Dena Dale Crain has had a fascinating life near Kampi ya Samaki, on the shore of Lake Baringo in Kenya. She lived there for over 30 years with her life partner, Jonathan Leakey, who comes from a family of paleoarchaeologists. Dena's background is quite diverse, with expertise in fashion design, textiles, consumer economics, and African art anthropology. She expresses her various interests through art quilting.
Dena's artwork can be seen in joint and solo art exhibitions, as well as in shops and galleries in Nairobi. She has also created commissioned pieces for hotels, offices, and private collections in Nairobi and abroad. Dena played a significant role in founding the Kenya Quilt Guild and continues to support its growth. She shares her knowledge and passion for art quilting by writing magazine articles and giving lectures at quilting and non-quilting events.
Dena's teaching experience extends internationally, with notable appearances at prestigious events like the International Quilt Festivals in Houston and Chicago, the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England, and the European Patchwork Meeting. She has also taught in countries such as South Africa, Kuwait, New Zealand, and Australia, among others. Dena has successfully taught online patchwork quilt classes for various platforms.
Dena's artistic style is diverse, as she explores different design concepts and construction methods. If you're interested, you can check out her video on How to Make a Crystal Quilt:
Although Dena now lives in Kentucky, she is still actively involved in the art quilting community. She is available for commissions, teaching, judging, lecturing, and participating in various art quilt activities. If you're interested in discussing her work and services, use the contact form to initiate a conversation.
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