Meet One of Our Members!

​​When asked what inspires her to begin a quilt, Leesa Jump does not hesitate to admit that pictures of quilts are her motivation. Seeing someone else’s creation prompts her need to create. She is also quick to add that “kits are wonderful” for pushing her quilting buttons. She is a big fan of the work of Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company, and was excited to meet her at the recent Chicago quilt show.Growing up in Indiana, Leesa had no quilters in the family to influence her. It was not until she took a class in Ft. Wayne before coming to Naperville that she became interested in the possibilities. Although she finds selecting colors troublesome and backs away from projects requiring excessive cutting, she has become an accomplished hand quilter and hand applique artist. When she decides a quilt needs machine quilting, she does it herself on her much-loved faithful machine. If she’s stymied on a project, she heads to Pinterest on the Internet for help.

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“Sibling Court” was the address Leesa selected for the guild’s Naperville Street Names challenge a few years back, incorporating silhouettes made of her children by a folk artist during a trip through the Smoky Mountains. It’s one of her favorites and hangs prominently in her spacious sewing area.

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Leesa is an enthusiastic member of the Boa Bee, enjoying the focus on handwork at twice-monthly bee meetings. Now she is busy completing a strippy pieced quilt with flower and vine applique, inspired by the guild’s current opportunity quilt, which she worked on. And, oh yes, her nine-year-old granddaughter has requested her help with sewing and quilting lessons – an especially exciting time for any grandmother! Since joining the guild in 2003, she has served with membership and also on contracts and programs with Catherine Redford. She has volunteered to be a helper with programs again for the coming year.
Thanks, Leesa!
August 6, 2014

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