How my collage path started...In Memory of JoAnn Deck

Hard to believe this....18 years ago I opened up the local Newspaper and seen that there were class being taught at TLD Design Center and I signed up.  The 4 week class was called Keepsake Collage.  I had a good stash build up already of really good collage material. You see I was a collector from way back.. I think there was 4 of us in the class and we brought our stuff in and it was the beginning of the most enjoyable path I've ever taken.  JoAnn was a Woman Artist and had experience of that too and I was in awe of her.  I remember thinking I want that,  I want to be an Woman Artist.  And then to see the TLD Design center so close to home and her Daughter Tammy and all her fiber... I was in creative wonderland.  Any time I need a color fix, I would walk in and see the bolts of yarns all color coordinated on the shelf. 

As I returned each week, mother of 4 and just so excited to be out of the house and touching on my creative side, JoAnn said the words....You have something there, the hint of possibility rang in my ears into my heart and all the way down to my toes.  I took those words and ran with them, after the class I never stopped creating in collage. I had my first exhibit experience in the gallery at TLD Design about a year after that.   This woman was one of my first inspirations into the Art business.    

As things went along I keep taking risk and taking classes and exploring as best I could, I know I wanted to be the best collage artist I could be and never looked back. 

          JoAnn was so encouraging and I can only hope what she taught me I can keep sharing too. 

JoAnn Helen Spradlin Deck, 72, passed Sunday, December 29, 2013 at her home in Plainfield, Illinois. JoAnn was born April 5, 1941 in Chicago, and graduated Maine East High School in 1959. She continued her education in business and art over the course of her life, attending several local colleges.

She is preceded in death by her mother Florence (Bethke) Spradlin, her father Kenneth L Spradlin, step-mother Marianne (Leymann) Spradlin, her niece Patricia (Hayes) Parks and her son Randy K Deck. She is survived by her sister, Sheryl (Spradlin) Bryce, daughter Tammy L Deck, step-daughters Elizabeth Souter and Jennifer (Souter) Morris, and nieces Susan (Deck) Moran, Elizabeth (Deck) Dziedzic, Vanessa (Bryce) Starkey and nephew Rich Deck.

JoAnn was an accomplished artist working in many media, including art quilting and mixed-media collage. She exhibited frequently at various shows and received many awards for her work, most recently the People's Choice Award for her piece "He said to Simon" at the Plainfield Art League's Fall Colors exhibit. She was a member of many art groups and guilds, including the Professional Art Quilters Alliance, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Midwest Collage Society.

JoAnn was deeply spiritual and very active in her church, the Community Christian Church at Carillon.

A memorial service will be held 

Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 11:00am 

Children & Arts Center

174 Highpoint Drive

Romeoville, IL 60446

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to JUSTembrace, 4942 N Kenmore Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, or Community Christian Church, 1635 Emerson Ln, Naperville, IL 60540.

My first collage from taking her class some 18 years ago,  a self portrait, my baby picture and things that I had stashed in a shoe box, cards and stuff. 

                               The biggest message I received from JoAnn was to Believe in Yourself..

                                                I will be going today to her memorial service.