Interview with Carolyn Lee Vehslage, July 23, 2003

Interview Summary

Carolyn Lee Vehslage talks about how her career as a computer network engineer, as well as her friendship with fabric designer Lonni Rossi, led to her Computer Series of quilts, which include her "Fried Circuits" and "System Overload" series. Vehslage talks about the special meaning of the quilts in her Computer Series, in which she is attempting express her feelings about how technology complicates our lives. She talks about how the series is also an expression of her experiences with bipolar disorder. She talks about others' reactions to her work. Vehslage talks about how she began quilting as a way to occupy her time after going on long-term disability and dealing with the loss of her career. She describes her first quilt, which was inspired by the book "Impressionist Quilts" and was based on her mother-in-law's garden. She talks about her work helping other quilt artists sell their work and learn about running a business. Vehslage talks about continuing to paint, describing a piece she painted as part of a tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Interview Keyword

Fried Circuits Version 1.3 System Overload Version 1.1 Lonni Rossi Bipolar disorder Manic depression Computer parts Design process Quiltmaking process Computer technology Computer Series Commissions Motherboard Meltdown Keyboard Lockup Version 1.1 Small businesses September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks

Interview LC Subject

Arts and crafts. Quilting. Quilts. Quilts--Design. Artists Decorative arts Textile artists Textiles Quilts--United States--Exhibitions. Art--Commissioning. Families. Mental health

Interview Rights

All rights to the Quilters' S.O.S. -- Save Our Stories (QSOS) oral history project, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred from the Quilt Alliance to the University of Kentucky Libraries. Please contact the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History regarding rights pertaining to individual interviews.

Interview Usage

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