BACK TO ARTISTS

Karen Lemmons

Quiltmaker, Owner

  Detroit, Michigan, United States    

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network

img
I am the daughter of Louis Reaves and Marilyn Reaves Neeley. I am the oldest of three daughters. My sisters are Stephanie Slan and Michele Williams.

I have sewn clothing since I was a teenager. I also learned to knit, crochet, embroider, hook rugs, and needlepoint. Learning all of these needle arts certainly expanded my skills and knowledge. However, my first love is sewing. I love sewing so much that I earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Family and Consumer Resources from Wayne State University.

I do not recall when I first became interested in quilting. I joined an on-line African American Quilters group, and particpated in the fabric postcard swaps. This same group would also host quilt block swaps. I didn't know how to make blocks, so I was motivated to learn. I searched on-line for a local African American quilting group and found the Great Lakes African American Quilters Network meeting. After attending, I joined and became a member.

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network offers classes and workshops to both members and non-members. I took a beginner's quilting class, "Hidden In Plain View," with Theadra Fleming. I learned to sew blocks used in the Underground Railroad. In another workshop, I learned to make and bind my qult. It took at least a year to make the blocks, machine quilt, and bind it. I made a second quilt using oranges, yellows, and browns. I have made many charity, and quilts for silent auction for the National Conference of African American Librarians. I also made a t-shirt quilt for a family reunion. God's will, I want to make many more quilts, from traditional to fiber art, incorporating all the skills that I have learned from GLAAQN.

When was the quiltmaker born?

09/06/1954

Ethnic background/tribal affiliation:

Black African American

Educational background:

Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Family and Consumer Resources from Wayne State University

Occupation (if retired, former occupation):

Retired School Librarian/Teacher

Where was the quiltmaker born?

Detroit, Michigan (MI), United States

Where did the quiltmaker grow up?

Urban

Quiltmaker's maiden name:

Reaves

Father's Name:

Louis Reaves

Mother's Name:

Marilyn Reaves Neeley

How did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

From class

When did the quiltmaker learn to quilt?

Age 50 or over

Why does/did the quiltmaker quilt:

Pleasure

Name of quilting group(s):

Great Lakes African American Quilters Network (GLAAQN), Livonia Civic Park Senior Center
We Sew Love Quilting Ministry Michigan

Estimate the number of quilts made by this maker:

20-50 quilts

Does/did the quiltmaker sell quilts?

no

Does/did the quiltmaker teach quilting?

no

Load More

img