The Backroads to Road to California

Angie Steveson

2011-08-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Angie Steveson

www.lunchboxquilts.com

Teaching Classes 1008, 2009

Matt: Where were you born and what is your birth order?
Angie Steveson: I was born in Denville, New Jersey. I am the first-born. I have two brothers. My parents moved the family out west when I was seven years old.
M: Where did you grow up?
AS: I grew up the suburbs of Denver, Colorado.
M: What motivated you to begin quilting?
AS: I had always liked sewing. I was involved in the Girl Scouts and 4H clubs as a young girl. I started quilting to make a quilt for my first child after he was born.
M: Describe your “quilting studio” -- is there something in it that you just can’t live without?
AS: My quilting studio is one of the bedrooms in my home. It is always a mess. The guest bedroom is now my office, which I tend to spend more time in then my sewing studio. When sewing in my studio I can’t live without my first Bernina 1260 sewing machine. Also I can’t live without my Havel’s Snip-Eze scissors. I have several pairs, so there is always a pair wherever I need them.
M: Does anyone else in your family quilt?
AS: I don’t know of anyone in my immediate family that quilts. I do have fond memories of my Grandmother embroidering on linen table runners. I am fortunate enough to own some of her exquisite handwork.
M: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?
AS: Other hobbies I have besides quilting are cross-stitch. I like to read and watch movies. I hate exercise, but enjoy my water aerobics class every morning. I would love to spend more time improving my skills working with all the wool projects I have collected.
M: Do you have children, grandchildren etc?
AS: I have two wonderful sons, Zach and Nick. They are both college students.
M: Do you have any pets?
AS: I have four cockatiel birds and two box turtles. There were my son’s pets and now I am in charge of them.
M: Do you have a favorite food? Can you share a short favorite recipe with us?
AS: My favorite food is dessert, Chocolate brownies!

Chocolate Cake

1 Box Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake mix, 1-15oz can 100% pumpkin, ½ cup water. Mix the three ingredients together. Pour into a greased 9” X 13” pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
M: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?
AS: I would love to have separate little house in my backyard for my sewing studio and office. I would travel to Prince Edward Island in Canada. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a personal chef, maid and chauffer! How about finish all my unfinished quilts!!!
M: What is the best class you have taken?
AS: Wow, I have taken so many great quilting classes over the past years. I have learned something in every class I have taken! My most recent favorite class at Road to California was the Photography for Quilts class with Gregory Case.
M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?
AS: I really can’t think of anything that was the funniest moment, but in all my classes the sound of laughter can be heard in the classroom. I want my students not only to learn something new, but also to have fun!
M: Where have you traveled in your quilt teaching career? Any favorites?
AS: I have mostly traveled in the western part of the United States. I enjoy traveling to teach in Colorado. It’s like going home!
M: What was the last book you read, and who is your favorite author?
AS: I am currently reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. One of my favorite authors is L. M. Montgomery who wrote the Anne of Green Gables series.

2010-11-10T09:36:00.001-08:00

Mommy & Me Class 6005

This class was put together as a special sharing opportunity between an adult and child. A simple and fun project with prepared kits to make it really easy for the Mother/Grandmother/Aunt etc. We thought this would provide an avenue for you to bond with a younger person and share your love of quilting. This class has an additional Registration cost in the class fee. This will give the young person a name badge and all the goodies provided any registered attendee. Imagine the young persons joy when he/she gets to 'check-in' just like the big people! The young person should be of an age to enjoy an all day class (six hour with a two-hour lunch break.)

Why not consider sharing some of your time and in the process, pass on your passion for quilting as a legacy to the next generation.

Virginia Walton

2010-10-31T12:00:00.001-07:00

Virginia Walton

Virginia is teaching class 5011

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Virginia: I have been quilting over 25 years and I started after a surgery that corrected a misdiagnosed back problem that had kept me in bed for close to 7 years. I had always wanted to quilt but knew I didn’t have the patience to do everything by hand. However, this was about 1976 and the sewing machine had just started to become a popular way to both piece and quilt and that approach the quilting fit in my short attention span. As a result, using the sewing machine began a lifelong addiction, avocation and a business that includes teaching, lecturing, developing quilting tools and writing quilting books.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

V: Yes, I actually have two work areas. One is a studio where I design, cut and sew and the other is a business office and additional work ant storage space. Both are additions to our home, I do most of my sewing in our ‘studio/family room’ and do most of the paperwork and store fabric for Fabric Kits in the upstairs addition. (My husband says if I try to add any more additions for my fabric – he’ll move both me and the fabric outside, sigh!)

