My interview with Keena was such fun. Her energy is so infectious. They are many great online stores for African prints and fabrics. Two great ones here in Ontario are Meerkat Trdading meerkatshweshwe.com/ and Ceektex www.ceektex.com/ (not affiliated)
OH MY GOODNESS!! THAT INTERVIEW WAS SOOOOO AMAZING!!! I WILL FOLLOW HER. SHE IS A BLESSING TO ANYONE SHE MEETS. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT INTERVIEW. THANK YOU KAREN AND KENA
Channeling her grandmother but the fact her mom taught her to sew part of the journey. Loved the interview interesting story and since I am from South Africa will have to bring back even more fabric next visit
I am so glad she was able to share some of her gorgeous quilts. I loved the African Dancer. She did a great presentation on some of the types of African fabrics. Thank you for a job well-done.
I had purchased African fabrics several years after a magazine featured several quilters using and designing the fabrics and quilts. I've always loved the vibrant colors. Last year after acquiring skills and techniques to a level I wanted to be at, I dove in and did three. I still have some of the fabrics and am waiting for the next opportunity/technique/use for them. It's a joy to come across the colors and fabrics when going through the stash! Thanks for this peaceful, energetic artist! I'm considering an online class sometime with her.
What a WONDERFUL interview. Kena's energy was amazing and her quilting is extraordinary. I have been interested in African fabrics but knew nothing about them. Thank you so much Karen and Kena.
What a great interview with a very ary talented quilter quilter very interesting person person you always do great interviews this is one of them it is just another fabulous video
Someone please tell Miss Kena that it is totally appropriate and wonderful to LOVE your own creations! I love her enthusiasm and the thought she felt it might be weird to say she loved her own quilt just killed me! She is an artist. This is the part of her that can appreciate something that is both beautiful - well crafted and speaks to her whether she made it or not. But the ones she made will always have all that thought and caring on the design and what it says that others have to decipher - but she KNOWS it. It came from inside her. If she does not love it then there would be a huge disconnect. If she also learns to love the imperfections then she will never be at risk for that! My own grandmother taught me that you should always do your best, but should not expect perfection. On the quilt she gave me at my bridal shower, on the wide border, she had embroidered the dates of the piecing (by my grandmother and her mother!) and the date and gift for the quilting (by my grandmother!) as well as who it was for (me!). There was a pea sized brown stain - a drop of her blood - in the middle of that. She explained she had been distracted, stuck herself and did not notice she was bleeding. She said God provided the perfect imperfection for the quilt. Obviously, I treasure that quilt. The imperfections are what I treasure the most.
Great interview with Kena today. Her quilts were beautiful and as a fellow Libran- yes we are well balanced . I was recently looking for an African print for the backing for a quilt I made with African animals appliqued on it. I settled for an Australian indigenous fabric with orange and red circles on it. Nice and bright and will go well. ♥️🇦🇺
Keena's enthusiasm and energy are so inspiring. I was gifted a big bag of African fabric and I made shower curtains and bed covers and am dying to use the rest of the fabric. Being from India myself I have so much Indian fabric and I also upcycle my cotton and silk outfits. I really enjoy watching your inspiring shows. Thank you Karen.
I just LOVE watching your channel. You are a GREAT interviewer and find the most interesting guests! And plus, you are a WEALTH of knowledge! Thank you so much for sharing!
What an interesting lady! I found myself hanging on her every word. Sure would like to take one of her classes. She has such a charismatic way of speaking, and the kindness in her eyes, along with her laugh, is just intoxicating. Great video, Karen!! ♥️🙏🏼♥️
I am so glad you did this interview! I have been to Africa four times and on my last trip to the Congo, I bought tons and tons of the fabrics she is talking about as well as some mud cloth! It was amazingly inexpensive and I was told the women used it to make their traditional clothing and headdresses. I was told that the higher the fabric was piled on her head, the more honored the woman is and the more kids she had, the higher she could pile up her fabric on her head!! Y'all probably already knew that. I have made two quilts that I consider African, but I don't have the heart to cut up the fabrics because I didn't think I could replace them! This brought Africa back to me, a place I love so very much.
My daughter lands today in Rwanda and she will spend the next 2 months between there and Kenya. She wants to get fabric so I can make her a quilt and she is wondering how many different fabrics and how much of each! I can't wait to see what she comes home with. I sent her this video. Thanks for the interview!
Oh my gosh! What an amazing, energetic, and humble woman. Her students are so lucky. If she starts a quilting club, a local modern quilt guild might want to help out. I would if I was nearby.
