We sat down with Lauren Wash, an artist and Craft Alliance’s Development Manager, to discuss the genesis of her quilting practice, her unique design philosophy, and why the simple act of making is a vital connection to history.
Q: The Genesis of Craft: What first drew you to quilting and making?
“I grew up in a house where everybody was always making something all the time, it was almost compulsive. My dad’s a mechanic and my mom is a fiber artist, and she weaves and cross stitches. So, I was just exposed to it from a really young age. I think just the influence of my family made it seem inevitable that I would also start making stuff.”
Q: Did a specific moment or piece spark your passion?
“I don’t think it was a specific moment. I didn’t do a lot of hand stitching or quilting or sewing in my teen years. When I kind of became an adult, I ended up revisiting it, and it turns out that I really love it. It’s a point of um… it’s something that my mom and I can bond over, and we show each other projects. Having a common ground and something that you can both bond over is a really nice thing to have in a relationship with your parents.”
Q: Can you walk us through your design process?
“I never really know what it’s gonna look like until it’s done. It’s like, if you give a mouse a cookie. I’ll make one block if I have one idea, and then I might get an idea while I’m making that block, something that builds off of that one. That kind of guides me into the rest of the project. It’s done when I’m tired of it or when I feel like it’s kind of cohesive and there’s nothing else that I can add.”
Q: What is your favorite part of that journey?
“I love basting. The whole process is when I have the pieces cut out and I have them sandwiched on top of each other, and then I can just sit there and I baste it down before I start stitching. It kind of gives me a visual of what it will look like, and I can adjust from there.”
Q: Considering consumerism and industrialization, what does it mean to you to design and make something by hand?
“People have been making stuff since the beginning of time. I think it’s not really a why; it’s just a, it’s just something that we do, it’s something that we’ve always done. It’s really important now, especially with how fast things are moving… it’s not good for us to have immediate satisfaction. Having a project that you spend days or months or years on is so valuable because it gives you a chance to slow down and connect with the things that your ancestors have been doing for thousands and thousands of years.”
Q: As both an artist and a Development Manager, how do you see the mission of Craft Alliance playing out in your work?
“I love my job because I get to advocate for craft education. The happiest part of my job is when I get to actually see the camps run , seeing the kids laughing and having fun and working on their projects. Reading the little surveys that we get at the end, talking about how they were proud of themselves and that they tried something new—that really makes it all worth it.”
Q: What is the most rewarding part of supporting other artists and makers in the Saint Louis community through your work?
“I’m inspired every day when I come into work because I’m surrounded by people who make amazing things. It’s giving me a long list of things that I want to learn. I think it’s just really important to lift people up and give them a space where they can learn. It’s extremely important to advocate for others in this space.”