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

V: I am known for my easy sewing machine piecing techniques especially a ‘No Pins’ circular and oval curve sewing method. In addition, my ability to combine Fabric and Color in a Quilt, in other words, ‘how to’ combine fabric to create the effect desired in a quilt.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

V: It is easier to list my least favorite color combinations, which would be pastel quilts. I basically love fabric (which is tough on my bank balance), however I do have a slight preference for fabric combinations of blue, turquoise, green purple, fuchsia and black.

M: What books or articles have you written?

V:I have just finished my 10^th book and write numerous articles for both national and international magazines. In the US, my most recent articles were in the May/June ’09 issue of “Love of Quilting: and the Sept. 09 issue of “The Quilter Magazine.”

M: What do you do while you quilt?

V: I usually either watch TV or listen to the radio.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

V: Almost anything inspires me from traditional patterns to graphics of everything, especially Roman Mosaics. (My children accuse me of never taking pictures of them, but if there is an interesting ceiling or tile work in a bathroom, it will be in my camera.)

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

V: While teaching in France I used a common word in the US to describe damaging a rotary cutter blade. While I didn’t know what I had said wrong, the gasps and hands covering faces were a big clue that I had said something very wrong. Once I convinced someone to whisper what I had done or said that caused the embarrassment, I rephrased the statement. However, I have never used that particular word again.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

V: The best class I even took was taught by one of Jenny Beyer’s first students. She was teaching Sampler Classes that covered both traditional patterns as well as drafting. She was not only a great teacher, but opened my eyes to the creative potential of essentially ‘painting’ with fabric and also the delight of designing my own original quilts.

Terry Waldron

2010-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

Terry Waldron

Terry is teaching 3010, 4009, 5010, 6013, 7017

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Terry: I’ve been quilting since 1995. I played tennis then, and one day my partner told me that she was not going to be playing with us for 6 weeks. When I asked why, she said she was going to take quilt lessons. I said, “What’s a quilt!” I really did say that! Then I walked into the quilt shop she told me about, fell instantly in love with all the cloth, and signed up for a class with the wonderful Blanche Young. I made my first quilt in the next 6 days while teaching high school English in the daytime! It was a queen-sized quilt, and I was hooked! I even liked ironing the fabric!

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

T: Yes, if you consider a guest room to be a studio! It has a full bathroom, though, and a perfect place to iron, AND my sewing machine is right by an upstairs window so I can see the trees and the hills, listen to the neighbor kids play in the cul de sac, and watch a Cary Grant movie as I create! The only thing I wish I had is a maid to help me keep it neat and straightened!

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

T: Well, I have a degree in art education, and I taught high school art classes for many years before changing to English so I really love teaching composition and design. I love two things: working completely by hand WITHOUT patterns from beginning to end, AND I love to do landscapes with my own cutting technique that I wrote about called “Rough Cut.” It makes a landscape or a seascape look REAL!

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

T: I don’t have “color schemes,” actually. I use the colors that each piece calls for. BUT I have a secret about color that all artists know – you MUST know each color’s complement! You probably know that without darkness, we wouldn’t know what light is. Well, for instance, if you don’t add purple in some form to a predominately yellow composition, then the yellow isn’t as yellow! Remember that your elementary teacher probably taught you the color wheel a long time ago. What is most important about that color wheel is to know what each color’s opposite is. They attract!

M: What books or articles have you written?

T: I’ve written an article for the AQS magazine “American Quilter” called “Rough Cut.”

I’ve also written two chapters in Jamie Fingal’s book Embellished Mini-Quilts: Creative Little Works of Art. BUT, my next endeavor is to write my own book!

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

T: When I am working on a piece, I am usually listening to an old movie on TV, or I’m listening to jazz, or sometimes just listening to nature right outside my window. But when there is a Cary Grant movie on… I’m inspired and do my very BEST work!

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

T: My inspiration is certainly nature. It’s important to me to look as closely as I can at EVERYTHING! Nearly every morning when I go outside, I see Mount Baldy, and it’s almost like seeing an old friend. Then there are egrets that often fly over my car when I drive near home. But the person who inspired me most is the work of the great Japanese artist Ayako Miyawaki. I bought her book from Kogi Wada at my first quilt show. It’s written in Japanese so I can’t read a word of it, but I still look to her book to inspire me.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

T: Well, I don’t want to say it in writing… BUT, I might just tell it in my classes! Stay tuned…

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

Hands down, that would be the two classes I took with Joan Colvin. Both classes were 4-day classes, and I will never forget them. Joan, just by her wonderful peacefulness, created a magic that filled the room as she spoke. It was almost like being in a trance! After she finished, everyone in the class would sort of float over to their design wall, and amazingly beautiful work would just seem to create itself for each student in the room. I miss Joan Colvin, and I’m sure that everyone who was lucky enough to learn from her feels the same way.

