Profile
Ineke was born in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands and moved to Bromsgrove in 1978 when she married her British husband. She has two adult children; her daughter Liske has inherited her love for textiles and a son Pieter.
Ineke has always had a strong interest in textiles before embarking on a City and Guilds Course in Patchwork and Quilting where she developed a love for the landscape around her home in the Lickey Hills and the beautiful views she encountered on her travels. Her first major landscape work: the ‘Omaha’ quilt – based on a photograph taken at the landing beaches of Normandy, was chosen to form part of the ‘Transforming Tradition’ Exhibition organised by the Quilters Guild of the British Isles. ‘Omaha’ also won a First prize at Quilts UK. ‘Salt and all its facets’ a three dimensional, mixed media piece won first prize in a competition organized by a salt musuem in the Netherlands.
In August 2006 ‘by the soaring of seagulls’ created using a new and exciting technique involving sheers and organza, earned a first prize in the innovative category at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.
The bright ‘Here Comes the Sun’ won first prize in 2006 and in 2007 the ‘Bluebells’ again in organzas won best of Show at ‘Quilts in the Garden’ at Trentham Gardens near Stoke on Trent. In the summer of 2008 her ‘Mother of the Bride’ dress won prizes in the contemporary small section at the Festival of Quilts and at Trentham.
Her quilts have travelled to Europe, Japan and Canada.
She teaches regularly in the UK, the Netherlands, Bermuda June 2008, USA (autumn 2008), New Zealand at the Quilt Symposium Easter 2009, Germany and is looking forward to being part of the Quilt Festival in South Africa in July 2011.
Whilst Regional Co-ordinator – from 2001 till 2004, for the Quilters Guild in the British Isles she started doing talks and developed several landscape inspired workshops which are taught very successfully throughout the UK and Europe. Much of her work is inspired by her Dutch heritage and culture and through frequent travel she keeps widening her horizons.
Magazine articles include Patchwork and Quilting, Quilting Arts, Workbox, Quiltwow, Quilt enzo, Patchwork Proffesional and the European magazine Magic Patch.
Her first book ‘Landscape in Contemporary Quilts’ has been re-printed several times and in August 2009 ‘The Quilted Object’ was launched just in time for the Festival of Quilts. Her most recent little book ‘Sketchbooks and Journal Quilts’ and a new DVD ‘Inspired Lutradur’ is available through this website.
This summer she’s been busy printing a range of fabric and hopes to have these produced commercially – some of the samples are available in fat quarters soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
For those of you who are working on a diploma or would like to read some more, I have answered a selection of frequently asked questions.
Q: Where do you see yourself with your textile work in five years time?
I would like to teach a bit less and concentrate on exhibitions and selling some of my work, but since my husband lost his job recently those plans have changed and I need to become a bit more commercial. The courses I teach in Bromsgrove are very popular and I will concentrate on those for the time being.
Q: Are there any elements of your education or working life that you consider have helped you to get where you are today with your quilting? For example, perhaps you studied photography.
I have completed my City & Guilds diploma in Patchwork and Quilting; the first two years at Gloscat with Di Wells and the final two with Edwina Mackinnon in Droitwich. This gave me the tools to express myself in the textile medium and develop from there.
Q: Have you sold any pieces of work?
Yes, I do get attached to certain pieces which have memories attached to them, but as I run out of space to display and so many of them live in the suitcase in the garage, I am starting to sell pieces now.
Q: Have you received any commercial sponsorship?
Sometimes sewing machine manufacturers like Husqvarna or Bernina lend one of their sewing machines.
Q: Do you have a favourite colour palette?
I love blues, both the colour and the music, but after a ‘blue’ period I can’t wait to turn to the reds, oranges and fuchsias.
Q: What do you consider to be your greatest textile achievement?
Winning first prize in the innovative category at the Festival of Quilts 2006 with my sheer piece ‘ by the soaring of seagulls’.
Q: What is your favourite piece of work to date?
I’m really into printing fabrics and have just finished three pieces which are all going to the Festival of Quilts this year (2010). ’Holland Memory’ has been accepted as part of the European Art Quilt exhibition, a colourful version is in the ‘Summer in the City’ and ‘Elvis’ has gone to the Contemporary part of the Festival. All three are made of printed fabrics.
Q: Which techniques do you especially enjoy in your own work or particularly admire in another’s work?
More than anything I love the dyeing and printing process, you never know what comes out of it – then using a combination of hand and machine quilting to give it that beautiful texture.
At the moment I really like the discharge and machine quilting techniques of Bob Adams.
Q: What type of fabrics/materials do you enjoy working with the most?
Usually I work with cheap cotton fabric from Ikea, but recently have been working with old and new linen which takes the dye in gorgeous soft colours. On the carboot sales in France they sell beautiful vintage linen and cotton sheets with lots of structure – I just love them.
Q: How do you approach a new project? Do you use photographs or sketchbooks?
Both. Sketchbooks form an essential part of my work, but it is not always convenient to have one handy so then my small digital camera will capture the moment.
Q: Are there any other members of your family involved in stitching?
If you have a daughter has she shown any interest in textiles?
My grandmother always knitted and my mother taught me to sew; I was born above a furniture shop and almost grew up in the curtain making workshop where there was always a sewing machine at the ready. My own daughter has a first class degree in textile & design; so there is a real family tradition of creativity.
Q: Do you ever teach young quilters or school age children?
Apart from my two young nieces, not really.
Q: What do you consider to be your most innovative piece of work?
My ‘Bluebells’ , which consisted of a layer of organza, pieces of dyed fabric and other organza’s bonded with Bondaweb and then covered with a fine layer of tulle. Then stitched and finally burned away small areas with a soldering iron – giving the work a truly transparent effect.
Q: Have you any other books in the pipeline?
Yes, I’ve just published my second book ‘The Quilted Object’ It gives ideas for small, quick projects that can be completed in a day or so. After the Journal Quilt Book last year, I’m putting together another set accompanied with ‘Recycling Denim’ ideas.
Q: What kind of sewing machine do you use?
I use an old Bernina 1060, a small Husqvarna that I take to workshops and a Pfaff Grand Quilter I won at the ‘Quilts in the Garden’ competition, which is my favourite workhorse.
Q: Any other favourite pieces of equipment?
My soldering iron and heat gun; to burn away organza’s and to use with the new material Lutradur.
Q: Do you have a favourite hand stitch?
The simple straight stitch – it has so many possibilities
Q: If you have any spare time, what do you like to do?
I like to swim first thing in the morning at a local health club, it gives me time to think and plan my day, I also do yoga once a week and a bit of linedancing. We’ve got a dog and we have some lovely walks on our doorstep – so Sundays are for walking.
With thanks to Debbie Yabsley who very kindly let me use the above questions.