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It is no wonder that Marti Michell, the 2004 Silver Star Honoree at the Houston International Quilt Festival, is often introduced as a pioneer in the current quilt revival. In fact, in 1972 when Marti and her husband Richard started Yours Truly, Inc., a patchwork kit company, there was no quilt industry.
Since then, she has contributed in almost every capacity. Whether she is participating as a teacher, quilter, author, publisher, manufacturer, designer, consultant, judge or quilt collector, her enthusiasm for and love of quilting is always evident.
Since 1995, the Michells have manufactured the From Marti Michell line of acrylic templates and specialty rulers for rotary cutting. She received the prestigious 2004 Silver Star lifetime achievement award. In 1991, she also received the first Michael Kile award for commitment to creativity and excellence in the quilting industry.
Marti lives in Atlanta, GA, but was born and raised in Iowa. She received a Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Clothing and Home Economics Journalism from Iowa State University.
Look through your library of quilting books and you'll surely find one of Marti's books. At latest count, over 1.5 million books authored by Marti have been sold. Likewise, you undoubtedly have fabric, patterns or tools that she has designed in your collected sewing materials. Furthermore, her influence in the quilting industry is enormous.
During the Yours Truly years, 1972-1985, Marti "discovered," and she and Richard published and promoted into early prominence, quiltmaker/author/teacher personalities such as Mary Ellen Hopkins, Liz Porter, Marianne Fons, Harriet Hargrave, Susan McKelvey, Jean Wells, and Cheryl Bradkin. |
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In 1987, Stacy Michell packed up her hand-dyed fabrics and headed to Houston for her first International Quilt Market. There, a Mr. Akio Kawamoto purchased $150 of her beautiful fabrics. This man continued to order fabrics from Stacy through the mail for many years.
Later, she learned that he was a National Art Treasure in Japan, a textiles artist, quilting teacher, and all around delightful man! Of course, more customers than Mr. Kawamoto desired Stacy’s one of a kind fabrics. Thus began Stacy’s career.
Today, Stacy operates her business from a studio twenty miles from her parent’s business. Recently she began following her personal philosophy that being a good teacher is more important than being an award-winning quilter.
She has just returned from her 25th trip to Japan where she has been teaching quilt-making and selling her hand-dyed fabrics. On her way home, she made her visit teaching engagement in Seoul, South Korea. Stacy has taught in 46 states, ten times in Hawaii, as well as in European countries.
Come, learn from Stacy first hand during her exhibit "Teaching the World to Quilt," and during University Days! |