Sue Patten

2010-10-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sue Patten

Sue is teaching classes 1004, 1010, 2004, 2010, 3013, 4012, 6010, 7016, and 8501

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Sue: I have been quilting for 20 years, the first ten by hand, the second ten by longarm machine.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

Sue: I have a studio that houses my 3 longarms, all my supplies and a comfy design area.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

Sue: My threadart and unique designs.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

Sue: Jet black fabric and bright colored thread.

M: What books or articles have you written?

Sue: Adaptable Quilting Designs, Quilting Possibilities, and Freehand Filler-patterns.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

Sue: I listen to my ipod while I dance and sing loud and off key.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

Sue: I see designs everywhere, first I doodle, then I quilt.

Sharyn Craig

2010-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

Sharyn Craig

Sharyn is teaching class 7013

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Sharyn: I started taking my first quilting class through the local adult education program in 1978. At the time it was just a natural progression ... the next step, for someone who had sewn and crafted forever. My youngest child started kindergarten and I started quilting.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

S: My sewing room is about 12 x 20 ... I've just never been able to think of it as a studio. I am fortunate enough to have enough wall space that I have the luxury of 2 large flannel walls, each about 8 feet by 8 feet. A very important goal for me in this space is that it be very organized so that when I have time to sew I can put my fingers on everything I need immediately. I like my fabric hidden from sight, with most of it being stored in file cabinet drawers, up on end, so I can see every piece of whatever color I want just by opening that drawer.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

S: Definitely Setting blocks is my favorite part. I love taking problem blocks, such as size issues, or color problems, and figuring out ways to fix those problems. I like to think that when it comes to setting my blocks together I take what our grandmothers did and move it to the next step. I'm definitely a traditional quilter, but I do march to my own drummer!

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

S: Definitely the reds, greens, blacks, and warm beiges or even yellow tones.

M: What books or articles have you written?

S: Yikes, book number 17 came out in the Spring of 2010. My titles include: The Art of Classic Quiltmaking, Drafting Plus, Setting Solutions, Great Sets, Twist 'n Turn, Quilt Challenges, Half Log Cabin Quilts, and Layer 'em Up (volumes 1, 2, and 3) There have been lots of magazine articles over the 30 plus years as well.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Listen to music?

S: I will only have music or tv on if I'm doing repetitive work that doesn't require any thinking. I do like music (country to classical, and lots in between), but if I need to concentrate or create Ijust can't handle any distractions.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

S: In the beginning it was antique quilts. Old quilts are probably a source of inspiration today, although I don't actively study old quilts any more, except when looking for a different sort of color scheme, or perhaps a new block. It was never for the exact quilt, but more often for the emotional feel I got from that antique quilt. That's the sort of thing I wanted for my quilts ... for people to have a positive emotional response.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had while you were teaching?

S: I'm not sure this counts, and at the time I sure didn't think it was so funny ... but here goes, I was part of a 3 person teacher panel at Houston Quilt Market. We were sitting on bar stool type chairs on a stage as the moderator asked us questions, then the audience got to ask questions. At a very inopportune moment a giant sneeze came out of me ... causing my front fastening bra to come undone. If there hadn't been a few men in the audience I would have immediately fixed the problem. Instead I had to sit there with my arms crossed for the rest of the questions, hoping everyone wasn't thinking I was mad!

Another time ... at another conference ... when we left for lunch and I locked up the classroom, someone from maintenance came and changed the locks to my classroom, without telling anyone. The students thought it was hysterical ... me? I was worried about how to fix this problem and retrieve all the quilts inside?

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

S: I'd probably have to say it was that initial adult ed class ... although the teacher wasn't one of the best, and in 1978 there was still so very much to learn, but she empowered me to be able to do stuff on my own. She didn't always have answers, but she gave me the tools I needed to find them myself. She helped me believe in my own abilities ... as a student, a quilter, and as a quilting teacher. Within a year after I started taking this class I was working as her assistant. Within 2 years I was actually teaching the class on my own. Her encouragement was a critical part of that equation.

Penny Haren

2010-10-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Penny Haren

Penny is teaching classes 3005, 4005, 5005, 6007, 7006.

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Penny: I have quilted for 30 years. My grandmother was a quilter.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

P: I am now an empty nester so I have turned the master bedroom into my sewing room.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world.

P: I am a math brain, so I incorporate that aspect into all my books, notions and fabric designs.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

P: Anything that can be fussy cut.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

P: I enjoy to Talk and listen to T.V.

M: What books or articles have your written?

P: I authored: Penny Haren’s Pieced Appliqué, More Pieced Applique, Intricate Blocks Made Easy, and Week-end Projects, along with many articles.

