The Man Behind the Bag Pt. 1

As someone who is obviously very emphatic about bag-making, I am curious about numerous aspects of this craft. I decided to conduct interviews with several male bag-makers because I wanted to know more about what they make and how they are inspired.

I wanted this to come across in the way I intended it; they do inspiring work, regardless of their gender. Or as one of them put it, these interviews with bag-makers that happen to be guys is NOT about, “Isn’t it surprising that we love this quilt/bag/whatever, cause a GUY did it!”, but just because they are in general awesome.

 

My first interview is with Randy Menakes. I met Randy when he came to an interfacing lecture/trunk show that I did in a quilt shop here in Chicago. He had an awesome bag with him, and said that he was selling them at an upcoming quilt show.

Can you share a little about your background and education?
Professionally, I’ve had 2 life-long passions – libraries and computer science, and I have a master’s degree in both. Most of my career has been in the field of library automation – a perfect meld of my two passions.

Can you tell me a little about the area of the United States you live in and what the quilting/craft movement is like in that area?
I live in Chicago, Illinois – a city essentially devoid of quilt shops. Fortunately there are several good shops in the not-too-distant suburbs. The Chicago suburbs also have a number of great quilt guilds, and I’m a member of Illinois Quilters, Inc. – a guild in the northern suburbs. It’s a great guild, and we participate in an annual 3-guild show at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in early November.

How does your work and sewing work fit in with your life?
I’m basically (and recently) retired now, so I hope to have a bit more time in the “studio”. I do have a group of quilting friends (outside of the guild meetings) that I see on a regular basis. At the moment, we are all working on a Dear Jane quilt. Great fun. We are planning to hang our efforts side-by-side at the Garden show in a couple of years. It’s quite an undertaking. I’m also on the board of the guild, so that cuts into my studio time, but I like talking about and thinking about quilts almost as much as I like sewing them.

Have you always been interested in craft and fabrics?
Yes, forever. I think it came from my grandmother. She sewed a lot, and when my legs were long enough to reach, she let me treadle for her. And eventually she taught me to use the machine. I’ve had a sewing machine most of my life, although there have been long periods when it’s been tucked away somewhere. But about 6 years ago the quilting bug bit me and I’ll probably never recover from that bite!

Do you make quilts or would you describe yourself as a general sewer?
I’m pretty much a quilter and bag-maker now. There have been periods in the past when I made clothes for myself – mostly shirts. And of course, the occasional curtains, when I couldn’t find what I wanted in the stores.

How would you describe your style of designs?
My real passion is Asian – especially Japanese fabrics and design. I worked in Tokyo for 6 months in 2011 and another bug bit me over there. I didn’t have any way of actually quilting or sewing while there, so I spent a lot of free time exploring the fabric and quilting scene. I discovered Nippori (commonly called “Textile Town) and all its wonders. It’s a great section of Tokyo. I also tracked down Quilt Party – Yoko Saito’s wonderful shop in Ichikawa.

The real highlight of my quilt experience in Tokyo was a show at one of the huge department stores in Ikebukuro. (It was probably the big Seibu there.) They have one whole floor given over to temporary exhibits, and one month they had a 3-part show. A traditional Japanese quilt show, a Japanese art quilt show, and a travelling French art quilt show. It was an extraordinary experience. The most memorable part was the traditional Japanese quilts. All hand pieced and hand quilted. Lots of Japanese taupes and daiwabos. I’d always been fond of those subtle fabrics, but that show clinched it for me. And perhaps the best part of the day was the sale section of the floor. Scores of vendors from all over Japan were there selling their magical wares. I think I was something of a curiosity to the vendors, so they all put extra goodies in the bag. And there were LOTS of bags.

I also bought my first Japanese quilting publications at that show. But by the time I came back to the states I had a stack of Japanese publications. I was always looking for quilting books and magazines, but so many were actually devoted to bag-making, which is where that passion actually began for me. I now own something like 25 Japanese bag-making books, which have now inspired me to learn Japanese. The pictures and diagrams are pretty easy to follow, but knowing the language definitely helps.

What kinds of bags do you like to make?
I usually make simple bags and totes – little hardware – perhaps a zip. I like to give them as gifts – especially when I travel. I was in England visiting friends 2 years ago, so I took about 10 bags to give to people. They’re lightweight and easy to carry in my suitcase.

There are lots of great designers out there, so sometimes I follow patterns, and sometimes it’s just go as the spirit moves me.

Have you made any bags/projects either for yourself or someone else that are your favorites or really special to you in some way?
Last year I reconnected with the amazing woman who was my church’s youth minister when I was a kid back in Ohio. She’s been teaching at a seminary in St. Louis for about the last 20 years, and when I sent her an email, she wrote back that she would be driving to Wisconsin to visit some former students and asked if she could spend the week-end with me in Chicago. It was wonderful seeing her and reminiscing. And of course I made her a bag from some of my favorite Japanese fabric. This spring she was diagnosed with 4th stage metastatic cancer. She wrote that she has been going to the hospital for periodic chemotherapy, and carries her books and ipod in the bag I made for her. It comforts her, and it comforts me. This last week-end I drove down to St. Louis to spend the week-end with her. She’s in great spirits and is feeling remarkably well. When I left on Monday morning she handed me a parcel, saying “I want you to have this.” In the sack was a beautiful little quilt – her baby quilt that her mother had made her. Quilts are amazing. Quilters are amazing.

What is the most memorable moment you have in regards to sewing and craft, whether it’s funny, personal or heartfelt?
Definitely the moment on Monday when Marilyn asked me to have her baby quilt.

What are your plans for the future? Do they involve more sewing and/or designing?
I’m going to a big quilt show in Japan next year. I’m hoping I can find time to make a couple of quilts to take to friends over there. I’d like to get back to England, as well. The Quilt Museum and Gallery in York is always calling out to me. (Not to mention Dutton’s Buttons.)  And the V&A, of course.

Thank you Randy!