Love her energy, looking forward to her session at the Quilt Africa Fabric summit. I also attended last year’s summit. There was a session on the history and the cultural appropriation question. A few years ago I was gifted some 1970s African fabric and wondered about the Dutch labels on some pieces.
This was such a great interview. Very interesting to hear the history behind wax prints. Thanks for making all of these great videos. Enjoy your cruise. You will love Alaska.
I was inspired to buy some African Wax print scraps at a local quilt show and did some research. fascinating history. wish I could post a pic. great interview btw.
Fantastic, love Kenna enemy and seeing her smiles was great.I would have loved a quilting class at school back in the day. Thanks for sharing and have a great trip. Bon voyage 👍❤️😊
I loved this interview, have some African fabrics and was stumped with what to do with them, also. So thank you for encouraging me to cut them. To me, they are a step above batiks which have always been my first love.The quilt behind you is stunning!
Goodness! What a delightful soul! I have made a couple of tops for two friends whose mom passed away, but had collected a wonderful stack of African fabrics. They were great to work with -- a whole new experience.
What fun! A million years ago, our local community college put on The Quilters. It's kind of thrilling that someone else knows the play. My mother and I saw the play together, then drove home in the worst ground blizzard we have ever been in. We still talk about it! It was such a good play, and such a terrible drive. I love Kena's energy and enthusiasm. I also really loved the background of the fabrics, and the things one needs to watch out for when using them. Excellent talk.
She is so beautiful, so exciting to see the love and so proud to know that she inherited her talent from her grandmother. This is definitely a learning experience for me. 🌷
I love her, and this interview. You both might like the TH-cam channel by Marcy Harriell, both for her love of the African Wax print fabrics in her sewing, and her performance talents. Not sure how much quilting she does, but I love seeing all the ways she applies her creativity to her sewing. Who knows; you may inspire each other. Great interview... love what she is doing for the next generation to carry on her excitement of quilting.
What a upbeat interview. So interesting, especially her introduction to quilting. I would love to take a class with her. Thank you Karen loved this one. Exciting for sure.
Karen and Kena thank you for this lovely interview! I spent 35 years in West Africa and loved African fabrics from day one. An older missionary got me hooked on quilting and I still ove using them in my quilts. Kena, have you heard of Shweshwe fabric from South Africa? During 4 yeasrs in Johannesburg I got hooked on that also.
This was such an awesome interview and so informative. I have so many pieces of African fabric it has inspired me to make a quilt out of it. Thanks Karen love your videos!
Loved this episode. My mother in law brought me some back from Ethiopia a few years ago, but wasn’t sure what to do. Felt sure it’d be fine as 100% cotton. I too love the stiffness of the fabric. Now to design and make something stunning.
Important to add that almost all west African women know how to sew and getting clothes made or tailored for wedding, parties etc is the norm not the exception.
Absolutely loved this interview! Kena is amazing. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious. I’ve always loved the boldness of the prints and colors of African fabrics. I can’t wait to begin using some of them. This was the best interview. It would be great to see more interviews with her.
I love hearing about Kena and her quilting journey. African fabrics are a unique and bold category of fabric. Loved the Dutch history information too. Great interview
Fantastic interview! And people wonder why Netflix is losing subscribers when there are gems like this on TH-cam. I loved the story about being forced to go to African dance - similar experience here in Ireland being forced to go to ‘uncool’ Irish dancing!
I enjoyed this interview! Thank you for finding quilters from many different places, and from all walks of life. I have been quilting with Ankara fabric and love it! I love the Indonesian batiks and hate to cut them so they are made into whole cloth quilts as gifts when I'm willing to part with them. 🤗❤🙏🏽
Wonderful interview. I actually gasped and got chills when she talked about the loss of her grandmother's quilts. What a shame. I've used the wax prints, but not in quilting. This was very inspiring.
I will receive a collection of African fabrics this week that are from Niger in West Africa, I an so excited to see the colors and patterns, to choose a pattern, and use Kena's advise. Perfect timing !
What an awesome coming to quilting story and a fun interview. So enjoyable to hear her joy for quilting and her knowledge. And some great questions, especially the personality and practice of quilting. And love a big block quilt!
I started quilting in 2020. Hand quilting only. First generation and only current quilter. My mother was a dress maker. And many times, as I’m piecing and making up my story blocks, I can feel her hand on my shoulder, guiding me. Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed this video.