M: Who is your quilting inspiration?

P: I would have to say Eleanor Burns.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

P: I recently said that scissors that had handles that were spore and organism resistant were “Sperm and Orgasm” resistant!

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

P: I’m usually teaching – and haven’t had time to take classes in years!

Pat Yamin

2010-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

Pat Yamin

Pat is teaching class 5013

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Pat: I have been quilting for over 40 years. Moving from the Midwest to NY, it was very relaxing for me living in dowtown Brooklyn without knowing anyone.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

P: I live in a 14 room Victorian house and tend to use all of the rooms. Each one has a different purpose. My home based office is in the Maids Room. When I first started the business in 1981 I taught classes in this room. Now it is filled with office work, computers and files.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

P: I design and manufacture templates to make the quilter’s lives easier.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

P: I truly love the colors of the 1880’s or lots of bright colors.

M: What books or articles have you written?

P: I am working on my 4^th book to be published by AQS, Two-Patched Quilts.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

P: When I am sewing or quilting I like it to be quiet. My creativity comes from this absolutely quiet time.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

P: I get a lot of my inspiration from History. Old newspaper patterns, old textile, orphan blocks and quilt tops.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

P: The funniest moment I had was demonstrating rotary cutting to a group of beginning quilter’s . Taking a moment to talk between the demo I was flipping the 28mm rotary in my hand like a baton. Without realizing it, I was shredding the front of my blue and white seersucker pants@!

M: What was the best class you have taken?

P: I have taken so many classes and lectures there in not one that stands out, it’s the cumulative experiences that have driven me and the business.

Pam Clarke

2010-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

Pam Clarke

Pam will be teaching classes 1002, 1008, 2002, 2008, 4014

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin to quilting?

Pam: I have been quilting 40 years. I enjoy making quilts to hand down to my

family.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

P: My quilting studio is 1500 square feet. I have many vintage quilts, toy sewing machines and vintage sewing notions.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

P: Longarm quilting make it look like it was done by hand.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

P: I love scrap quilts, so the more colors the better.

M: What books or articles have you written?

P: I have self-published over 25 sketch books – “Quilting Inside the Lines”

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

P: I love country music – the older the better.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

P: I love life and everything around me.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

P: I can’t think of one at this moment but I am sure there have been many.

M: What was the best class you ever took?

P: Ricky Tims

Maria Tamaoka

2010-10-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Maria Tamaoka

Maria is teaching class 6036

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Maria: I made my first quilt in 1985. I visited an old classmate of mine, saw she made a quilt and thought, hmm, I like sewing, I’ll give it a try. I was hooked!

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?

Maria: My “studio” is my store, Pinwheels, living room, bedroom, kitchen-wherever I find a free table and ironing board.

Matt: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

Maria: My husband and I brought Daiwabo Taupe Fabric to the US in 2001. Since then, I’ve been called the Taupe lady. I love making “monochromatic” traditional quilts using Daiwabo Taupe Fabric.

Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

Maria: Hmmmm…Taupe????

Matt: What books or articles have you written?

Maria: My first book was called Inspirations from Japan. I have also been published in Quilter’s Newsletter magazine, Quilt Mania and Patchwork Tsushin Japan.

Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

Maria: I love listening to Books on Tape.

Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?

Maria: The fabric inspires me.

Matt: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

Maria: I’m sure there are many things, as we usually have a good time in class, just can’t think of anything right now.

Matt: What was the best class you have ever taken?

Maria: Hard to say the best class, but I remember my first class as it really started me quilting.

Mary Lou Wiedman

2010-10-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Mary Lou Wiedman

Mary Lou is teaching classes 3011, 4502, 6702 and 8401

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Mary Lou: My grandmothers taught me 35 years ago.

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique tht you keep in your studio?

Mary Lou: My daylight basement is my studio. I have too much stuff.

Matt: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

Mary Lou: Stories and “out of the box” techniques – I like teaching at principles to quilters who only know techniques.

Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

Mary Lou: Cheddar, Black and Red.

Matt: What books or articles have you written?

Mary Lou: “Quilted Memories”, “Whimsies and Whatnots”, “Out of the Box”, “Everyday Angels” and lots of book lets.

Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

Mary Lou: I listen to golden oldies, the blues and “Happy” music.

Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?

Mary Lou: Life and memories.

Matt: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

Mary Lou: A lady choked on a mint and a good looking fireman came and everyone took photos.

Matt: What was the best class you have ever take?

Mary Lou: A class from a nun from Gonzaga about color and design.

Martha Nordstrand

2010-10-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Martha Nordstrand

Martha is teaching classes 3007, 4007, 5008, 6009, and 7008

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Martha: All my life, but seriously for 30 years.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio.

