Emma Allebes, born Oct 23, 1931 in Ogden, Utah, has been married to her husband Ted for 39 years. She is the mother of 3 married daughters and grandmother to 6 and has been interested in Fiber Arts since childhood. Her major in college was Clothing & Textiles, with a minor in Art. Emma has been a professional dressmaker and designed her own clothes for as long as she can remember.
Almost 12 years ago, a long time dream was realized when she purchased a fabric store. It is a full fabric shop called 'Tayo's Fair Oaks Fabric'. Tayo is her husband's Dutch name. Because of the energy needed to develop Tayo's into something very special, Emma's interest in exhibiting her work outside her business had been on hold. Now she feels she can relax a bit and has entered some national and international competitions.
Emma has won blue ribbons, Best of Show and Judge's Choice on local, state, national and international levels for her quilts, art to wear and cloth dolls.
The quilt designed and made by Emma called 'Evolution of the Tomato', was selected for the International Fabric Garden Show which toured Japan in 1990 and is now touring the USA. Emma's 1991 African scrap quilt 'To All Worthy Male Members', depicting 24 men's hands from all over the world, won a purchase award in an International Art Competition, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her quilt, 'Let's Pretend', was selected from Mary Mashuta's Story Quilt book to tour Japan. The American Museum of Quilts and Textiles of San Jose, California recently awarded Emma a 2nd Place in a juried show 'New Faces', for her 'Kimono Quilt'. Her 'Kimono Quilt; received Best of Class award at the 1994 Califronia State Fair. Emma was especially pleased to be included in the Bedford Gallery Show, 'New Directions: Quilts for the 21st Century', again for her 'Kimono Quilt'.
At the International Quilt Market in Houston, Texas, in Oct 1991, Emma was invited as one of 50 designers to design a garment for the prestigious Farifield Wearable Art Fashion Show. Her garment 'Diamonds Down Under', was one of 12 selected from the show to go to Holland for 'Quilt Europa', in April 1992.
In June 1991, Emma's garment, 'Tutti Fruitt' was selected for the Bazaar Del Mundo Fashion Show in San Diego. This garment also won a blue ribbon at the 1991 California State Fair. Emma's denim garment won Best of Class for denim art at the same state fair.
In June 1992, at the Bazaar Del Mundo Fashion Show, Emma's garment 'Need a Taxi?', won a special award for designing with a theme. In the Bazaar del Mundo 1993 show, Emma judged the wearable art division of the 1993 California State Fair. Emma's garment 'Symphony and Lace' is part of the 1994 Fairfield Fashion Show and was featured on the cover of 'Craft and Needlework' magazine.
Emma's quilt 'Seeds Are His Promise' was selected for a Merit Award for the 3rd International Art Competition in March 1994, again sponsored by the LDS Church.
She is currently doing fashion shows, lectures and workshops of her wearable art and quilts. Her presentations include Haute Couture Societe in Stockton, The Marin Quilt Show, Sacramento Textile Arts, San Francisco Quilt Guild, Redding Quilt guild and others, where she shows 35 or more of her own garments or a trunk show of her quilts.
Emma devotes about 100 hours a week to her work, constantly exploring new ideas for her 'one-of-a-kind' garments and quilts, and does sell her work to those who appreciate something unique and special.
Her creative clothing classes are held on a continuous basis at Tayo's and the students are always delighted with the imaginative projects she inspired.
Emma believes that the talent to create is God given, and should be shared constantly, which she has done in many different callings in the church. She also participates as an artist in the community. She is currently working on a book, sharing the stories about her work.
No comments:
Post a Comment