Carrie craves order and precision but rarely achieves it.

“I used to watch my Grandma Harper at her sewing table in the basement. I was her only granddaughter, and she made matching outfits for my dolls and me. Years later, I found scraps of paper in her sewing table drawer with my measurements at various ages. Grandma kept every offcut of fabric in two shipping barrels, and I found so many memories there. I’ve kept a handful for a project that has yet to come together in my mind.

I’m a project-oriented quilter, probably because I move often and can’t keep a large stash of fabric. I only buy for specific projects, though my husband might disagree. I have a lot of projects. I learned traditional quilting skills in a class one summer during college. I made cardboard templates for log cabin and appliqued my sunbonnet by hand. Now I love to play with modern, mathematical shortcuts. I’m drawn to lines and intersections. Binding is the perfect end to my work: mitered corners and blind-stitched folds.”

Carrie’s quilting style allows her to create order amidst the general chaos of her lifestyle. Carrie and her husband, Bob Wiklund, have moved 12 times in 25 years and have lived in six countries with their two children (both now in university). Managing moves across borders requires organization and good humor, and Carrie has used those skills and further training in her various work experiences as editor, teacher and museum guide. She hopes that a bit of each adopted culture comes through in her work: Russian resourcefulness, German precision, British heritage and Singaporean balance.