Customer Work - Rene Iannarelli

Rene Iannarelli has been a customer for several years and has made so many pieces with my fabric that she has a dedicated section in the Customer Gallery. She surprised me this week with another beautiful piece!

Fall Marsh by Rene Iannarelli

I'm not positive, but based on the colors I believe that the main fabric in Fall Marsh is the Woodlands Gradient.

About 3 years ago I posted an interview with Rene. I'm reposting it here in my never-ending chore to move toward shutting down the old blog.

Orange Sunset

Orange Sunset was the featured work of that interview and it's made with the Navajo and Sumner Sunset Gradients.
​First, would you tell us about the inspiration for this new piece and how you went about creating it.
Orange Sunset was inspired by your fabric and works by Elena Stokes.   While most of my experience comes from my quilting roots of accurate piecing I found a new freedom experimenting with this rip and iron piece.  I used a fusion backed heavy interfacing to just lay down the strips.  And then  simply quilted it. I found it a little flat so thought an additional smaller quilt would provide the additional visual interest.    This piece recently received a merit award at the Manito Art Show in northern Wisconsin.  I was thrilled that fiber art was recognized as art among the traditional art work.

Cattails
(Numerous awards in quilt shows.  Now retired.)

​How did you get into fiber art and quilting?
I took my first class 32 years ago to get out of the house.  I have always sewn clothing and following the bicentennial the opportunity through community education interested me.  I was most fortunate to learn the basics of templates and accurate piecing.  I was hooked.

​Temperate Rainforest
(1st place in regional Island Walk  Art show. Inspired by a trip to Alaska.)

What inspires you?
How many bed quilts and table runners can one have?  Newly retired I found time to explore some techniques I have been reading about.  I took a class by Wendy Butler Burns in finding the art quilt within.  Off I went with embellishments and crinkles in fabric, free motion cutting and experiencing.  As luck would have it I met another fiber artist  in my area and we formed a fiber arts group with eight other out of the box quilters.  My very first quilting instructor is in our group and we are having a great time in teaching each other techniques.    Having individuals with the love of art quilts as critics is a great help to me. 

Yellow Leaves
(I wanted to create a panel that was transparent utilizing organza, some silk, etc.  It represents autumn leaves is the sun.  Branches are covered  pipe cleaners.)

Do you find that you lean toward certain color palettes?
I lend towards tones and am forcing myself to go brighter.  I rarely use pinks and purples and lean to the colors I find in nature such as oranges, greens, blues, and browns.    Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year in northern Wisconsin so the bright blue sky and changing leaves sets a tone for creation.  
Where can we find information about your classes?
 I do not have a web site and do not have one planned.  I have taught at various guilds in Wisconsin and Iowa.  Over the last two years I have a number of awards at quilt and art shows in our area.   My goal it to make a piece acceptable in a juried art or quilt show.
Thank you, Rene, for sharing your beautiful work with us.
If you have made something with my fabric I'd love to share it here on the blog. Just add it to the Customer Gallery via the Submission Form. For your generosity in sharing you will receive a 20% coupon off your next fabric purchase.