Longtime MPS member Michelle
Herrmann said her goodbyes a few days ago at the August guild meeting. She and her
husband are moving to Seattle. MPS blog editor Dawn White caught up with
Michelle recently to find out more about her history with the guild as well as her impending
departure for the Emerald State.
Herrmann said her goodbyes a few days ago at the August guild meeting. She and her
husband are moving to Seattle. MPS blog editor Dawn White caught up with
Michelle recently to find out more about her history with the guild as well as her impending
departure for the Emerald State.
Dawn: We’re
so glad you’re not moving all the way across the country! Why Seattle?
so glad you’re not moving all the way across the country! Why Seattle?
Michelle: We’re moving for my
husband’s new job. He’s been looking for a job in his preferred line of work
for about five years. Finally found something.
husband’s new job. He’s been looking for a job in his preferred line of work
for about five years. Finally found something.
DW. I understand you’re a charter member of the Metropolitan Patchwork
Society. How did that come about?
Society. How did that come about?
MH: In spring of 2000, one of my students was the son of Kristi Mullins [a founding mother of the guild]. Kristi knew I quilted and invited me to an informational
meeting at the community center. I’d never heard of a quilt guild. I had no
ideas there was a community of people who got together for this. I didn’t know
there were books or patterns or classes or famous quilters. It was definitely a
shock to see all those people at the first meeting.
meeting at the community center. I’d never heard of a quilt guild. I had no
ideas there was a community of people who got together for this. I didn’t know
there were books or patterns or classes or famous quilters. It was definitely a
shock to see all those people at the first meeting.
DW. Had you been quilting a long
time when you joined MPS?
time when you joined MPS?
MH: My mom sewed a lot of our
clothes growing up, and my brother and I both learned to sew some of our
clothes when we were in middle school and high school. I saved all the scraps
and in college I made my first quilt. It was just squares, individually cut out
with scissors. It was actually a bit complicated because I didn’t have the same
number of squares for each color and I wanted the diagonal stripes to flow from
color to color. It’s very faded now and the low thread count border needs
repair.
clothes growing up, and my brother and I both learned to sew some of our
clothes when we were in middle school and high school. I saved all the scraps
and in college I made my first quilt. It was just squares, individually cut out
with scissors. It was actually a bit complicated because I didn’t have the same
number of squares for each color and I wanted the diagonal stripes to flow from
color to color. It’s very faded now and the low thread count border needs
repair.
DW. Here is Michelle’s
first quilt, finished in 1991 . . .
first quilt, finished in 1991 . . .
. . . and
a recent quilt:
a recent quilt:
DW: What was the inspiration for
this one, Michelle?
this one, Michelle?
MH: Self-designed, Judy Niemeyer inspired.
It was shown in the 2015 MPS show. I’m always interested in making curves from
straight lines.
It was shown in the 2015 MPS show. I’m always interested in making curves from
straight lines.
DW: It’s striking! Can you show us
one more?
one more?
MH: Yes, this is the quilt I
made for the 2003 MPS Quilt Challenge, “9-Patch Madness,” organized by Bev Hess
and Kathy Alexander:
made for the 2003 MPS Quilt Challenge, “9-Patch Madness,” organized by Bev Hess
and Kathy Alexander:
It’s a fractal, another
favorite topic for quilts. Each tiny 9-patch gets put together into a small
9-patch, and the small 9-patches make medium 9-patches, and the medium
9-patches finally make the overall 9-patch. The finished quilt is about
24″ by 24″. I’m a better piecer now so the next time I see four scale
levels of a print (like the gingham in this), I’m doing this again.
favorite topic for quilts. Each tiny 9-patch gets put together into a small
9-patch, and the small 9-patches make medium 9-patches, and the medium
9-patches finally make the overall 9-patch. The finished quilt is about
24″ by 24″. I’m a better piecer now so the next time I see four scale
levels of a print (like the gingham in this), I’m doing this again.
DW: I understand you’ve held all of the leadership positions in MPS. What was your favorite post and why?
MH: Well, I haven’t held all of the leadership positions . . .
I was Quilt Show Coordinator for the 2003 Quilt Show. This was when we thought a quilt show could be organized by just a couple of people. For the 2005 Quilt Show I was lucky enough to be on a large committee with many other people. I organized the Challenge for that show.
Together with Jacque Ervin I was Retreat Organizer from 2005 to 2007. I was Vice Chair to Chair to Past Chair from 2007 to 2010. The years and titles get a little fuzzy, though, because Liz Clements, who was following me as Vice Chair, moved to California, so I was Chair for a second year. Then the upcoming Vice Chair, Lisa Cavanaugh, became pregnant so I was Vice Chair and Chair at the same time for a while. Then I “disappeared” from the Guild until 2013 or so.
DW: Sounds like you needed a breather! What came next?
MH: Starting in 2014, I became Vicky Arnold Memorial Program Fund (VAMPF) Chair. As fun as everything else was, this has truly been my favorite position. It’s really fun to look at lots of donations, sort them, and find new and interesting combinations.
The Silent Auction is a lot of hard work but it’s also been very rewarding. VAMPF started as a bit of a lark, hoping to get about $300 a year so we could maybe hire one national speaker. Now with annual earnings of over $2000, it funds all of MPS’s programs and provides materials for retreats and workshops. It’s very gratifying to work on this and to know it makes such a positive impact for the guild.
DW: On behalf of MPS, thank you for all of your service! You mentioned
teaching in an earlier response. Tell us about that.
teaching in an earlier response. Tell us about that.
MH: I’ve been teaching about 20 years. Sylvan
Learning Center, Beaverton School District, Portland Public Schools, OMSI Chem Lab,
and Alliance Charter Academy, Science on Tap. A wide variety of ages, mostly
science and math.
Learning Center, Beaverton School District, Portland Public Schools, OMSI Chem Lab,
and Alliance Charter Academy, Science on Tap. A wide variety of ages, mostly
science and math.
DW: Will
you be looking for a teaching job in Seattle?
you be looking for a teaching job in Seattle?
MH: Yes, I’m looking for educational work in
Seattle but something new from classroom teaching. I haven’t decided if I want
to change to an administrative track or move into another non-formal venue.
Seattle but something new from classroom teaching. I haven’t decided if I want
to change to an administrative track or move into another non-formal venue.
DW: Do you
think you will look for a quilt guild in Seattle?
think you will look for a quilt guild in Seattle?
MH: I’ve looked at quilt guilds in Seattle. I can
only hope they are at least half as inspirational, educational, and fun as MPS.
only hope they are at least half as inspirational, educational, and fun as MPS.
DW: Good luck in Seattle, Michelle! Please come back and visit. How about a picture to remember you by?
MH: Happy to oblige . . .
Thanks for the write up Dawn. Being a new member to MPS, I didn't know Michelle all that well, other than she was sweet and made me feel welcome during meetings. Now I feel like I know a little bit more about her. Thanks!
Michelle's going to be missed!