Goodwin's Custom Crafts

I love quilting and the process of piecing things together, watching parts become a whole, and that magic moment when vision become a reality. I love the underdog nature of quilts, which despite centuries of cultural and societal significance, are still undervalued as true art forms. Most of all, I love the magical transfiguration that takes three simple layers, weaves them together with stitches and love and creativity, and makes a quilt...A great example of how the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Whenever I make a quilt, I entertain myself with thoughts about who they will be going to. What precious sweet little baby will be welcomed home with one of my quilts? What daring super hero will use my blanket to make a fort to hide out and ambush the bad guys? Who will be smiling in their sleep as they dream underneath one of my creations? It is so exciting and humbling at the same time to think about how far and wide my creations have traveled. This is as much a part of my craft as the fabric I use. It's what I put into everything I make. It's a projection and a hope that the person, big or small, on the receiving end of my work, will feel a little happier. A little warmer. A little more daring! Sleep a little more peacefully, or gaze inward with a little more wreckless abandon.

I am a self taught quilter and sometimes wonder at my life and the direction it has taken, since I have never attended any art classes. I was very stubborn in my resolve that art couldn't be taught, and that it was already inside us all and only needed to be allowed to come out naturally. That was probably a very naive opinion, but I still believe being self taught has some advantages. I have always loved drawing and making things, and ALWAYS had some project I was working on with my hands. The first quilt I made was for my daughter 11 years ago, and I have been quilting ever since. My children are a very integral part of what I do, from helping me pick out colors, to being my little models and quality assurance experts (If they can't tear it up, no one can!), to learning to work my machines, to making me slow down and smell the roses. Many of the fabrics in my collection are even made using their drawings, sketches, and collages.

Sewing and crafting were passed down to me from my Mom and Grandmother. They were always sewing, smocking, or canning something. I do have a couple of quilts that were passed down to me from my Great-grandmother on my Father's side, which were made from polyester pant legs, and stuffed with what must surely be articles of clothing, as the quilt feels a little lumpy and inconsistent inside, but these things were given to me after she died and I never even knew she had quilted when she was alive.

We are almost always listening to music. I love natural birth stories and good coffee. I am inspired by nature. I am passionately curious and introspective. I have a BS Biology, with a focus herpetological field research, which is where I met my husband Josh. I dabble with the piano and banjo...both pretty horribly, but I still enjoy it from time to time. We always keep a garden, albeit a little weedy, and love supporting our local community agriculture Farm to Table movement. I love yoga and rock climbing and riding my bike. That is all. Goodnight and sweet dreams. Find us on Instagram KariGoodwinQuilts or our website www.karigoodwinquilts.com