rest is history.

What advice would you give to a beginner quilter?

Quilt for the joy of it and let go of perfection! Even the most seasoned quilter has to use the seam ripper and ends up with points that don’t match. Too many times I see beginner quilters getting discouraged or down on themselves because their projects aren’t perfect, but in reality none of our projects are, not really! Also, make quilts that you love. It’s easy to fall prey to peer pressure, especially with social media, and make quilts we think we 'should' be making. Use whatever fabric you want and make quilts you love to make, for the love of it.

What are your tips for taking great quilt pics?

Nothing beats natural light. I like to take all of my in-progress photos on a table next to the window. For full quilt shots, I almost always take those outside. It might sound counterintuitive but sometimes cloudy or semi-cloudy days are better than full sun days because

they give you a nice soft light.

If all else fails – edit! I think I always blow people’s minds a little bit when I show them my originals vs. my edited photos. I always increase the exposure and brightness, and adjust the colour balance to make my whites look more white and less blueish/yellowish.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from quilting?

I would have to say patience – first with myself. I had to learn early on to be patient with myself as I made mistakes and had to learn from each and every one of them. Second, with the process. Quilting is many things, but fast it isn’t. We live in a world that values, above all, results. And quilting offers some wonderful results, but I’ve learned that it’s as much about the process as it is about the end result. There’s something about letting go and getting lost in the process. It’s taught me, instead of trying to fast forward to the end, to instead enjoy each step for what it is and what it has to offer. This has helped me a lot in life outside of quilting too, especially as a mom to two young boys.

What fun things can we expect from you in the future?

My second fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs, South Hill, is shipping to stores in January 2023 and I am so very excited about it. It feels very me, from the colours to the prints within the collection. My next pattern coming out, Nordic Gnome, was born from Quiltmas fun, and so it's one I have been absolutely dying to release for close to a year now. I’m obsessed with how cute and fun it is!

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