Heart And Hands Quilts
  • Home
  • About
  • See The Portraits
  • Ordering A Portrait
    • Packages / Pricing
    • Finishes
  • FAQ's
  • Contact
Marcia Tyson Textile Arts

WHO AM I?

About Me

Picture
I love color, I love life, I love animals - I really love bringing them all together to create ART!
 
Growing up as the stepdaughter of an artist fed my creative juices. I was exposed to many mediums including learning to sew, spin wool, crochet, weave, create handmade paper, draw and paint. I haven’t had any formal education in the arts so technically I am considered a Folk Artist. I have learned from many teachers over the years. I find workshops to be a great way to develop my skills and then I take the things that really sing to me and run with it! My art has taken many different forms over the years.
 
I first started to quilt in the early 1980’s and the pattern was a log cabin block (still one of my favorites for its simplicity and versatility). I then sewed Seminole Indian patterns on towels, aprons and potholders – everyone got one for Christmas that year! I sewed traditional quilts for many years but always felt confined by the strict rules and straight lines. My first real exposure to art quilts was at a quilting retreat in 2008. I found the quilting world gave me freedom to explore different shapes, colors and techniques in the form of “Art Quilts”. That opportunity opened my eyes to raw edge applique. I rarely sew straight lines anymore.
 
Having been a quilter for years and always loving animals, I decided to combine the two and create one-of-a-kind portraits made of fabric. I know how important our pets are to my family and I really wanted people to have an opportunity to celebrate their pets in a special way. I love to use unexpected fabrics and vibrant colors in place of the more natural tones. Even with the fanciful colors my animal portraits are very realistic. I use a photograph to work from to create a base pattern adding color and value to build the portrait using fabric instead of paint. Creating interest and movement in each piece keeps the viewer looking at new details each time they see the portrait.
 
I have worn many hats throughout my life. I am a registered nurse, massage therapist, teacher and now a professional quilter! I thought about turning my hobby into a business for a long time but I just didn’t know how to do it. I percolated on the idea from 2009 until buying the domain name in 2012 to actually starting my business in 2015. I wish I had started right away!

My husband and I have been married for 26 years and we have two amazing kids, we are really lucky to have fantastic kids by marriage too. We have 4 grandchildren that we adore to the moon and back. Of course our two pups are the only kids still living at home. I am a Christ follower and am active in the women’s ministry in our church.
 
I am a Florida native and actually have spent most of my life in Sarasota where I currently live. I love to read murder mysteries and hang out at the beach or better yet lay out by a pool on the beach – too bad I have to drive to get there!!
 
 
 
 


Subscribe to our mailing list to find out what Marcia and the pups are up to. Get advance notice of promotions.

* indicates required
​Pet Portraits


​About


Contact


© COPYRIGHT 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
All images are the property of Heart and Hands Quilts.
​No images may be copied or reproduced in any form.
  • Home
  • About
  • See The Portraits
  • Ordering A Portrait
    • Packages / Pricing
    • Finishes
  • FAQ's
  • Contact