M: My family room is my studio.

M: What do you consider your quilting ”specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

M: Applique is my specialty especially using unusual tools! Plus embroider to embellish the piece.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

M: Pure colors plus lots of green.

M: What books or articles have you written?

M: Several articles for AQS and I have self-published my own books.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

M: Music, movies etc.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

Martha: Nature and the natural world.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

M: A student spending 20 minutes trying to thread a pin!

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

M: Sharyn Craig fixing uneven blocks. I am not a good piecer, so I need all the help I can get. She can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear!

Lisa Coulombe

2010-10-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lisa Coulombe

Lisa is teaching class 4032

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Lisa: I have been quilting for 22 years. I took my first quilting class, a traditional sampler made entirely by hand using templates we drafted ourselves when I was 8 months pregnant with my first child. After all, every baby need a baby quilt and there were no quilters in my family.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

L: Yes, I have a wonderful second story room, approximately 10 x 20 with lots of natural light and space where I create my art. My room is extremely organized with everything sorted by color. The most unusual thing in my studio is my “princess” pillow where my cat likes to sleep, although any fabric left on the floor is still fair game!

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world.

L: I love to learn new techniques and to enjoy making up my own techniques to create the visions I see in my mind. My specialty is wearable art, but I dabble in anything and everything!

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

L: I am consistently drawn to bright clear colors whether they are pastels, medium values or intense dark fabrics.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

L: I listen to books on tape while sewing. Any genre will do: mysteries, romance, fantasy, thrillers.

M: What books or articles have your written?

L: I have had 3 vests and a jacket published in McCall’s Quilting and I wrote an article for them on free motion quilting on lamé.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

L: As an artist I feel it’s important to keep a journal or inspirational photos and clippings. What inspires me the most is color. I’m always on the lookout for a new exciting color combination. I also love the challenge of figuring out how to do something. I rarely read directions, but prefer to figure it out on my own way.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

L: I was teaching a free quilting class at a senior center when a new student came in during the lesson. I asked her name and welcomed her then continued with the lesson. I was quite flattered at first with the interest she took and all the questions she asked. A few minutes later I realized that she was drinking rather freely from a bottle she kept tucked inside a paper bag and was pretty much out of it. Fortunately she wandered off on her own soon.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

L: I took a class from Ruth McDowell where we learned how to draft our own designs. It was very freeing and lots of fun.

Linda Thielfoldt

2010-10-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

Linda Thielfoldt

Linda is teaching classes 1006, 1012, 2006, 2012, 3014, 4014, 5016, 5018, 8601, 8602

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Linda: I started quilting 37 years ago because my older sister was having a baby and I wanted to make a quilt for her – I was 13 but had been sewing since I was 9.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

L: Yes, actually I have two places – one is where I work and is known as my studio – it is fairly large and was custom built for my business. The other is where I play and is known as my sewing room. The sewing room is 12 x 15 and the studio is 15 x 38. I keep 25 different kinds of batting at hand.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

L: I am a very traditional quilter who does not take the whole process too seriously. I do lots of feathers but with a company name like “The Quilted Goose” you might expect that. I am known for my wearable art.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

L: Warm colors – but I do love weird combinations too – especially reproductions from the mid 1800’s.

M: What books or articles have you written?

L: I have written for Threads Magazine and have written many articles for On Track magazine , which is published by the International Machine Quilters Association. I usually have one or two in each issue.

M: What do you do while you quilt?

L: Usually I have TV on for background noise if I am piecing, if I am quilting I listen to talk radio or music. I am very into contemporary Christian music and listen to the internet station K-Love.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

L: Traditional quilts of the past – I find them so interesting and when I think about what they came up with and how primitive their tools were compared to today I am just blown away. Here n MI we have the Susan McCord collection at The Henry Ford and those are just jaw dropping beautiful! All made at a time when just doing the laundry took all day and the lighting came from burning something!

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

L: Well, one was funny and one was scary… The funny one was when a pregnant student’s water broke… and the other was when a student cut the tip of her finger off with a rotary cutter only minutes after me going through the whole safety thing about using them. What is really amazing is that 1) I don’t do blood and yet managed to get a wet paper towel and pick up the finger, wrap it in the paper and at the same time help the student get off to the emergency room 2) she had never taken a class before and didn’t want to miss a minute of it – she got 13 stitches and CAME back to the (all day) class! She and her friend actually got quite a bit done in spite of all the excitement. 3) After class I felt like throwing up when I replayed the day in my mind. Another funny moment was in a DSM class when a student sewed her top to the quilt she was working on and had to take it off to unsew it – that was interesting.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

L: Well I am mostly self taught and I have not taken that many classes. When I started there were not many options for learning and I had to do it the old way – you know lots of mistakes and a success here and there just to keep you going. I did take quite a few long arm classes in my early years and one that does come to mind is a drawing class with Janet Fogg several years ago. Just hearing how her mind works in regards to the design process was worth the price of admission.

