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 This week we are pleased to feature teacher
Jean Shute of Otis Orchards, WA. Jean
taught the first class (“Color and Design for Art Quilters”) here at the MQR
University, and she will be teaching her new class (“Portraits in Cloth”)
starting later this month. I’m sure you’ll
enjoy getting to know a little more about her; and I know you’ll love the
photographs of the pieces she has shared with us.
Please be sure to visit the forum and thank Jean
for taking the time to participate in our “In the Spotlight” feature.
MQResource: Please tell us a little about your family.
My sweet
hubby and I have been together 30 years.
Brave man took on a single mom with three children. I have two daughters and one son, three
grandsons and one granddaughter. The
furry and feathered household members include one tiny sheltie named Katie, a
23-pound tabby cat, Meesh (short for Meatloaf); barn kitty Ernie (19), mouser
extraordinaire, and Ollie our gray and white goose (18). Our animals are long-lived. 
MQR: Where do you call home?
Otis Orchards, Washington, near the Idaho border. Our nearest cities are Spokane (pronounced Spo-can), 20 miles away
on I-90 heading west, or Coeur d’Alene,
Idaho, 14 miles, heading
east. We live on 3 ½ acres a country
block from the Spokane River. 
MQR: How long have you been quilting and how did you get started?
My
paternal grandmother lived on a farm and was a quilter. I remember her treadle sewing machine
whirring away to make her clothes, slip-covers, and quilts. The double wedding ring made of feed sacks on
her bed intrigued me from an early age with all the bright colors against the
white background. My mother taught me to
sew when I was 10. I began doing my own
quilting in the early 70s, sewing for a local shop owner, and I made and sold
quilts at local crafts fairs. Time to
make quilts was scarce as my children grew up, but I began anew in the late
1980s.
I’ve
been making quilts for about 37 years. I
began machine quilting just before my last grandchild was born – 11 years
ago. I took a local domestic machine
class from Pam Clarke and decided this was a lot of fun. I made lots of baby quilts and other
things. I had an opportunity to take an
early retirement from the Federal Courts when they were having budgetary problems. I was 55 and knew I would need some
additional income. A friend in the office
had a cousin who did longarm quilting. I
visited her and was hooked. I bought my
A-1 six years ago and had my first customer four months after I got my machine.
My plan is to continue taking customer quilts until I turn 65, then I’ll
“retire” again and just play with my own. 
MQR: Do you still do much piecing, or are you all about the quilting?
I’ve
gradually gone to making art quilts. I
do attend a couple retreats a year when I can piece and I take December off to
complete my Christmas projects.
MQR: Do you have a quilting business?
Yes
MQR: What is your favorite part of quilting for other people?
Getting to see all the beautiful quilts and meet the fabulous ladies
who bring them to me. I’ve made some
wonderful friends. 
MQR: How long have you been teaching?
I’ve taught traditional quilt making over the past 20 years. I have also taught art classes in drawing and
painting. When I focused on art quilts, many
people asked me to teach classes on my methods and the materials I use. It’s been a lot of fun.
MQR: What do you enjoy most about teaching?
Seeing how excited students get when they’ve discovered something
wonderful they can do themselves. I get just
as excited as they do. 
MQR: What is the most challenging part of quilting for you?
Finding
time to get it all done! Also, feeling
guilty when I take a day off to do something for myself.
MQR: What are your favorite quilting tools?
I don’t use many tools – practically all my work is freehand, but I use
Janet Lee’s favorite ruler, and love my Gingher curved-blade embroidery
scissors I keep on a retractable holder for snipping threads. The curved blades make less chance of cutting
the quilt top. I’ve only zapped myself
in the face once or twice when I let go of them a little too abruptly. 
MQR: What hobbies do you have (beyond quilting)?
Well, when there’s time (hah) I do portraits, make hand-painted tiles, draw
and paint, wall murals, sew quilted bags, sew clothes, garden, love needlework
of all kinds – knitting crochet, embroidery, Russian punch needle. I spin wool for mental therapy – the quiet
turning of the wheel, my bare feet on the foot treadles, and the wool moving
through my fingers will bliss me right out!
I have to knit and crochet to use up all that yarn.
MQR: What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Tillamook’s Mud Slide – chocolate fudge layers in chocolate ice cream –
heaven for chocolate lovers. 
MQR: Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
Ummmm…… both! Actually salty just ever so slightly.
MQR: What is your favorite beverage?
Pineapple juice or failing that, a good blended margarita!
MQR: What is your least favorite food?
Green beans – yecch!!!!! 
MQR: What are your favorite books/authors?
I love murder mysteries – not the gruesome kind where they dwell on all
the particulars, but the how, where, and who-done-it parts. Fantasy books – I’ve read practically all of
Lois McMasters Bujold books since Suzanne’s recommendation. Great stories – just wish there were
more! Mark Twain, Shakespeare, many of
the classics draw me.
MQR: What are your favorite movies?
Comedies and love stories.
Something with intrigue and minimal bloodshed. Some of my past favorites have been Shawshank
Redemption, As Good as it Gets, Princess Bride, Sleepless in Seattle, Hunt for
Red October. Old movies are fun.
MQR: What is your favorite time of year?
Any time but winter!
MQR: What is one of your goals for
2009?
To catch up, clean out, get rid of!
MQR: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about quilting or
your business?
As the teaching expands, I’d like to cut back on customer quilts a
bit. I won’t stop entirely, but it would
be great to have more time to pursue other fun things. Actually, my plan is to fly to Missouri, and
plug into Shirley for an energy transfusion so I can achieve half of what she
does LOL.
All photographs have been provided by Jean.
Thanks, Jean! Please
don’t forget to visit the forum to post any questions or comments that you may
have for her.
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