Introducing Christine Hager-Braun Ph.D.

Good Morning.  Well, we have a brave volunteer who is willing to go first in our new getting to know you blog segment.  So, I'd like to introduce Christine Hager-Braun.  (who, by the way, is SAQA's translation liason in charge of coordinating SAQA's calls for entry and membership information).
To start off, I asked her to tell us a little something about herself and then asked a few other questions so we could get to know something about her.  Here is what she said:

Christine Hagar-Braun 

Back in 1999, I moved to the US from Germany to work as a scientist in HIV research. I began art quilting as a hobby. Seven years later when my son started kindergarten I decided to give up my job in the laboratory and to start a career as a full time textile artist. I fulfilled my dream: my hobby became my profession.

Question:   Do you have your own studio or do you work  wherever you can find a spot?  What is your favorite feature of your work space and what is your least favorite feature?  (We would love it if you could provide a photo of your work space.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be cleaned up!)

Answer:

Like many hobby artists I started out at a small corner of the dining table but soon I took over the flat surface and we ate at a small corner of the table. As it became clear that I needed a dedicated larger workspace we built a small addition to our house with the studio on the first floor. What I love about the space is the natural light. I have a total of six windows on three sides of the studio! 

Question:  Do you offer a professional service such as long arm quilting, teaching, commission work, fabric dyeing and selling, coaching, repair and restoration, etc.  Tell us a little about it and be sure to include your web page address and/or blog page info and whatever else you use to get the word out.

Answer:  I teach quilting with a walking foot and free-motion quilting for beginners as well as project-based classes. In addition, I give presentations to quilt guilds, providing them with an overview of my art work and telling the story of my the life as a textile artist. I accept commissions for art quilts which are similar to my existing work but need different colors or sizes. My biggest commission so far is a series of three art quilts for the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

More info is available on my website www.soularpowerfabricart.com or via email at christine@soularpowerfabricart.com.

Question:  What is the funniest or most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at an exhibit or quilt show or gallery opening for your work.

Answer:One of my early solo show was at a community building. I went back a few days after the opening to photograph the exhibition. A viewer, who apparently did not know who I was looked at my piece “Storm of Life” and commented: “I guess the artist had an egg sunny-side up for breakfast!”

Question:  In addition to art quilting, do you engage in any other artistic endeavors?

Answer:  The only other creative adventure I pursue is raising a teenage son (who I adore)!

Here are more of Christine's fabulous art quilts.........enjoy!