Linda Taylor

2010-10-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

Linda Taylor

Linda is teaching classes 1005, 1011, 2005, 2011 and 8503

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Linda: Since 1972

M: Do you have a quilting studio? What made you begin quilting?

L: I have a 40’ X 40’ studio with a Statler Quilting machines and 3 brother embroidery machines.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world.

L: Long arm quilting since 1993.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

L: Blue and Rust

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

L: I like to listen to music and think.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

L: Everything.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

L: It was a Hari Walner design class.

Lee Fletcher

2010-10-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lee Fletcher

Lee is teaching class 6032.

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Lee: I am the daughter of a seamstress and “free motion” embroidery artist. Sewing has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I started with garment sewing and alterations and have added from there. We had a Meistergram embroidery machine with no foot, no feed dog. The width of the stitch was controlled with your knee. We used it for embroidery, but that skill has come in handy for quilting.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

L: I do all kinds of sewing including machine embroidery, free motion, serger work, etc. I have three machines set up all of the time. I keep one machine set up for embroidery, one for general sewing and the serger is always ready to go. I have a small machine that travels. There is a cutting table, two computers and a ton of books, etc. The room is only about 12’ x 14’, but it functions as my studio and office. I love it!

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

L: I like small, quick projects. My projects are practical items with piecing, quilting and free motion art. My association with Sulky and their products has expanded and refined both my techniques and my projects. I love teaching free motion work and thread painting.

M: What is your favorite color scheme to work with?

L: Personally, I wear bright jewel tones so I naturally gravitate to them.

M: What books or articles have you written?

L: I have several projects published in Sulky books including and have contributed projects to the Sulky Teacher Certification programs. In addition, I publish patterns under the Pat-e-Patterns brand.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

L: I love to listen to music when I am working. If I am doing repetitive work, I will watch some HGTV, but when I need to concentrate, it is music.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

L: When I am working on a small project, cosmetic bag, organizer, wallet, purse, etc., I love to try to invent a new twist to a block that works with odd shapes. I am also beginning to offer more free motion work into my projects.

M: What is your funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

L: This is tough! I try to add humor into all of my classes. In my very first Sulky event, I was criticized for being too serious. Hopefully all of my classes have some humor, usually at my expense!

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

L: My first training class for Sulky was their Teacher Certification which was fabulous. Teaching them has been fabulous! I am grateful to Sulky for everything that they have taught me.

Lisa Bongean

2010-10-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Lisa Bongean

Lisa is teaching classes 4031 & 5036

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Lisa: I started quilting in 1995. I saw a woman hand quilting at the YMCA. I asked her how she know how to cut all those pieces and put them back together…She said..You just need to take a class….I went to that shop the next day…

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

L: Yes…about 700 square feet. Just all my treasures….

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

L: This is a simple one for me…I love working with hand dyed wools.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

L: Red, Tan and Black.

M: What books or articles have you written?

L: Several Pattern books…I think I am on number 8. I hate writing I have lots of typos and I really stink at grammar, I always tell everyone I am a professional quilter, not English major…hopefully they understand.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

L: Most of the time I watch the Food Network.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

L: I find a lot of inspiration in antique quilts and my garden.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

L: I think the funniest or weirdest thing that has happen while teaching was having one of my grade school teachers taking my class….it really was weird and it was hard for me to get over it at the beginning…but it all turned out great…she told lots of stories about me that I will not be repeating here…

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

L: Jeana Kimball-a design class…she showed you how easy it really is!

Heather Thomas

2010-10-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Heather Thomas

Heather is teaching classes:

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Heather: I have been quilting for 24 years. I made my first quilt when I was pregnant with my oldest daughter. My Grandmother was a scrap quilter and she taught me how to appliqué that first quilt using a template cut from a cereal box and the starch from a potato. I wanted to make a quilt for my new baby as well as spend some quality time with my grandmother, I never finished that first quilt but the time with Opal was wonderful.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

H: I have a studio that is located in the Santa Fe Arts District here in Denver, CO. It is about 400 sq ft, has painted, white exposed brick walls and two, huge, east facing windows that let in amazing natural light. I have a cutting/painting table that is 6’ x 4’. It is my favorite studio possession. Most of my current work is painted and that table is where all the magic happens. I also have a doll (I hate to call him a doll, he’s so much more) that was made by one of my students, Joanne Pinto. He is called the Reluctant Knight. He’s about 3’ tall and he sits on top of one of my shelving units with his eye on the door. I feel like he is my studio protector. I spend between 30- 40 hours a week working there.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

