In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Rachel and I talk about:
① how time changes both quilts and humans
② how to do hard work with noble intention, and
③ how we can mine our own creative processes to discover personal strategies for living the good life

I first met Rachel McGinnes [ Ссылка ] at Penland School of Arts and Crafts just north of Asheville, North Carolina. We had been in each other's digital orbits for a good while, and so when we finally got to sit down together in a couple plush armchairs, warm cups of coffee in our hands, fireplace in the dining hall, it was the most natural thing in the world just to slip into a warm, friendly conversation. Rachel's current work centers on weaving old, deconstructed quilt material into new pieces on her digital loom.

After she spends days picking apart an old quilt, she often finds that it's the batting, the worn lace-like quality of this batting, which is normally hidden from view to be what especially captivates her.

Rachel is also a dedicated, and as I think you'll hear in this conversation, gifted creative coach. It was fascinating to me to listen how she talks about the raw materials of quilts and the raw materials of our lives in similar terms. Her thesis is that because we know how to make a strong and beautiful thing like a quilt, then we must also inherently know how to make a strong and beautiful life. It's all the same stardust, after all.

*WHY LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE?*
Rachel Meginnes is adept at putting words to the emotional nuances involved in deconstructing and reconstructing quilts. It's my hope that you will gain an appreciation for the intricate relationship between art, life, and personal growth.

*CONVERSATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS*
03:03 Rachel's Creative Process and Philosophy
06:53 The Journey from Painting to Weaving
10:18 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Deconstructing Quilts
26:51 Reorganizing the Fabric Stash
27:40 The Impact of Fabric Organization on Creativity
30:56 The Role of Memory and History in Fabric Selection
33:05 The Artistic Journey: Trusting Your Own Voice
35:39 The Role of a Creative Coach
40:23 The Coaching Process and Its Impact
48:59 The Importance of Authenticity in Art

*REFLECTION PROMPTS*
1. How does Rachel's approach to weaving and using old quilts reflect on the concept of transformation in art and life?
2. Consider the emotional journey Rachel describes in deconstructing quilts. How does this process mirror personal transformations in your own life?
3. How does the concept of 'mistakes can always be fixed' in weaving relate to personal challenges? How might embracing imperfections lead to growth and authenticity?

You can see images of quilts we discuss on the episode website
[ Ссылка ]

*HELPFUL RESOURCES*
→ Join the QUILTY NOOK: A Curious (and Sometimes Feral) Online Textile Community [ Ссылка ]
→ Top Ten SEAMSIDE Episodes Guide [ Ссылка ]
→ Weekly Email Goodies from Zak [ Ссылка ]
→ Visit Zak’s website [ Ссылка ]
→ Follow Zak on Instagram [ Ссылка ]

*ABOUT SEAMSIDE*
Hosted by quilt-maker Zak Foster, we explore how working with cloth has changed who we are as people, what we call on the show *the inner work of textiles.* Zak speaks with a wide variety of textile artists from quilters to embroiderers, from activists to educators, writers, and collectors.

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