About Diane Stavola

As a young child, I was introduced to the needle arts by my mother and grandmother. Initially, they taught me how to sew and make clothes for my dolls. Then I was introduced to knitting, crochet, and crewel embroidery.

My first formal class in any form of stitching was a beginning quilting class in the early 80's. By the late 1980's, I owned the quilt shop where I had taken my first lessons and was teaching quilting classes to my customers.

While studying new techniques, I continued with all the other forms of needle work I had already learned . The needle arts had become a full time obsession.

With the arrival of my children, I closed the shop to be a stay at home Mom. I always managed to find time for my stitching and began to slowly venture into designing my own work.

In 1999, I joined The Embroiderers' Guild of America. I had been a member of several local quilt guilds, but didn't find they met my needs because they were limited to only one form of needlework. It was at an EGA, Inc. meeting that I was introduced to beading as well as a host of other forms of needle work.

Over the years, I have tried as many types of needle work as possible, but my loves are quilting and beadwork. After taking a design class, I knew that I also wanted to expand my expertise in that arena also.

Currently, I work as a full-time textile artist with an emphasis on quilting and beading. I exhibit my work in gallery shows and exhibitions several times a year. I also sell my work through several galleries in the region and now through my website.

I have continued to teach classes regularly since my quilt shop days. I have done private classes, classes for EGA, Inc. and ANG, as well as for quilt shops and bead shops.

Although I enjoy teaching, my true passion is in the designing and creating one of a kind pieces. To that end I am currently enrolled in the Master Craftsman in Design program offered by EGA, Inc., and have begun to study through the Cities and Guilds system in England.

I cannot imagine a life without a needle in my hand.

Resumé

Awards and Honors

Teaching Experience

2006 Peyote Fringe Choker, Studio Baboo, July 2006
          Free-form Peyote Stitch Bracelet, Blue Ridge Bead Society, October 2006 
2005 Landscape Design, Old Trinity Schoolhouse Quilt Shop, Fincastle, VA, June 2005
2004 Peyote Fringe Choker, Carolinas Region EGA, June 2004
2003 Classic Elegance: An Exercise in Peyote Stitch, Virginia Highlands Fiber Arts Festival, Abingdon, VA, July
         African Helix Technique, Crazy Quilting, Canvas Painting, Blue Ridge Chapter EGA, Roanoke, VA
         Peyote Beaded Bead, Basic Bead Stringing, Basic Wire Worked Clasp, The First Saturday Bead Non-Society,  Roanoke, VA
         Fabric Painting, Old Trinity Schoolhouse Quilt Shop, Fincastle, VA, April and June
         Quilted Landscapes, Old Trinity Schoolhouse Quilt Shop, Fincastle, VA, May and August
          Bead It!, KICS Program, Cave Spring Elementary School, Roanoke, VA, October-November
2002 Dutch Spiral Necklace, Ndbele Bracelet, Tassel making, Blue Ridge Chapter EGA, Roanoke, VA
         African Helix Beaded Necklace, The First Saturday Bead Non-Society, Roanoke, VA
         Ndebele bracelet, EGA Carolinas Regional Meeting, Spartanburg, SC, September
2001 Peyote Stitch Brooch, Blue Ridge Chapter EGA, Roanoke, VA

Exhibits

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

Affiliations

The Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc., American Needlepoint Guild, National Embroidery Teachers' Association, Fiber Forum of EGA, Inc., Surface Design Association, Studio Art Quilts Association, Jakard, Lynwood Artists

Bibliography
Stavola, Diane. The Creative Classroom. Apprize, Volume 19, No. 1. Louisville, KY: The Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc. March 2003

 

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