H: Color. I consider myself a colorist first and foremost. I’ve been teaching color and design for more than a decade and find it the most fascinating, engaging, thing I’ve ever been involved with. My quilting style has changed in many ways over the years. When I first started designing and publishing my patterns 16 years ago I was into dimensional appliqué and paper piecing Mariner’s Compasses. Now I wet sculpt my wall art then paint it then heavily machine quilt it. Most people are hard pressed to figure out how I do what I do and what my art work is made from. I’m also very involved with surface design and embellishment. I like to explore and investigate new and unusual techniques and products to see if and how I can use them in my art work.

M: What is your favorite color scheme to work with?

H: I enjoy so many color combinations. I like working with contrasts, seeing how the colors interact with each other. I really like the dynamic of direct complements. Managing the power and reluctance of complementary colors is exhilarating and a great challenge. Now that I paint most of my own fabrics, the challenge is all new again and I’ve fallen back in love with my craft.

M: What books or articles have you written?

H: My first book, Fabric Embellishment; the Basics & Beyond came out last October. I wrote it with three of the teachers I had working for me at my store (which I have since closed). It is published by Landauer. I’m finishing up my second book, Color and Design; the Basics & Beyond which will be out this October and am working on a third book on free style machine quilting. I’ve written several articles for magazines, Quiltmaker and McCall’s Quilting and I’ve self published more than 100 quilt patterns.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

H: I have a great, little stereo system in my studio and listen to music the whole time I’m there. I match the music to my mood as well as the task I’m working on. If I’m doing something intricate I might listen to Bill Frisell play his beautiful Jazz guitar. If I’m painting I listen to something less relaxing like Lyle Lovitt or Keb Mo. When I’m machine quilting I usually listen to things that are more raucous such as Alanis Morrisette, the Beatles or the Stones. I wouldn’t want to work without music in the background. It’s great company.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

H: It’s two fold. This is what I do for a living; make, teach and sell art and quilting is my medium. I’m in such a great space right now since developing the technique that I’m now using which incorporates my two favorite things; painting and machine quilting. What keeps me intrigued is the constant learning. I enter my studio and think, What can I come up with today?

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

H: This is a tough one, for a while there I was teaching about 5-6 classes a week, with classes offered at 9 different stores/locations across the Front Range of Colorado and Santa Fe NM. One night I walked into a store in Boulder to teach a color class and no one was there. The store employee informed me that I was there on the wrong night just as my cell phone rang. It was a store in Colorado Springs, 90 miles away, wondering where I was. The students conducted their own show and tell and when I finally got there, I taught that months lesson then bought them all a round (a fat quarter) as an apology. I was so embarrassed! That has NEVER happened again.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

H: I’ve only taken two quilt classes in my whole life, one with Sally Collins about 20 years ago and one with Jodi Barrows about 14 years ago. Though both were good classes, I realized that I’m not into perfection or repeat designs. I’m pretty much an autodidact. I’m entirely self taught and I love to learn what I want to learn, when I want to learn it and how I want to learn it- so I’m not a very good student. I think this is what makes me a great teacher though. I understand that each student is in my class for her own reasons. In the first few minutes of my encounter with each student I try to discern what their desires and needs are from the class and provide that for them to the best of my ability. Some gals are there for the companionship, some come to learn while others come for the fun. I want my classes to always include fun!

David Taylor

2010-10-12T12:00:00.000-07:00

David Taylor

David is teaching classes 3008, 4501, 6011, 7009

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

David: I started quilting in 1999. I was encouraged to assist my friend Madeleine Vail in creating a charity quilt for our local chamber music festival. When the quilt sold for $25,000 at a silent auction, I was hooked. Nothing "made" me begin quilting. I have had a love affair with fabric since childhood. It just took me 40 years to figure out what to do with it. In July of 2009, I shifted my career as a graphic artist into a full-time quilter and quilt instructor.

M: Do you have quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

D: Quilting has taken over my life and my house. I live in a small apartment and my fabric stash dominates the entire space. I love keeping my fabrics on open shelves so I can always see them. And, yes, they are out of direct sunlight.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

D: The most appealing aspect of my work is my use of fabric and thread to create art quilts that appear to be paintings. I use hundreds of fabrics in my quilts and miles of variegated cotton threads.

M: What is your favorite color scheme to work with?

D: As my work is pictorial in nature, (pun intended) there's not really a 'color' scheme chosen. I work from photographs and painstakingly recreate the color in the photos from hundreds of fabric choices. I do gravitate toward the colors provided by Mother Nature.

M: What books or articles have you written?

