unique artist Archives - Princess YellowBelly Designs

The warmth, comfort and security that quilts generate are, quite frankly, priceless.

For some of us quilts have been there from our earliest childhood as symbols of warmth and love – gifts from Mom or Grandma; the quilts that kept us warm and safe for years.

Or, for those of us who are active quilters, our most poignant memories of quilts often involve the first quilt we made, and the events that surrounded it. The hopes, dreams, smiles, and tears that we stitched into each line of that carefully pieced coverlet.

Quilts are Tangible Links to Our Past

Whatever it is, that quilt is a part of our history, a living and impressionistic link to our personal past.

So without further ado, please welcome back our Unique Artist friend, Shawnna Casazza, who’s here today to share her own personal link to quilts that came from her Grandma, a woman whose incredible passion and dedication to the art of quilting still lives on today in Shawnna’s home and heart:

“My Best Quilt Memory“

Shawnna Casazza with a star pattern quilt

When I was a child, my house was two short blocks away from my grandmother’s home. Her name was Wanda Morton, but being from the south, I called her Granny. I have many fond memories time spent at Granny’s house. The art of quilting runs as a common thread through my memories of Gran.

Granny was always working on a quilt.

Sometimes she would be cutting out fabric pieces using patterns she made from old cereal boxes. She patiently cut each patch of fabric by hand with scissors.

On my next visit I would see her piecing. Her needle, thread, and thimble were always close at hand beside her favorite chair. Eventually the quilt would take shape and be ready for quilting. Granny would load it onto her trusty lap quilting frame.

That frame would sit in the corner of her tiny living room, waiting for her to return to it after she was finished spoiling me.

Many of Granny’s creations ended up in our home. Some quilts were kept as special keepsakes, while others were in constant use in our daily lives.

best quilt memory - pieced flower basket

Antique quilted flower baskets - Shawnna's best quilt memory of Granny

Granny’s Quilts are Still Show-Stoppers!

I took the pictures of Granny’s treasured “Lone Star” quilt at the 2016 and 2020 Eureka Montana Quilt Shows. This was a huge outdoor quilt show we used to have in our town every August. The show had over 500 quilts entered on most years. The quilts were displayed on the buildings all throughout town – it went on for nearly a mile and was truly amazing.

That Lone Star quilt is what I consider to be Gran’s best quilt. I loved seeing it displayed on the church in our town’s Historic Village.

What a Quilt Memory to Leave Behind!

Granny’s Continuing He/Art Legacy in My Home

I can’t believe I don’t have any pictures of her actually quilting, but we rarely gathered at her house. (She had a very small house.) All of my pictures of Gran were taken at our house or on an outing.

Unique Artist Shawnna with her best quilt memory provider - Granny

Like this treasured picture I have of the two of us together about a year before she died.

Gran’s Best Quilting Achievement

I only have one surviving photo of the quilt that Granny considered to be her best quilting achievement. It was an absolutely stunning embroidery quilt featuring the state flowers & birds from all 50 states!

When she passed away in 2018, we draped this incredible piece of art over her coffin.

Now that my Granny has passed away, her quilts have taken on even more significance to me. When I hold one of her quilts today, I remember the months of time, care, and attention that Granny poured into making it. My dear Gran left me many lasting reminders of her love for me through the legacy of her quilts.

Embroidered 50 birds of the US quilt over Granny's coffin

What’s Your Best Quilt Memory?

If you were fortunate enough to have someone in your life who was a quilter, or if you yourself are busily sewing memories for your family, please share the story! Your memories – not to mention the fabulous works of art – are far too precious to ever be forgotten.

Too Precious to Be Forgotten

Share Your Best Quilt Memory

This has been a year of unique fabric artists! So far we’ve met two amazing women who take fabric art to new and dizzying heights of creative genius. And now, we have another one to share with you.

More than that, courtesy of our lovely new guest, we’ve discovered a whole new type of fabric art that we’d never heard of before!

Yarnbombing

It’s a type of street art, or graffiti (as some call it), where the artist takes a leftover bit of knitting or yarn and wraps it around something.

The supports of a bridge
The limbs of a tree
The spokes of a bicycle

Yarnbombing has become a way of saving and repurposing “junk” destined for the landfill, and salvaging those odd ends and pieces that always seem to hang around after a knitting project.

Perhaps unsurprisingly for such an outside-the-box endeavor, yarnbombing seems to have originated in Texas, with those saucy southern Belles who needed something to do with their leftover knitting.

Now, however, it’s a practice that’s already migrated across America and over the Pond, and is now adorning everything from New York City Streets to Italian Bridges.

