About Me

Janis Stoker

Artist’s Resume

Art Quilter ~ Designer ~ Thread Master ~ Teacher ~ Lecturer ~ Curator ~ Writer

Biography:

I began sewing at the young age of 5; I could be found sitting under a tree cutting out and hand-sewing doll clothes with material from my mother’s scrap bag.  I advanced to an actual sewing machine by age 9 and began sewing simple garments.  Over the years I graduated to more complex garments and accessories, moved on to fabric dolls, and then, about 30 years ago, I discovered crazy quilting.  I loved moving from the structure and rules of normal sewing to the adventure and creativity of no-rules sewing.  It was a short leap to include art quilts.

In addition to the above creative outlets, I am skilled in knitting, crocheting, counted thread work, pulled thread work, counted cross-stitch, ribbon embroidery, scrapbooking, and beadwork.

Since retiring from a career in electronics 15 years ago, I have moved into designing art quilts and self-published patterns, lecturing, moderating an art quilt group, curating an international quilt exhibit, and teaching art quilt classes. 

Highlights:

My original quilts have been exhibited at these venues:

American Quilt Society Quilt Shows (AQS)

Knoxville, TN , Lancaster, PA, Paducah, KY, Syracuse, NY, Grand Rapids, MI, Chattanooga, TN, and Des Moines, IA
Mancuso Quilt Shows

World Quilt Show in Florida and the Pacific International Quilt Show in Santa Clara, CA.

International Quilt Festival Quilt Show (IQF)

Chicago, IL.
Independent Quilt Shows:  

Road to California, Ontario, CA;  Pacific West Quilt Show, Tacoma, WA, Leavenworth Quilt Show, Leavenworth, WA, Minnesota Quilt Show, Duluth, MN, Pinetree Patchworkers' Quilt Show, Brainerd, MN, Quilters' Affaire, Sisters, OR.
Galleries:  

The Wiseman Gallery, OR; US Bank, Ashland, OR; Southern Oregon University Thorndike Gallery, Ashland, OR, The Q Gallery, Brainerd, MN, The Arts Center, Orange, VA,  Rocky Mountain Quilt Show, Loveland, CO, Family Massage & Education Center, Ashland, OR

• ·         Third Place Ribbon:  The Princess is Not Amused (2011~quilt)
• ·         Second Place Ribbon:  The Quilt Whisperer (2012~quilt)
• ·         Honorable Mention:  Lost in Austen (2014~quilt)
• ·     Best of Show, Best in Class, and numerous first place ribbons for my needlework, knitting, crocheting, mixed  media, scrapbooking

Moderator of the Rogue Art Quilters of Ashland, OR for 2013 - 2014.

Concept Originator and Curator of The Notable Women Quilt Initiative, an international quilt challenge that exhibited during 2014 and 2015 in the USA. 

Published

·         The Quilt Life (Dec. 2011)

·         JOY Magazine, Medford, OR Mail Tribune

·         Ashland Daily Tidings

·         Crazy Quilt Magazine (Summer 2016)

·         Stamper’s Sampler

·         Take Ten

·         Stampington Magazines

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 Resident instructor at Sew Creative, Ashland, OR, where I teach various aspects of art quilting.

One of 19 quilters involved in The River Runs Through It group quilt exhibit in 2011 which traveled the U.S. quilt circuit for two years.

The Palace of a Different Color quilt is part of the Cherrywood Fabrics Wicked Challenge traveling show for 2014/2015.

 Featured out-of-town Quilter for Leavenworth WA Quilt Show, Sept. 2015.

 Featured instructor on Quilt Camp at Sea journey to New Zealand and Australia, Holland America Cruise Line, February 2016