Artist's Statement

It comes as no surprise to me that fabric is my artistic medium. I have been in love with fabric since I was a girl. I began with doll clothes, moved on to my own clothes, and in college, I discovered quilting. I've been hooked ever since.

The inspiration for my quilts comes from one of two places: some quilts begin with a childlike sense of curiosity, the wondering of "what would happen if?" Other quilts come from an emotional place, a need to express a feeling in my work. Mostly I am drawn to color, value, and texture; exploring how they interact using simpler shapes. I enjoy putting fabrics up on the design wall and then exploring the possibilities.

I learned quilting the traditional way, with templates, hand piecing and hand quilting. Curved line and gradation of value fascinate me, and I love using commercial fabrics, combining many different ones because of the great textures that result. The more quilts I've made, the more I've learned to pay attention to the process rather than working from a fixed idea.

A side benefit of quilting is that I've met the most amazing people, and I have made some wonderful friends that I will treasure forever.

Biography

Lee Fowler lives in Portland, Oregon and has been quilting for over 20 years. She began teaching quilting classes in Walnut Creek, California in 1994. She teaches at several shops here in the Portland area, at "A Quilter's Affair" in Sisters, Oregon and at quilt guilds all around the Pacific Northwest. She has won ribbons at the Marin County show, the Northwest Quilter's Guild show, Northwest Quilters Expo, and the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, CA. Lee's work has been featured in several magazines and books.

Selected Awards

• "A Simple Study," 2nd Place, MIniature Division at Northwest Quilters Expo 2008
• "Nevas," 1st place Partners division (with Karen Day), 3rd place Long Arm division at Northwest Quilters 2007
• "Affected By The Tide," 2nd place, Partners division (with Susan Bucharest), 3rd place Viewer's Choice at Northwest Quilters Expo 2007
• "SpiroGiro," 1st place Wall Quilt division Northwest Quilters Show 2005
• "Central Park Stone," 1st place Long Arm division Northwest Quilters Show 2004
• "Yin Yang Value Study," Honorable Mention Traditional Quilts category at Pacific International Quilt Festival 2003
• "Into the Forest," 1st place, Wall Quilt Pieced at Northwest Quilters Show 2003
• "Rolling Star," 2nd place, Bed Quilt Pieced at Northwest Quilters Show 2003
• "Twin Towers," 1st place, Marin County Show 2001

Publications

• "Quilters Newsletter Magazine," July/August 2008: Harry Potter quilts by Cover to Cover
• A Dozen Roses, by Jennifer Rounds and Catherine Comyns, That Patchwork Place, 2007. (Spectre de la Rose quilt design.)
• Pieced Curves So Simple, by Dale Fleming, C & T Publishing, 2005. (One quilt featured, several quilts quilted by Lee.)
• "Quilters Newsletter Magazine," October 2005: Split Rail Fence pattern.
• "Quilters Newsletter Magazine," September 2005: Rolling Star pattern.
• "Quilters Newsletter Magazine," March 2005: Cover to Cover quilts
• Color From the Heart, by Gai Perry, C & T Publishing, 1999. (Two quilts featured.)