Oh, my heart aches for Kena's grandmother losing all her quilts in a fire. Thanks again for another great interview, Karen. You really have a knack for finding the coolest people to feature and Kena is no exception. ❤️
Well that was delightful.....and I put off watching because I don't usually watch the interview programs. So glad I tuned in. Thank you for the video 😊👍💕
My interview with Keena was such fun. Her energy is so infectious. They are many great online stores for African prints and fabrics. Two great ones here in Ontario are Meerkat Trdading meerkatshweshwe.com/ and Ceektex www.ceektex.com/ (not affiliated)
Thank you
I loved this interview with Keena, her vitality and enthusiasm was inspiring.
Thank you for having Kena on. She is wonderful.
Oh my God, I love African fabrics and Keena’s work is so inspiring!!! What a great interview! Thanks so much - both of you.
What a great interview Karen! Keena is amazing to listen to, and I found myself laughing out loud as I sewed!
Thank you 😊
OH MY GOODNESS!! THAT INTERVIEW WAS SOOOOO AMAZING!!! I WILL FOLLOW HER. SHE IS A BLESSING TO ANYONE SHE MEETS. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT INTERVIEW. THANK YOU KAREN AND KENA
She was so amazing
This was one of the best interviews I've ever had the pleasure to watch. ❤
Channeling her grandmother but the fact her mom taught her to sew part of the journey. Loved the interview interesting story and since I am from South Africa will have to bring back even more fabric next visit
Hello Robyn
Wow. I could listen to her forever.
What a gorgeous woman , she just radiates joy , and such an interesting life .
I am so glad she was able to share some of her gorgeous quilts. I loved the African Dancer. She did a great presentation on some of the types of African fabrics. Thank you for a job well-done.
This is the very best interview you've done so far. Keep 'em coming !! I LOVE your channel, Karen. Love ❤️ it, love ❤️ it, love it ❤️ !
So very glad to hear that you enjoyed it
When she mentioned losing those quilts in a fire, my heart dropped. That poor lady.
Loved this episode.
And I follow Marie-Anne, she is such a stylish lady.
Hello Michelle
I had purchased African fabrics several years after a magazine featured several quilters using and designing the fabrics and quilts. I've always loved the vibrant colors. Last year after acquiring skills and techniques to a level I wanted to be at, I dove in and did three. I still have some of the fabrics and am waiting for the next opportunity/technique/use for them. It's a joy to come across the colors and fabrics when going through the stash! Thanks for this peaceful, energetic artist! I'm considering an online class sometime with her.
What a WONDERFUL interview. Kena's energy was amazing and her quilting is extraordinary. I have been interested in African fabrics but knew nothing about them. Thank you so much Karen and Kena.
The Quilters-one of my favorite plays.
Loved this interview! Kena is wonderful!
Thank you for addressing my issue! I can use African prints without feeling like I'm doing the wrong thing! I love these prints! Love your style.
Another great, inspiring interview! Thank you Karen. You always seem to ask the questions that are on my mind! Love these interviews!!
Such an interesting interview. I love African fabrics!
I’ve seen an amateur production of The Quilters. A lovely lovely show- this a one of my favorite interviews that you’ve done.
Hello Marianne
Thanks for sharing this. What a wonderful story and beautiful work
I’ve been using African design fabric for my handbags. It’s so beautiful in color and patterns as well as very easy to work with. Big fan!
What a great interview with a very ary talented quilter quilter very interesting person person you always do great interviews this is one of them it is just another fabulous video
Someone please tell Miss Kena that it is totally appropriate and wonderful to LOVE your own creations! I love her enthusiasm and the thought she felt it might be weird to say she loved her own quilt just killed me! She is an artist. This is the part of her that can appreciate something that is both beautiful - well crafted and speaks to her whether she made it or not. But the ones she made will always have all that thought and caring on the design and what it says that others have to decipher - but she KNOWS it. It came from inside her. If she does not love it then there would be a huge disconnect. If she also learns to love the imperfections then she will never be at risk for that!
My own grandmother taught me that you should always do your best, but should not expect perfection. On the quilt she gave me at my bridal shower, on the wide border, she had embroidered the dates of the piecing (by my grandmother and her mother!) and the date and gift for the quilting (by my grandmother!) as well as who it was for (me!). There was a pea sized brown stain - a drop of her blood - in the middle of that. She explained she had been distracted, stuck herself and did not notice she was bleeding. She said God provided the perfect imperfection for the quilt. Obviously, I treasure that quilt. The imperfections are what I treasure the most.
