Biography

Rita Steffenson is an award winning quilt artist whose work has been exhibited in many national and international shows. Rita was born in Wisconsin without a personal or family history in sewing or quilt making. She began quilting for a personal challenge after leaving her career as an environmental analyst to raise her children. Her naïve beginnings with graph paper and calculator have led to an independent approach to quilt making. Many years of doing things the hard way and reinventing the wheel has prepared Rita for her quest into the world of quilted textiles. The new century brought a transformation to Rita’s approach to this art form. By discovering and joining a quilt guild and attending her first quilt shows, Rita began to glimpse the possibilities of what could be achieved. It was like being set free and any thought, joy or whim was now a potential quilt. She carved out a dedicated studio and concentrated on making pieces which reflect her feelings and experiences, always striving (at times obsessively) to achieve the highest level of craftsmanship. Rita’s quilt making is enhanced by her joy of photography and ongoing study of nature. Her enthusiastic love of learning has led Rita to continue a self paced exploration of contemporary techniques, color, creativity and the elements of design. The support and encouragement of her husband and four daughters make her journey into textile art attainable.

Artist Statement

In exploring textile arts, I draw on a variety of my interests for inspiration: photography, dreams, imagination and nature. This often leads me to conceive of work which seems overwhelming. By evolving the design over time, I’m able to overcome these challenges. I begin with drawing many preliminary thumbnail sketches. For each piece I build my palette by either selecting commercial fabrics collage style or dyeing fabric with my custom dye formulas. I am seduced by vivid colors. I’ve discovered softer, indirect light emphasizes the color and clarifies the texture. Drawing on the surface of the quilt with thread creates a richness of movement and texture. I enjoy the rhythmic movement of free hand machine quilting; it adds a personal style that is unique. I have just begun this journey into mastering the medium to express my visions and anticipate years of further exploration.

Awards & Selected Exhibits

Quilt National

2007 Mindscapes – Enthusiasm selected as a Finalist

International Quilt Festival, IQA annual judged show - Quilts: A World of Beauty

2006 Pfaff Master Award for Machine Artistry – Chance Encounter

2005 Master Award for Innovative Artistry - Amazing Spring in the Antelope Valley

2004 Honorable Mention - Trailing Bougainvillea

2003 1st place Pictorial - The Wild Garden – Echinacea

2002, 2001 - Finalist

American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show & Contest - Paducah KY

2005 1st place Large wall Appliqué - The Wild Garden – Echinacea

2003 2nd place Pictorial - The Wild Garden – Sundown

2002 Finalist

Road to California Quilters’ Showcase - Ontario CA

2005 Best in Show - The Wild Garden – Echinacea

2003 1st place Innovative Appliqué - Wall Quilt - The Wild Garden – Sundown

2002 Finalist

Pacific international Quilt Festival

2004 Best Appliqué - The Wild Garden – Echinacea

2006, 2005, 2003, 2002 Finalist

American Quilters Society Quilt Exposition

2004 Best in Contest - Quilts in Full Bloom - The Wild Garden - Echinacea

11th annual Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza

2004 Judges choice award - The Wild Garden - Sundown

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XII - Williamsburg VA

2001 2nd place Innovative Wall Quilt - Out of the Night

Publications

2007 QNM Wall Calendar

Journal of the International Quilt Association, Winter 2007

American Quilter’s Society 2006 Spring book Advertising Campaign

American Quilter, fall 2005, Vol XXI, No 3

Springfield News-Sun, December 5, 2005; Community news feature

Winning Quilts, Rita Weiss ©2004, published by Sterling Publishing Co.

American Quilter, winter 2004, Vol XX, No 5

American Quilter’s Society 2004 Summer Advertising Campaign

Feature, Urbana Daily Citizen, Saturday June, 2004

Journal of the International Quilt Association, spring 2004

Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, April 2004

2004 AQS Wall Calendar

American Quilter, fall 2003, Vol XIX No. 3

Antelope Valley Press, Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Valley Life Feature, Antelope Valley Press, Sunday April 13, 2003