~Rey~
Where were you born?
I was born in a small city called Bellingham, in Washington State. It’s closer to the Canadian border than it is to Seattle, but right along the Pacific coast. My parents moved out there just after they got married, all the way from Michigan, and I’m an only child so I grew up with a very small family. After college I moved out to Richmond fleeing the terrible job market and cost of housing in WA. I live with my girlfriend Jen, who makes dolls and is as artistic as I am. As you can guess, our place is a mess of art supplies.
How long have you been sewing? What is the first thing you made?
My mother isn’t a quilter but she is passionate about sewing, and she started me with the plastic needle, yarn and canvas when I was old enough to not stab myself in the eye by accident. I grew up learning to sew on her Singer, which eventually became mine, as well as hand sewing. I made some clothes, but what I loved best was making my own stuffed animals, and creating my own patterns for them. I don’t even remember the first thing I made anymore, probably a small stuffed toy.
What is your favorite sewing technique? Hand or machine?
I prefer machine sewing for large projects, because I’m anxious to see the finished project, but I find hand sewing relaxing. I went without a sewing machine for a couple years and still made Halloween costumes and the like. I like making dolls and other small projects, and beadwork, all of which is hand sewing by necessity.
What is your favorite color? What color do you have the most trouble using in your quilts?
I like blue best, but there are so many gorgeous color combinations in fabric that I’m pretty comfortable with a variety. My roommate loves red, and has really opened me up to that color, but I think I’ll always have trouble with orange. I’m just not an orange person.
What inspires you?
In addition to working with fabric, I draw and paint, and occasionally write. I’ve been involved in puppetry, I have comic books in the works, and basically my creativity goes in so many directions at once that I can’t keep up. I have insomnia, which isn’t helped by the constant flood of ideas. I think I’d have an easier time listing things that don’t inspire me than things that do. I’m extremely visual and I have a good visual memory, so everything I see builds up in my brain and mixes together into ideas.
Favorite book?
I read a lot of fantasy, like the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett, and anything by Neil Gaiman. I’m a fan of Douglas Adams, but the works of Rudyard Kipling are a childhood favorite, and I’ve gone through phases of reading mystery and sci-fi.
Favorite movie?
My taste in movies runs along the same lines as in books, and I am an avid fan of anything and everything Jim Henson, along with a lot of fantasy movie standards. I prefer comedy over drama, and I grew up watching British television and movies because we lived so close to British Columbia.
Favorite band? Favorite song?
I listen to a huge variety of music, from jazz and blues to classic rock to punk to Celtic folk music. My music collection has Billy Joel, Loreena McKennitt, Indigo Girls, Seal, Sting, the Clash, Jonny Lang, Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, David Bowie, Queen, I could go on…
How long have you been working for QA?
I’ve been working for QA since late March 2006, when I actually didn’t know anything about quilting. Joyce let me take lots of classes, and I love quilting as a way to really show off fabric. I also like making dolls and I’ll make clothes once in a while, but to me quilting is the one form of sewing that really just showcases how gorgeous fabric can be. It’s really rewarding in a horribly lazy way to help customers pick out fabrics and then get to see the show and tell of the finished project later on. 
Rey holding a stuffed mouse she made when she was younger.
If you would like to read Rey’s bio on our website you can do so here:
http://www.quiltingadventures.com/staffpage.htm#rey