Hello Julie
Great interview with Kena today. Her quilts were beautiful and as a fellow Libran- yes we are well balanced . I was recently looking for an African print for the backing for a quilt I made with African animals appliqued on it. I settled for an Australian indigenous fabric with orange and red circles on it. Nice and bright and will go well. ♥️🇦🇺
What a lovely down to earth interview with a lovely lady
Keena's enthusiasm and energy are so inspiring. I was gifted a big bag of African fabric and I made shower curtains and bed covers and am dying to use the rest of the fabric. Being from India myself I have so much Indian fabric and I also upcycle my cotton and silk outfits. I really enjoy watching your inspiring shows. Thank you Karen.
I just LOVE watching your channel. You are a GREAT interviewer and find the most interesting guests! And plus, you are a WEALTH of knowledge! Thank you so much for sharing!
Hello Bonnie
What an interesting lady! I found myself hanging on her every word. Sure would like to take one of her classes. She has such a charismatic way of speaking, and the kindness in her eyes, along with her laugh, is just intoxicating. Great video, Karen!! ♥️🙏🏼♥️
Hello Judy
I am so glad you did this interview! I have been to Africa four times and on my last trip to the Congo, I bought tons and tons of the fabrics she is talking about as well as some mud cloth! It was amazingly inexpensive and I was told the women used it to make their traditional clothing and headdresses. I was told that the higher the fabric was piled on her head, the more honored the woman is and the more kids she had, the higher she could pile up her fabric on her head!! Y'all probably already knew that. I have made two quilts that I consider African, but I don't have the heart to cut up the fabrics because I didn't think I could replace them! This brought Africa back to me, a place I love so very much.
The African butterfly, amazing!
My daughter lands today in Rwanda and she will spend the next 2 months between there and Kenya. She wants to get fabric so I can make her a quilt and she is wondering how many different fabrics and how much of each! I can't wait to see what she comes home with. I sent her this video. Thanks for the interview!
Sounds amazing
Oh my gosh! What an amazing, energetic, and humble woman. Her students are so lucky. If she starts a quilting club, a local modern quilt guild might want to help out. I would if I was nearby.
Wonderful interview . So informative thank you!
Loved listening to her.
Wonderful Interview!!
Hello Diana
Love her energy, looking forward to her session at the Quilt Africa Fabric summit. I also attended last year’s summit. There was a session on the history and the cultural appropriation question. A few years ago I was gifted some 1970s African fabric and wondered about the Dutch labels on some pieces.
This was such a great interview. Very interesting to hear the history behind wax prints. Thanks for making all of these great videos. Enjoy your cruise. You will love Alaska.
I loved this interview so much. Thank you.
Hello Michele
I was inspired to buy some African Wax print scraps at a local quilt show and did some research. fascinating history. wish I could post a pic. great interview btw.
Fantastic, love Kenna enemy and seeing her smiles was great.I would have loved a quilting class at school back in the day. Thanks for sharing and have a great trip. Bon voyage 👍❤️😊
I'm so glad Ms Tangi-Dorsey addressed cultural appropriation -- thank you. Great interview!
I loved this interview, have some African fabrics and was stumped with what to do with them, also. So thank you for encouraging me to cut them. To me, they are a step above batiks which have always been my first love.The quilt behind you is stunning!
Love it, love it , love it. Another wonderful interview!!! Thanks, Karen.
Goodness! What a delightful soul! I have made a couple of tops for two friends whose mom passed away, but had collected a wonderful stack of African fabrics. They were great to work with -- a whole new experience.
Sweet lady, interesting background & conversation.
What fun! A million years ago, our local community college put on The Quilters. It's kind of thrilling that someone else knows the play. My mother and I saw the play together, then drove home in the worst ground blizzard we have ever been in. We still talk about it! It was such a good play, and such a terrible drive. I love Kena's energy and enthusiasm. I also really loved the background of the fabrics, and the things one needs to watch out for when using them. Excellent talk.
Karen - what a fabulous interview with a wonderful wonderful lady. Just love her ❤️
Enthusiasm galore ❤️💜
She is so beautiful, so exciting to see the love and so proud to know that she inherited her talent from her grandmother. This is definitely a learning experience for me. 🌷
Wow! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed that! Fabulous! Xxx
So glad. Her enthusiasm was so infectious
Love this lady!
I love her, and this interview. You both might like the TH-cam channel by Marcy Harriell, both for her love of the African Wax print fabrics in her sewing, and her performance talents. Not sure how much quilting she does, but I love seeing all the
ways she applies her creativity to her sewing. Who knows; you may inspire each other. Great interview... love what she is doing for the next generation to carry on her excitement of quilting.
What a upbeat interview. So interesting, especially her introduction to quilting. I would love to take a class with her. Thank you Karen loved this one. Exciting for sure.
