Rita Hutchens

Rita Hutchens

Rita lives in the small town of Sandpoint in the mountains of northern Idaho. Her workspace takes up half the living room of the home she shares with her teenage daughter, Aleya, who is also very creative.

Primarily self-taught with a strong determination to be unique, Rita's focus in quilting for the last 23 years has been to develop and refine her own style and way of working to create dramatically graphic quilts. In her first book, Totally Tubular Quilts, she shares this exciting and innovative technique with quilters.

In addition to quilting, Rita has used her passion for color and pattern to develop a unique style and technique of beading, which she uses to make one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry. She makes her living as a professional artist, creating and selling her work in beading and quilting, as well as teaching and writing about her inventive techniques in both disciplines.

With quilting and beading being such sedentary occupations, Rita likes to stay in shape being active in telemark skiing, biking, kayaking, gardening, and enjoying the outdoors in the beautiful area in which she lives.

Author Award: 2005 recipient Honorary Mention Visual Arts Fellowship - Idaho Commission on the Arts

By this author:
Totally Tubular Quilts