At Find Your Vision, we believe that every artist carries a story stitched, painted, or sung into their work. A story that deserves to be seen and heard. This week for our
Artist Spotlight Series, we are honored to shine the spotlight on Linda Schader, a fabric artist from Albany, Oregon, whose art reflects family tradition, faith, and the beauty of imperfection.
A Legacy of Creativity
Linda describes herself as a “fabric fanatic and DMC flosser, with a little pen and ink.” But behind that playful description lies a lifetime of artistic influence. Creativity runs through her family history: her relatives were porcelain painters, architects, and wood carvers. Each of them left behind not just objects but a way of seeing the world, a way that Linda has carried forward with needle and thread.
When she retired, Linda embraced the opportunity to pour her time into fabric arts. No longer confined by schedules, she found herself free to explore new patterns, designs, and techniques. Retirement wasn’t the end of a chapter, it was the start of a creative renaissance.
For Linda, inspiration is inseparable from time. Every quilt, every piece of fabric, carries hours of quiet dedication. She hopes that when people see her work, they don’t just notice the colors or stitching but the effort, patience, and love woven into every detail.
Her art asks us to pause, reflect, and appreciate not just the finished piece but the human journey behind it.
The Healing Power of Fabric
Among her many works, one piece stands out as deeply personal: a pink quilt covered in Bible verses. Created during a difficult season, this quilt became more than just fabric and thread. It was a vessel of peace, comfort, and healing. A reminder that art can hold sacred space for the spirit as well as the eye.
Like many of Linda’s pieces, it demonstrates the profound truth that art doesn’t just decorate life, it sustains it.
Linda’s work combines modern quilting tools (fabrics, rulers, rotary cutters) with an object of deep sentimental value: her mother’s sewing machine (pitched above). This heirloom isn’t just a tool, but a bridge connecting her to past generations of creators. With every stitch, she honors those who came before her, while charting her own path forward.
Current & Upcoming Projects
Right now, Linda is designing a quilt that resembles a large tree. The image of a tree feels especially fitting. Its roots grounded in history, its branches stretching upward toward possibility. Much like Linda’s own journey, it is a symbol of resilience, connection, and growth.
But Linda’s artistry stretches far beyond fabric and thread. She is deeply committed to raising awareness of the many agencies that support those in need, often dedicating her quilts and free time to causes that bring comfort to others. Each quilt carries not only the strength of countless hours spent perfecting her craft but also the strength of the new homes they enter. They become symbols of resilience, growth, and healing. Gifts that can be passed down to others in need of similar comfort. For Linda, creativity and community are inseparable, each reinforcing the other in a cycle of care, awareness, and connection.
When asked what message she would like to leave with fellow artists and admirers, Linda’s advice is simple yet profound:
β¨ “Create, play, and let go of perfection… it is the process, not the product.” β¨
In those words lies a philosophy of art, and life, that encourages us all to be bold enough to make, to explore, and to embrace the joy of simply creating.
Connect with Linda
πΈ Instagram:
@Linda.schader
π Facebook:
Linda Nielsen Schader
See more of Linda's work here:
