Who is Joen Wolfrom?
Life seldom goes as planned. Certainly that’s true for me. My plan was to be an elementary school teacher, a mother, wife, and homemaker. Somewhere along my time line between leaving my teaching career and being a full-time mom, my plan began to unravel as my life’s journey started to take on a life of its own. As is so often true, I had no clue that this was happening.
While my children were very young, I was asked to teach quilting at a local fabric store. I firmly declined for about two years, but finally acquiesced. A few years later, I received a telephone call from a conference sponsor who requested that I teacher at her international symposium. I was stunned. Although I first declined, I finally agreed to the invitation. While at the symposium, I was invited to teach in England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland the following year. After discussing this invitation with my husband, we decided I’d do these teaching trips and then come home to go by back to my role as a fulltime mom and homemaker. That was my plan.
Well, that didn’t quite happen, as you may have noticed. For these past thirty + years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach color, design, drafting, and technique classes to quilters and fabric artists in almost every state in the union. Unbelievably, my work has taken me to numerous countries throughout the world. My life has been so enriched by these experiences. I have had the good fortune to meet and work with so many people from different walks of life and different cultures. I have visited cities large and small, as well as tiny communities far away from nowhere. I have laid my head on beds in almost every type of housing imaginable. It’s been an extraordinary unplanned journey filled with wonderful memories and experiences.
I have had the opportunity to create commissioned textile art (fabric art) for corporations and private residences. I loved the challenge of creating artwork for a specific site. I have been so fortunate to have had the opportunity to write books about the subjects that most interest me: color, design, drafting, and scenic landscapes. The teaching and writing experiences gave me the opportunity to design a few products that would help people work with color and design.
This year I surprised myself by agreeing to do an online color class (Color Play for Quilters with Craftsy.com). I always feel a bit paralyzed in front of a camera. However, my discomfort was overcome by the fact that this is part of the learning platform in the 21st century. I think the idea of having a class available to people 24/7 is an amazing idea that works with our current lifestyle.
At this time I will continue to remain busy working in this field. Besides teaching, I will be updating my book, Color Play and continuing my work at my pattern company, JWD Publishing. I have had such a great ride in this accidental second career. Thank you for your support and your kindness. I look forward to working in this field in the next few years.
