About
Hello,
I am Denise Bevard, and my passion in life is quilting.
My Grammy instilled the love of quilting in me at a very young age. She always had a quilt on the quilt frame. She started to teach me to sew when I was three, sewing on buttons, then embroidering baby bibs. By eight I had a nice-looking quilting stitch and a large repertoire of embroidery stitches mastered. I now have over 40 years of quilting experience. I have entered many a competition, I’ve even placed internationally. But my true love is sharing my passion for quilting with others, and I enjoy teaching those who want to learn. I love quilting so much I even taught both my son and daughter to sew and quilt. My granddaughter is already showing interest at 2 1/2 years old. She loves to play with fat quarters, she has definite favorites.
I truly believe that passion and inspiration are enhanced when shared. We can all learn something from one another. Some people see bolts of fabric and just see bolts of fabric. Some people see scraps of fabric and worn out clothing and see trash. I see quilts, table runners, placemats, etc. Quilters were recyclers before it was popular. We can all inspire others and let others and “things” inspire us. Walk through a park, watch a child or grandchild play; watch an elderly couple that has been married for ages. Watch dogs, cat, fish, clouds, and other people. Go to an art museum, and if you and your bank account can handle it—a quilt/fabric/sewing store. There are no ends to what can inspire us, and how we can inspire others. I am ALWAYS working on a least one quilt. More than likely I am working on at least three. One in the planning process, one I am piecing or appliquéing, and one I am quilting.
I quilt for many reasons:
- For family: Family tree quilts, to preserve family memories. Christmas quilts to celebrate the Holy Day, and we use them for “sick-day” quilts. Somehow they are the most comforting when the family is sick. Wall quilts to dress up the house, some seasonal some not. Many pieces of leftover fabric have made its way into my quilts over the years. My family sees quilts every now again, that have fabric from a toy or a piece of clothing I had made them in the past. My granddaughter now plays with cloth dinosaurs that I made for my children when they were her age. It is such an awesome feeling it truly defies description.
- For friends: I love the feeling I get when giving something I have handmade. They signify for me, and I hope for the recipient; that I willingly and joyfully gave my time and talent to make them something so they could feel special, for more than just an instant.
- Inspiration: Inspiration, like smiling, is contagious. At least that has always been the case for me. I love to share, and I love when other people share. Some of my best ideas have been born from someone else’s work, or thought, or conversation. Watch a child, especially a grandchild and share; it will inspire someone about something. Walk through the park, or a museum. Live life to its fullest and share it with others, especially people you don’t know. It makes the good times better and the not-so-good times much easier.
- For Service: My particular calling is making prayer shawls. They are a very intense personal experience for me, and I have been told that they have provided strength and comfort to those who receive them.
- Stress Relief: Half an hour a day will suffice, but more is always better. Whether working on something for family, friends, service, or even for myself; creating is satisfying. I hand quilt most all of my quilts, the moving of the needle in and out, through the fabric is soothing. It also brings back very fond memories of time spent with my Grammy.
