Elfriede Grooten

Dalen, Netherlands

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved textiles. At school, I loved the
handicraft classes. My mother and grandmother taught me the first
simple sewing skills. When I was 12 years old, I sewed my first jacket
and after that I just never stopped. After primary school, I learned to
become a flower stylist. I learned how to combine colors in floral work,
and I apply this in my textile work as well, by creating exciting color
combinations.
I look back at a long history of textile related handicrafts, like weaving
and felt art, and about 30 years of quilting. I am very interested in
innovation and try to learn as many techniques as I can. I am always
excited to see how I can integrate what I learn into my quilting. I love starting
with a white fabric as a blank canvas; there is no limit if you dye and
print yourself.
My inspiration comes from nature, from photographs, from every day
things and my surroundings. Nowadays, I am mostly concerned with how
we care for the world around us. I want to make people think, and raise
awareness about climate change, for example.
And above all, the pleasure and joy I experience while working with
textiles makes me want to continue to do this for a very long time to
come.
If you are curious about my work, please visit my (Dutch)
website https://www.quilttuin.nl/