I Guess It's Time to Start, So Here Goes

My name is Frances Murphy. I think it's a good idea to start with a little bit about myself and how I got started in art quilting.

I was born and raised in the Western USA in southeastern Idaho in a very small town not far from Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Yellowstone Park. I now live in Sun City Grand in Surprise, Arizona about 25 miles northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. My husband, Steve, and I moved here in 2007 from Seattle, Washington where we lived for 22 years. In Seattle I was a paralegal specializing in commercial lending, but that seems like it was a lifetime ago. When I left my job in Seattle, I promised myself that I would focus on fiber art and try to make a go of it. My interest in fiber art began when I was in college at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I was majoring in photography and happened to take a course in weaving for one of my fine arts requirements. Upon graduation from the University of Arizona, I moved to Seattle and continued to study weaving. I am a member the Seattle Weavers Guild.

Shortly after I moved to Sun City Grand, I attended a craft show and met a wonderful artist named Betty Hahn. Betty had some of her art quilts and other fiber art objects at the craft show and I was amazed at the beautiful work that she was doing. I was impressed with her use of bright colors and design. I started taking fiber art and art quilting classes from Betty hoping that studying with her would help me get out of a rut with my weaving. I haven't really touched my loom since then! I was hooked on art quilting and fiber art from the first day! We now have an informal group of five or six art quilters that we call "NGG" or "Non-Group Group" or as Betty's husband calls us, "No Good Girls". We meet twice a month at Betty's studio and just "play" with art processes or work on projects. We inspire and support each other in our artistic endeavors. I am a member of SAQA, the Arizona Quilters Guild, and our local art quilt guild called "Mavericks".

I am also a member of the Sun City Grand Drama and Comedy Club and have acted in several stage plays since we arrived here in 2007. I guess the drama club is my "hobby". I also enjoy photography, spending time with my husband, and caring for my two Airedale Terriers, Teddy (age 12) and Daisy (age 5). Teddy and Daisy are very helpful with my art quilting. Teddy loves to "clean" my studio and keeps the floor clear of bits of thread, pieces of batting and material, and various other fibers. Daisy just likes to watch.

I recently had the opportunity to learn silk dyeing from Betty Busby. I anticipate that I'll use quite a bit of my dyed silk in my projects this year.

I am excited to be a part of the Voyage Group. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you wonderful art quilters from around the world. It's an honor for me to be a part of this group.