Leslie Weidner is a professional quilter she certified Quilt In A Day Teacher.
It all started in 1963 when she won a scholarship to Chicago’s Art Institute during her junior year in high school. There had been a contest directed to art students to present their vision of Chicago. Naturally, most of the art work submitted leaned toward Chicago’s dramatic skyline, or Buckingham Fountain, or one of many other distinguished sites in this Toddling Town, Chicago. But Leslie had a different vision. Her vision was the unseen part. The scenes experienced when she rode the “L” out of Halsted Street: gritty fire escapes from run down apartments. Her “sketch” became so detailed that the judges accepted her pencil sketch and not the required ink drawing. It won her the scholarship at the Art Institute of Chicago! Her restless spirit carried her to California where her attention was directed toward the soldiers in Viet Nam. This interest led her to create her own “newspaper” called Tom’s Times. Even though it was sent to one soldier, Tom was able to circulate his one copy of Tom’s Times to at least 100 other home sick fellow soldiers. Tom’s Times brought news of the latest music, movies and goings on of the people of California. Eventually, Tom came home and Tom’s Times turned into quilts. Leslie began to focus her art on fabric: quilt designs and other fiber creations. Some homemade card quilts as well as full size quilts were sent to VA hospitals. She continues to create and give away quilts to veterans and other charitable organizations. She also began original designs onto quilts that are currently being sold at her Etsy shop, Bratty Ann Designs. Her first client brought her a pencil sketch of a quilt block she asked to be created. And, created Bratty Ann did! She continues to design and create quilts for veterans, security quilts for children, and quilts used for raising money for fundraisers.
