Kris Vierra, Gammill Quilt Artist
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Tiger, Tiger
Tiger, Tiger is probably my favorite quilt. It was designed for a themed show where the theme was optical illusions. I wanted to think outside the box, literally. I figured most people would go for geometric illusions, where as I had always been fascinated with more subtle ones. i.e. Do you see the faces or the vases, the old hag or the beautiful maiden?
The main tree tiger is based off a line drawing by Willistration, which I altered and added to, to complete my idea. There are 16 tigers hidden in the quilt. Six are in the piecing/applique and another 10 in the quilting. All the quilting is hand guided on my Gammill. Today, this quilt is part of the permanent collection at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.
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Quilted Garments
I have always sewn in one form or another. I actually used to make custom garments when I was in college to help pay the bills. When I first got my Gammill it never occurred to me to make quilted garments. Every one I had ever seen was stiff, didn’t drape well, and looked like something my grandma would wear. It wasn’t until about three years ago that I said to myself “You know how to sew! They don’t have to look like that!” The rest, as you say, is history.
I love making quilted garments people actually want to wear on my Gammill. Whether it’s leather, silk or anything in between it can handle it all.
About Kris
Kris Vierra has been a quilter/seamstress for more than 20 years, and a professional longarm quilter for 9 years. She teaches at national shows and guilds across the country, and has won numerous national awards for her machine quilting skills over the years.