Sandra Curry, Quilt Artist and Painter

Creator Sandra Curry is always looking for ways to up her creating game. She’s taken countless classes—always sure there will be a new technique or tip that will take her work to the next level. And she loves to teach, too (and has plenty of techniques and tips of her own to share with fellow creators who share her passion for quilting or painting). One of the best ways Sandra’s found to elevate her creations? You guessed it: CraftOptics. With CraftOptics and the can’t-live-without-it DreamBeam light, Sandra can work at a level of detail she feared she’d left behind as her eyes aged. Meet Sandra Curry!

What do you love best about creating?

When I create, I’m in my happy place. I’ll think that I’m going only going to work for an hour in my studio, painting or quilting, and when I look up for the first time it’s four or five hours later! I’m just in another world and it’s a very happy spot.

Tell us a little about your history in creating

I’ve been quilting for about 25 years. A friend and I were looking for something to do. We tried gardening and realized that wasn’t a fit. Then she saw a quilting class at a local shop, and we decided to take it. One class led to another and another. I started making friends with the other quilters, and we created a quilting group.

We started meeting all the time and from there I got into the whole quilting world, the networking and going to shows. For 15 years, we had an annual gathering at a show in New Hampshire, where we had a week’s worth of workshops—you’d learn different techniques every day. Sadly, the show closed during the pandemic.

Today, in quilting, I attended station rotations at Smithtown Stitchers Quilt Guild where different techniques were demonstrated. Learning is an ongoing process, and this where I learned faux piping binding. I have taught workshops in the past at various organizations.

I also enjoy painting. I’d dabbled from high school on, but then life got in the way. As I got closer to retirement, a friend and I started doing paint nights—we’d use really crappy, cheapo paints and just dabble. But somehow it brought back all the muscle memory I had for painting.

I signed up for the Jerry Yarnell website, which trained you in acrylic technique. I bought all the equipment, professional level tools and paints and took each of his different workshops. He was a phenomenal teacher. I still subscribe to his website for techniques and refreshers.

When I was confident I’d gotten his techniques down, I started painting my own subjects. Now, I take my own pictures and use them to create local landscapes, animals, and portraits.

And it all started with paint nights!

Please share a favorite project—or something you’re working on now

One of my favorite projects to share is my very first quilt.

Back then, I was new to this whole thing. I didn’t know about rotary cutters or rulers. I didn’t know there were tools or tricks specifically for quilting.

The quilt I was making had a Lone Star pattern and I just took my scissors and cut out the little pieces of paper for each diamond shape. I put it all on a bed sheet because I didn’t know I had other options and that was my first quilt. In short—it was a disaster!

Later in my career, Smithtown Stitchers guild asked me to do a trunk show. I took that first quilt along with my other later quilts. I held it up and said, “We all start here.”

I wanted people to know I only got where I am today by going through all the steps. I keep that first quilt as a reminder that learning to quilt well is a process and that we should always be learning. I continue attending workshops and classes because everyone has something to teach me: There’s always a new trick to learn. I believe you should always keep learning. The day you stop, you might as well close the box.

Regarding things I’m currently working on, one project is a “row by row.” In this instance, there are eight of us. We each create a row of a quilt, then share our row plus a journal with instructions for the next person—the theme, the colors you’d like them to use, etc.

You rotate the quilt rows among the members of the group until each person has their original row and the seven rows from the other quilters. Then, it’s up to each creator to assemble the rows and make a quilt. It’s a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see what I get back!

When did you start using CraftOptics glasses?

About four or five years ago, I gradually started to notice that I couldn’t see as well as I wanted to when I was quilting. I decided the time was right to make the investment.

Over time, I realized CraftOptics were a great tool for my painting, too. I initially did a lot of landscapes, which are much more free-form. But as I started to move into portraits, I realized I needed help to capture the detail, especially for things like eyes. Now, I can come in with very fine brushes and add all of those details in that microscopic space that I could never do with my regular glasses.

Tell us why you love CraftOptics

Now I won’t even consider working without them. I can see every thread. You can really get in there and see exactly where your needle is going. My CraftOptics are especially important when my quilt includes small pieces of fabric. With them, I’m not intimidated by a tiny piece of fabric—my glasses turn it into a manageable piece, even when I’m doing needle-turned applique.

With my CraftOptics, I’m still doing the same types of projects I always did, but I’ve just gotten so much better at them. I can’t believe the tiny details I can see now because of those glasses.

Before, I’d take my quilts to a show, and they’d get a ribbon—a second- or third-place ribbon. But now, I’m getting viewers’ choice and best of show for my work. I’ve even had quilts juried into American Quilters Society (AQS) shows, which is competing on a national level. My paintings are juried into every art show I enter.

And what about the DreamBeam light?

I got the complete package right away. I love being able to do my work anywhere. I can sit with my husband and watch TV in the evening and I don’t need any other light in the room because the DreamBeam is so good. It’s great no matter where you go—even on a train! I can count on it no matter where I am.

Any last words of advice?

I know people tend to have the initial reaction that CraftOptics are expensive—I did too, especially when my vision was better. But as your eyes age, you need help. You get what you pay for, and high-quality tools will increase the quality of your work.

When I started using CraftOptics, especially for my applique, my work went from a 30 to a 100. When people are considering the cheapy plastic glasses, I always tell them, “Look, would you want a surgeon operating on you with those glasses?

Where can people see more of your work?

You can find me on Facebook under “Sandra Curry.” There’s a picture of my husband and me—that’s the clue to know it’s me! You can also find me on Instagram at @sandra.curry.3323.