After living in the United States for seven years, Marisa and her husband moved back to Spain in the late 1990s to help her parents with their sewing machine business. While working at the store, she and her sister introduced quilting to help modernize the business. Marisa also managed the store and taught sewing before returning to the United States in 2019.It was while she was in Spain that Marisa discovered her love of free motion quilting. Although she’s been quilting for the past 22 years, Marisa didn’t create her first themed art quilt until 2014. She named her quilt Regeneration, and it was the first time she used the elements of nature and symbolism in her quilting. The thread painting figure was a phoenix, which represented the elements in nature; how they are born, live, and die—and how they don't die in vain, but rather to create new life. The quilt, which received its first award in Spain and was accepted to be exhibited at a quilt market in Houston, is currently hanging in her son’s room. Since then Marisa has made about 20 art quilts. (1:51- 11:14)She talks in detail about her love of teaching and of free motion quilting; of choosing a theme, using thread to paint a story, and how different techniques can be used to create quilt art. She also shares how different words, colors, and themes can take on different meanings based on the region and culture they’re from. So before she begins a project, she always researches her subject or theme. This helps her to understand the different nuances of a theme, so she can present a unique perspective on the subject. She believes that owning a subject is the first step to creating a quilt. Once you do that, you can give it a fresh twist; something that is totally different.  Early on in her career, Marisa was too intimidated to exhibit her work, because she didn’t think she was good enough to be in the company of such accomplished artists. However, a conversation she had with the President of the Studio Art Quilt Association (SAQA) in 2014, gave her the courage to forge ahead. “She told me you just have to start from something, and you have to start somewhere, and this is a good place to start.” So Marisa took the leap and since then, her work has appeared in numerous exhibits around the world. She continues to challenge herself and encourages others to do the same. (17:22- 20:19)Her advice to traditional quilters who may want to go from creating quilts for a bed to creating an art quilt that hangs on a wall is to start where they’re comfortable and then, little by little, step outside their comfort zone and try something different. She says that if you want your work to be exhibited, it must be unique. You need to add a fresh twist to what you’re creating, whether it’s a log cabin pattern or a traditional block pattern. It doesn’t matter if it turns out perfect. You just have to try to be your best, and if it’s not “the best,” it doesn’t matter because it’s your best. You learn from your failure and try again. (20:31-22:27)As you listen to this engaging podcast, you’ll find that Marisa’s enthusiasm and passion are contagious. You may find yourself ready to take a few leaps of your own. If you’d like to reach out to Marisa to share your ideas or get a little inspiration, you can email her at marisamarquezquilts@gmail.com or check out her blog, MarisaMarquezQuilts.WordPress.com!If you know someone who has an outstanding story that should be shared on this podcast, drop Meg a note to info@sewandsopodcast.com or complete the form on our website.