Quilt Artitsts, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr...Creators of Quilted Comforts and Providing Comfort for Many...And They Are Guest Writing on QuiltersBuzz
Once they were told, they could never earn a living making and selling quilts. Not only have they made a living at quiltmaking, they are making a difference and
contributing to society and positively affecting the lives of many people.
The inspiring works of quilt designers, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, and their “FunQuilts”, business have appeared in numerous magazine and publications.
Their quilts have become favorite “blankies” among kids and toddlers, their custom quilts grace the walls and beds of those who appreciate their art and Weeks and Bill are making a difference in society by donating their time, talents and goods.
Here are Weeks and Bill to tell their story.
The Start…of Good Things…
We started out in 1999 thinking that the scope of FunQuilts work would be limited to designing and making quilts for individuals, galleries and small retailers. As opportunities have come our way we have expanded the work in ways we never could have imagined in seven years ago.
When we started we thought there ought to be a market for contemporary quilts that could be machine washed and dried.
By designing patterns that are expressive of the time and culture in which we live, we feel that we have tremendous creative flexibility. We don’t feel constrained by a specific style, technique or palette.
It’s hard to believe now but one retailer told us a month or so after we started FunQuilts that we’d never make a living selling quilts that were machine quilted. That was a lesson in realizing that just because no one else is doing it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Designing the Fabric and the Quilt….
In addition to designing and making quilts, we love designing fabric for FreeSpirit and have designed over 100 original fabrics to date. We have written three books on contemporary quiltmaking, including "The Modern Quilt Workshop" and "Color Harmony for Quilts", and plan to write more.
The highlight of every summer is our weeklong Design Camp held just outside of Chicago, where people from all over the country come to learn how to take the step from following patterns to designing their own quilts.
Helping Others….with Many Hands
Our latest venture is a joint project with CARC, a job-training and work center for developmentally disabled adults in Chicago.
We looked at their skills and their machinery and designed a line of brightly colored, two-layered flannel blankies with adorable animal stitching called Many Hands Blankies.
Within two weeks of their launch they were heralded by
TIME magazine as a hip new product for kids. We have been absolutely swamped with orders for them and we’re selling them as fast as they can make them.
It’s such a great story: great use of technology, enthusiastic workers who get much-needed jobs and affordably priced, very fun design for children. It’s been so rewarding for us.
The Giving of Ten Percent…
For every ten quilts we sell, we donate one to charity.
Recent donations have gone to support the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,Sarah's Inn (domestic abuse shelter), the American Lung Association of Chicago, Half the Sky foundation (improving conditions in Chinese orphanages,) PADS: Public Action to Deliver shelter (providing shelter for the homeless,) Suzanne's Friends for Life (sponsoring leukemia research,)
Hillsides (treating abused children in Pasadena,) Teen Living (providing shelter for runaways,) and many other local and national organizations.
Family, Friends and the Blog
Weeks also writes weekly posts on www.whipup.net on quilting, creativity and color while Bill teaches graphic design at Dominican University. If you lived in our neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois you’d see us watching our 5-year daughter master the Roundhouse kick at Tae Kwon Do or drawing with sidewalk chalk in the driveway with the other kids in the neighborhood. Making time for our family and friends is a top priority.
Stay tuned for the next few posts by the FunQuilts Team!
(Photos and graphics from Weeks and Bill...quilts shown are the "Many Hands Blankie" -Elephants and "American Pie" -Circles)
contributing to society and positively affecting the lives of many people.The inspiring works of quilt designers, Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, and their “FunQuilts”, business have appeared in numerous magazine and publications.
Their quilts have become favorite “blankies” among kids and toddlers, their custom quilts grace the walls and beds of those who appreciate their art and Weeks and Bill are making a difference in society by donating their time, talents and goods.
Here are Weeks and Bill to tell their story.
The Start…of Good Things…
We started out in 1999 thinking that the scope of FunQuilts work would be limited to designing and making quilts for individuals, galleries and small retailers. As opportunities have come our way we have expanded the work in ways we never could have imagined in seven years ago.
When we started we thought there ought to be a market for contemporary quilts that could be machine washed and dried.
By designing patterns that are expressive of the time and culture in which we live, we feel that we have tremendous creative flexibility. We don’t feel constrained by a specific style, technique or palette.
It’s hard to believe now but one retailer told us a month or so after we started FunQuilts that we’d never make a living selling quilts that were machine quilted. That was a lesson in realizing that just because no one else is doing it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.
Designing the Fabric and the Quilt….
In addition to designing and making quilts, we love designing fabric for FreeSpirit and have designed over 100 original fabrics to date. We have written three books on contemporary quiltmaking, including "The Modern Quilt Workshop" and "Color Harmony for Quilts", and plan to write more.
The highlight of every summer is our weeklong Design Camp held just outside of Chicago, where people from all over the country come to learn how to take the step from following patterns to designing their own quilts. Helping Others….with Many Hands
Our latest venture is a joint project with CARC, a job-training and work center for developmentally disabled adults in Chicago.
We looked at their skills and their machinery and designed a line of brightly colored, two-layered flannel blankies with adorable animal stitching called Many Hands Blankies.
Within two weeks of their launch they were heralded by
TIME magazine as a hip new product for kids. We have been absolutely swamped with orders for them and we’re selling them as fast as they can make them.It’s such a great story: great use of technology, enthusiastic workers who get much-needed jobs and affordably priced, very fun design for children. It’s been so rewarding for us.
The Giving of Ten Percent…
For every ten quilts we sell, we donate one to charity.
Recent donations have gone to support the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,Sarah's Inn (domestic abuse shelter), the American Lung Association of Chicago, Half the Sky foundation (improving conditions in Chinese orphanages,) PADS: Public Action to Deliver shelter (providing shelter for the homeless,) Suzanne's Friends for Life (sponsoring leukemia research,)
Hillsides (treating abused children in Pasadena,) Teen Living (providing shelter for runaways,) and many other local and national organizations.
Family, Friends and the Blog
Weeks also writes weekly posts on www.whipup.net on quilting, creativity and color while Bill teaches graphic design at Dominican University. If you lived in our neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois you’d see us watching our 5-year daughter master the Roundhouse kick at Tae Kwon Do or drawing with sidewalk chalk in the driveway with the other kids in the neighborhood. Making time for our family and friends is a top priority.
Stay tuned for the next few posts by the FunQuilts Team!
(Photos and graphics from Weeks and Bill...quilts shown are the "Many Hands Blankie" -Elephants and "American Pie" -Circles)
comments
I am looking for the pattern for the "quilt by the lake" by bill kerr and weeks ringle. I had the pattern for the american patchwok Feb.2008 but I lost the book.
Thanks
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy Townes | August 18, 2008 11:04 AM
I think you must be referring to "Windy by the Lake." We're glad you like that pattern too as it's one of our favorites. You can call the magazine at(800) 677-4876 to purchase a back copy.
Best Wishes,
Weeks Ringle
Posted by: Weeks Ringle | August 18, 2008 8:47 PM