Stuart Vanderbloemen

Yulee, Florida

About Stuart Vanderbloemen...

I've been quilting since… I started way back in 1999 after I watched a PBS show and the topic was Bargellos. It caught my attention.  I had never sewn anything up to that time. I went to my local quilt show and asked folks how to do it and what supplies do I need. I got them and off to the kitchen table I went. I made a little wall hanging. Then I put off quilting till 2003.

I began quilting because… I got back into quilting in 2003 after I was in a very bad accident. After numorous surgeries I ended up disabled. So to keep my very hyper hands busy I picked up quilting again.

I learned to quilt… I am self taught, I would watch every PBS quilting program and surfed the websites for tips and tricks.

My quilting style is… Old fashioned with a kick. If old fashioned is a style
.

A person who inspired me…  Oh way to many to list here. I do have to say Jinny Beyer for fabric and quilt patterns. For longarming I have to say with out a doubt, is Sharon Schambers.

My imagination is sparked by… I get it from everyone elses works. If I like it,  then I will see if can remodify it to to fit my color choices and quilt sizes.

My favorite techniques… Oh I have to say whole-cloth quilting first and foremost, then I like to do any kind of diamond or triangle piecings. I love futuristic geometric type designs.

Colors or fabrics I'm attracted to... Yes OH lordy yes.  I love blues, greens,reds, black, and oh boy don't get me started on batiks or orientals.

My fabric stash... I would say my stash is nill to nonexistant. I work of mostly pay it forward donations. Stash for a quilter on a disability income is very very tight.

My quilting community… I am a member of the Amelia Island Quilters Guild. We are a small guild just off the beach in Fernandina Beach. We have quite a few local and longdistance charities we help. Hospice, Quilts of Valor, Habitat for Humanity, Micah's house, Shands neo-natal unit and quite a few others. My online groups are The Yahoo Men's quiltgroup, the Manquilters site and the Quilting Board.

My additional hobbies/interests… I love to fish and hunt with my brothers and their kids. Also love to take them to the 4Wheeling mud bogging holes.

I entered Quilt Design Star™ 2011 because... I really think I am ready to compete on a world wide quilting stage and show everyone what I am capable of designing.

Links... I unfortunately do not have any sort of blog or website. Maybe after this contest is over.

What you should know about me… I am bionic in nature due to 2003 auto accident, I have 2 rods 4 screws lower back and 1 cage in my neck and a pain management morphine pump implanted into my abdomen. I take so many rest nap breaks throughout the day all I do is quilt, quilt, quilt.

Star Squared (below) is Stuart's Quilt Design Star™ 2011 entry quilt.

Wow Factor (below) is Stuart's Quilt Design Star™ 2011 Challenge 1 quilt.