So without any further ado, please encounter our newest unique fabric artist, and give her a warm greeting!

Yarnbomber Ola O’Shea

You do a very different kind of art. It’s fresh, different, and evidently means different things to different people and artists:

How do You Define Your Specific Type of Yarnbombing?

My art is unique, every single piece is like no other. I started with knitting sweaters, hats etc., but I always felt a need to create things that were more unique. I connected with a yarnbombing crowd and took part in large group projects internationally.

I start with an object and my yarn selection.

I do not buy yarn

Therefore I work with what I have on hand. Minimizing waste I use small scraps of yarn first.

Ola O’Shea

Rather than spending a lot of time on personal stuff, I will focus on my journey with yarn artwork.

I have worked with yarn all my life, knitting and crocheting. Later in life I started to incorporate my craft into art and now I’m saving items from the landfill.

In the very beginning, I was loading kids’ bicycles into the car. One bicycle was left behind which I did not notice. I drove over it. I had a broken bike and decided to save it from the landfill.

That is how my yarnbombing of broken bicycles started.

I cover many items in yarn, making them not only into décor but also great for practical use. My yarn covered stools can be used as plant stands etc.

Interesting Trivia about Me

I love colors, primary colors.
My style is boho.
I never use a pattern.
I create items that are unique.
And no 2 items are exactly the same.

Yarn bombing bicycle wheels bright colors

I do not coordinate colors

I go by how it feels.

I do not plan my projects

They are very spontaneous depending what I have on hand.

Can You Tell Us More About the Culture and Community Surrounding Yarnbombing?

Yarnbombing is unique form of art, which comes with the responsibility of removing a display within an appropriate timeframe, so it does not turn into littering. Knitted/crocheted pieces can be turned into blankets and donated to people in need.

What’s Your Response to Environmental Criticisms of Yarnbombing?

Yes, there is an environmental criticism. I believe a yarnbombing carries responsibility, otherwise it becomes littering. I always make sure the projects I take part in, have zero waste and are environmentally friendly. I do not create art that interferes with wildlife, nature and I always make sure my display is removed in the timely matter.

Where Do You Find Inspiration for Your Ideas?

I find inspirations daily. I see what supplies I have on hand and what I can create. Everything I use is recycled. I do not buy yarn, I accept donations. I look for broken items, cover them with yarn and save them from landfill.

What Motivates You to Create Yarnbombing?

What motivates me to create is recycling items which would end up in landfill.

I do not purchase anything for my art; so I’m recycling yarn as well. I also use fabric. I look for colors and texture.

Why Did You Start Specifically with Yarnbombing?

I started my art, because I want zero waste. Too many items get discarded.

Did you start with a standard pattern or design, or was this all your own creation?

Everything I do is my own creation. I do not follow patterns; I don’t know how to read them. I pick up yarn and go by how it feels.

What is your process; design, prep, work, completion, etc.?

I look for items that are unusable, discarded. I will even pick them up from the side of the road. Then, I open my trunk, where I store yarn and fabric. The rest is spontaneous creation. I do not have the finished object in my head when I start. I never know what end result would be like.

Large bicycle with striped yarnbombing wheels

Which is how it all got started with yarn covered bicycles.

Bicycle was broken.
I was knitting, crocheting pieces, and adding them to the bike.
No pattern, no plan.
Just plain creation.

How long does each finished (item) take to complete?

Hard to say, because I work on few projects at the time. I consider it completed when I am satisfied with the outcome.

How many have you made in all (or a rough estimate)?

Lots. I’ve lost count, but the projects include bicycles, plant stands, wheels, paper lanterns, and (in part) a plane, and everything in between!

Do You Display Your Yarnbombing Art Publicly? Exhibits, Contests, Events?

I do participate in exhibits, although I’ve never entered a contest.

And yes, I do events.

My yarnbombing art has been displayed in LA and other cities in the US, as well as Hawaii, London, Canada etc.

I made my part, mailed it and it was incorporated into a large project. We covered façade of art gallery in LA, and a plane in Yukon, Canada.

What’s the best place for our readers to find and/or contact you?

Connect with Ola on Facebook

Or Follow Her on Instagram

How-to Recommend Another Unique Artist

Being able to showcase unique artists like Ola is one of the best parts of being Princess YellowBelly Designs. We love discovering new artists, learning about their techniques, and getting to experience their amazing works of art. If you know of someone – or are someone – who practices a unique form of fabric art, please use the form below to let us know!

Shawnna’s Best Quilt Memory