Love love love she is wonderful
Karen and Kena thank you for this lovely interview! I spent 35 years in West Africa and loved African fabrics from day one. An older missionary got me hooked on quilting and I still ove using them in my quilts. Kena, have you heard of Shweshwe fabric from South Africa? During 4 yeasrs in Johannesburg I got hooked on that also.
ALL of your interviews are inspiring!
How lovely!
I loved this interview.
She love what she do.
This was such an awesome interview and so informative. I have so many pieces of African fabric it has inspired me to make a quilt out of it. Thanks Karen love your videos!
This was great!
My favorite so far!!!
Hello kat
Inspiring to the max!
Wonderful, thank you!
Absolutely loved this interview!
Very interesting interview
Loved this episode. My mother in law brought me some back from Ethiopia a few years ago, but wasn’t sure what to do. Felt sure it’d be fine as 100% cotton. I too love the stiffness of the fabric. Now to design and make something stunning.
I've never worked with African fabrics...yet! But, I have found myself using more bold prints in my EPP hexie project.
That's amazing! Loved this one.
What a great interview!
Lovely 🥰
Great video greetings from Switzerland
Wow isn't she great. Very inspirational
Important to add that almost all west African women know how to sew and getting clothes made or tailored for wedding, parties etc is the norm not the exception.
Love this!!!
Hello Anna
Absolutely loved this interview! Kena is amazing. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious. I’ve always loved the boldness of the prints and colors of African fabrics. I can’t wait to begin using some of them. This was the best interview. It would be great to see more interviews with her.
What a delight interview Kena is marvelous. Thanks Karen for getting her as a guest. Beautiful fabrics.
I love hearing about Kena and her quilting journey. African fabrics are a unique and bold category of fabric. Loved the Dutch history information too. Great interview
Yes and there is the english Shweshwe story too...and Im sure there are others
Fantastic interview! And people wonder why Netflix is losing subscribers when there are gems like this on TH-cam. I loved the story about being forced to go to African dance - similar experience here in Ireland being forced to go to ‘uncool’ Irish dancing!
Such an inspiring and energetic quilter! Loved the interview.
Beautiful quilt and love hearing about African fabrics and about your quilting journey!!💗😊
I enjoyed this interview! Thank you for finding quilters from many different places, and from all walks of life. I have been quilting with Ankara fabric and love it! I love the Indonesian batiks and hate to cut them so they are made into whole cloth quilts as gifts when I'm willing to part with them. 🤗❤🙏🏽
Wonderful interview. I actually gasped and got chills when she talked about the loss of her grandmother's quilts. What a shame. I've used the wax prints, but not in quilting. This was very inspiring.
I know. I almost started crying. And to think of the pain it must have caused her grandmother.
@@JustGetitDoneQuilts Heartbreaking.
Great interview! Love the energy and colorful quilts!
I will receive a collection of African fabrics this week that are from Niger in West Africa, I an so excited to see the colors and patterns, to choose a pattern, and use Kena's advise. Perfect timing !
Lucky lady...enjoy!
She is a hoot! I loved this interview…her energy is infectious. The quilt behind her is beautiful. I will follow her.
One of your better guests, her happiness and energy was fantastic
What an awesome coming to quilting story and a fun interview. So enjoyable to hear her joy for quilting and her knowledge. And some great questions, especially the personality and practice of quilting. And love a big block quilt!
My 1st quilt made with African wax fabrics came out amazing. Had to buy more asap.
I started quilting in 2020. Hand quilting only. First generation and only current quilter. My mother was a dress maker. And many times, as I’m piecing and making up my story blocks, I can feel her hand on my shoulder, guiding me. Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed this video.
What a inspirational talk ! Very talented woman !❤️❤️❤️
Oh, my heart aches for Kena's grandmother losing all her quilts in a fire. Thanks again for another great interview, Karen. You really have a knack for finding the coolest people to feature and Kena is no exception. ❤️
That interview was so interesting and informative. She has had an interesting life, wow. Thanks for the video.👍
Well that was delightful.....and I put off watching because I don't usually watch the interview programs. So glad I tuned in. Thank you for the video 😊👍💕
This is a fabulous interview! I really enjoyed listening to Kena, her stories, and feeling such a positive energy from her.
My favorite interview so far! I love African fabric and Kena is amazing! Thank you so much.
Our pleasure!
Keena is extremely interesting to listen to. I used African print in my Covid quilt. I love these prints sooooo beautiful.
Look at her. She did well at our quilt show.