Originally from Holland, Frieda has lived in the UK for close on 27 years. After studying the History of Art and Librarianship at college, she entered into a career as a librarian but craved something more dynamic and challenging and soon found herself moving into a more commercial world abroad. In 1994 Frieda completed Part I and II of the City & Guilds Embroidery course at Cardonald College in Scotland and at the same time passed a two year Textile Design module with the Open College of the Arts. From that point on, her career as a quilt artist took off.
Frieda holds workshops throughout the country as well as exhibiting at many international and national exhibitions. She has her own blog and has created a global community of like-minded textile artists.
What is your job title?
Quilt artist.
Who do you work for?
I am self employed.
What do you do all day?
I work on different quilts, piecing, embroidering, beading. I also write articles, deal with my administration, e-mails and blog, pack quilts going to exhibition and as light relief I work on mixed media pieces such as ATCs (Artists Trading Cards). I also regularly teach and give workshops.
What are you doing today?
Piecing together a quilt top and doing hand appliqué. Also answering e-mails and updating my blog.
What’s the best thing about your job?
I can play with fabric, thread, colour all day, every day!
And the worst thing?
It does not pay well and the administration of which quilts are going where and coming back is often tedious. Travelling to teach can be exhausting.
How did you get into it?
I started doing my City & Guild Embroidery in 1990 when due to a move I was temporarily between jobs and simply became addicted. As I was reasonably successful and my quilts started to win prizes I was asked to give talks and workshops.
Who’s been the biggest influence on you, career-wise?
Caryl Bryer Fallert, an American quilter who stressed the need to be professional and businesslike about my work.
Tell us a little about your latest project?
I’m working on a large quilt for the National Quilt Championships next year with the theme of Going around in Circles. One of my talks has this title, so this one was irresistible.
What’s been your biggest professional achievement so far?
Winning the European Quilt Championships in 2006.
Who is your favourite artist?
Paul Klee.
Who is your favourite textile artist?
Lesley Riley.
What do you think are the biggest challenges facing textile artists?
We tend to undervalue ourselves and consequently the general public do the same. Textiles are still considered in the main to be a “hobby” for women. We need to become more businesslike in our work and charge prices for our work which reflects our expertise and the fact that we are professional artists.
Where would you like to go from here, career-wise?
I would like to find time to eventually put my work and my reflections on my art into a book which might inspire others. A book without projects but simply about my art. But otherwise I simply want to continue with my art as it is quite simply my life.
