In 2001, I took my first quiltmaking class. During the stitching of that quilt, I became someone else. I have been a sewer since I was four years old, but I never saw my love of sewing as being artful. To think I could use my technical skills to create powerful visual objects was a fierce realization. For the next six years, I immersed myself in the world of quilting as best I could from the remote Alaskan town of Valdez. I studied and I stitched alone. Not until we moved to back to Anchorage, did I really begin to share and show my work.
My artwork is firmly grounded in the craft of quiltmaking. It has taken me many years to acquire the cutting, piecing, and quilting skills I now use daily. Vintage and contemporary commercial solid fabrics, as well as hand dyed fabrics I have created, are the primary materials I use in my work. These textiles are cut primarily without rulers and stitched into a two dimensional surface. Once I create this pieced canvas, I spend hours on my long arm quilting machine stitching the top to cotton or wool batting and a fabric backing. The final step is to bind or face each individual piece.
With all my work, the driving force is always color. How to make color vibrate on the wall? That is the question for me. Most often the answer lies in proportion of line and shape in relation to color. Color is dynamic, fickle, explosive, solemn, mysterious, and beautiful. All colors possess these characteristics, and it is my daily work to explore how color is capable of being all these things for the viewer. It is with real joy that I try and try again to evoke deep emotion in the viewer through the use of color. This work is visceral. I do not know intellectually before hand what is going to happen when I put a sliver of chartreuse next to bubble gum pink, but I am always willing to take the leap, to stitch until I find out.
Maria Shell 
Maria:
I couldn’t find your email address, but just wanted to tell you I saw your work at the Northern National Art Competition in Wisconsin. I live in Chicago, but we have a cabin about an hour away so we were able to get to the opening reception. Congratulations on your award! I’d be glad to give you more of an opinion of the show, and I have an extra program if they don’t send you one. I was in it myself, and was happy to see several other fiber artists work in it too.
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Thank you Gail! I too am glad to see fiber making its way into art shows. It is an exciting time to be working with cotton!
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I’m piggy backing to ask if you have a book on how to make these wonderful quilts!! I love all of them.
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Lovely. 🙂
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Just curious about the workshops that list 4 different time/dates. Does the workshop include sessions on all of those dates? Or are we supposed to select one date. Thank you for the clarifications.
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Each workshop has four three hours sessions space out over 10-12 days. So, yes, the workshop includes four sessions. I hope to see you in class!
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Thanks, I kind of assumed that was the case but wanted to ask. I love your use of colors and energy in your quilts, and hope to take a workshop soon.
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Sounds great. Let me know if you have more questions.
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Modern Fabric Art Bowls looks like a fascinating book! I love the bowls I see pictured!
Love your work, too!
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Hi there. I live in the UK so your workshops are in the middle of the night here! If I signed up, are they recorded so I can watch them the next day instead?
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Dear Jane-
Yes. All of the sessions are recorded and you will be able to access them for approximately 45 days. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you! Maria
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I just found you. I love your work, your energy and helpful ways to people. I share that with you. But I was still making baby quilts. I want to go farther. Then my daughter became homeless in VT. House fire. No housing available. She is in a shelter waiting. I am in NJ. My husband is older and unsteady. You have inspired me to do something.
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I wish you the best! That is a lot of stress. I hope your quilting helps and brings you joy.
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