Autumn lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; her clever social media handle, Quillwaukee Designs, is a play on the city's name. I reached out to compliment her original quilled work, and curious to learn more about Autumn's love of quilling, asked if I could send her a few questions.
Discovering Quilling
Where did you first come across quilling and what about it spoke to you?
I discovered quilling at the beginning of the pandemic. My husband gave me a quilled Mother’s Day card and I was mesmerized by it. I had never seen anything like it!
Are you self-taught, and if so, have you found kits, books, and/or videos helpful?
Soon after receiving the card, I bought some supplies, watched YouTube videos, and started to experiment. Some of my favorite quilling artists include Sena Runa and Yulia Brodskaya... their work is stunning and inspirational.
As I became more confident, I began participating in a few markets, auctions, and accepting commissions. Quilling provided me with a creative outlet and some much needed peace during a time that was filled with so much uncertainty.
A New Career Path
Do you have plans to grow your quilling business?
My degree is in elementary education. I have around twenty years of teaching experience with the bulk of it being at the preschool and kindergarten level. Now that I've been quilling for several years, after some soul searching, I've decided to pause my teaching career to focus solely on quilling this upcoming year. It’s something I have always wanted to try and it feels like a natural time to do so.
Finding Inspiration
How do you choose what to quill?
I find inspiration in nature and have quilled many birds. Fun fact, one of my preschool teaching jobs was at a local nature center. The classrooms were named after songbirds: chickadee, cardinal, goldfinch, and nuthatch. Those were the first birds I quilled for a fundraiser for the nature preschool.
I’ve done several commissions including Colorado flag ski goggles and a guitar, along with a sailboat, to name a few. I enjoy working with clients to create something special and unique.
This heart design is attractive and unusual... what is its story?
I created it in memory of the recipient's parents who had passed away. Because the recipient likes to end her texts with green hearts, the thoughtful gift giver asked me to create a green heart that included the parents' initials... both happened to be MH.
And this luna moth?
It was commissioned by a bride who gave it to her husband at their wedding. The back story is that when he proposed, a luna moth landed on her. So sweet!
Looking Ahead
I can tell you love where you live as you've created a number of designs that feature Wisconsin nature and the Milwaukee flag. Are you showing your quilling locally?
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| Milwaukee flag, in-progress |
Yes, Milwaukee and Wisconsin-themed pieces are some of my favorites. Currently, I have several pieces on display at businesses in the Milwaukee area. Most of my sales have been via markets or through Instagram. In the next year, I hope to build a website, participate in more markets, and work on some larger scale pieces. I can’t wait to start this next phase!
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| Autumn Petri - Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
You'll find Autumn Petri on Instagram and Facebook. She can also be reached via email at quillwaukeedesigns at gmail.com. I hope her story has inspired you as much as it did me.