D: My first book is still being written, but I wrote an article about my technique for Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine in 2008.

M: What do you do while you work? Do you listen to music?

D: I am not a good multi-tasker. I can only work on one quilt at a time. And if I am quilting (which I enjoy doing more than anything else), then that is what I am doing. I love getting so involved in my work, that nothing else matters. All I've ever wanted is to live in the mountains and be surrounded by peace and quiet. I'm fortunate to have that now. Since the secret to machine quilting is finding your rhythm and relaxing into your design, I find music very distracting. As the tempo changes, so does your quilting speed. The words "background noise" is an inane concept to me.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

D: I am inspired by my environment, living in Northwest Colorado. My actual quilting is inspired by the image I am creating.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

D: I am not sure I've had a 'funniest moment" during my teaching. I do want my students to have 'fun' and enjoy what they are doing. As I've only been teaching for three years, I am learning more, I think, than my students are. I can only hope that with every workshop, I get better. It troubles me to think I have had students who have not enjoyed my classes or who were disappointed in my efforts. That is very hard for me to get past.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

D: I'm not a very good student and have only taken three workshops since I started my quilting journey. I can say I have learned something in every one of them. So, in that sense, they were all my best class. It's hard to measure one experience against another. Learn something new as often as you can, and thank every teacher for the time they've shared with you.

A Personal Note

2010-10-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

A Personal Note

My mother passed away this morning. She would have been 93 on December 2. She has been quite ill since February. Many of you were customers of The Fabric Patch. Mother and I opened the store in 1981. Mother became very interested in creating dolls. She held classes, one Christmas making Cabbage Patch Dolls, she designed a doll that looked just like Blanche Young a quilter, and taught toothbrush rugs. If you ever visited “The Patch” and admired the dolls, ribbon embroidery and often Christmas decorations, you too have a memory of my mother. I will miss her.

Carolyn Reese

Debbie Busby

2010-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Debbie Busby

Debbie is teaching class 5033

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Debbie: I started sewing small wall quilts about 15 years ago but mostly love to work with wool!!!

M: Do you have quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

Debbie: I have a studio in my home basement that has a fireplace and an office. We are currently turning one of our garages into a wool dying room.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

Debbie: Beside working with wool I don’t consider myself to have a quilting specialty….but I would love to appliqué a quilt someday.

M: What is your favorite color scheme to work with?

Debbie: I love RED!!

M: What do you do while you work? Do you listen to music?

Debbie: I like to watch a good movie that I have seen before or watch the cooking channel.

M: Where do your inspirations come from?

Debbie: My inspiration comes from the outdoors and the things around me.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

Debbie: It is always just fun to sew in a group and share laughter with the group!! One time a student sewed a chicks bead on top of it’s head pointing the wrong direction and we had a good hardy laugh with her.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

Debbie: Primitive Primer Class

Karen Brow

2010-10-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Karen Brow

Karen is teaching class 7003

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Karen: Fourteen years ago I was astonished by the workmanship and beauty at a regional quilt show. I walked away with my mouth and mind wide open.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

K: My quilting studio is a 15” x 20” room with three walls of windows and a small neurotic dog.

M: What do you consider your quilting ‘specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

K: My sense of humor and the combination of colors (fabrics) are most commented on by students and pattern customers. I’m know for animals who steal squares or leap off the edges of quilts and for a patters with toilet paper themed blocks.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

K: I like cool-colored quilts with warm accents or warm-colored quilts with cool accents. There is a lovely sensitivity to the balance of these two and the concept can add vitality when understood.

M: What books or articles have you written?

K: I have authored and illustrated over 60 patterns.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

K: NPR radio is my constant companion as is a cup of dark-roast coffee.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

K: Animals and color inspire me most, as does nearly any clever idea.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

K: The slide projector never showed up so I had to “wing it”. Students were completely supportive and took turns being my assistants. I bought them all chocolate.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

K: A Ricky Tims class on piecing curves completely freed my concept of construction.

Jodi Barrows

2010-10-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

Jodi Barrows

Jodi is teaching classes 4030, 5032, and 6031

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Jodi: My family was instrumental in starting me quilting 40 years ago.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

Jodi: Yes I have a 1600 square foot studio.

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world.

Jodi: I love to put many (21 or more) fabrics together in a quilt. Also the technique of Square in a Square plus speed and accuracy.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

Jodi: Muddy colors – tan and red.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

Jodi: I listen to music, tv or just the quiet.

M: What books or articles have your written?

Jodi: 20 books and many articles.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

Jodi: Colors, feel and just all of life.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

Jodi: I was teaching in Vegas, it was my last lecture and then flying right out. So all my luggage was with me, personal and work. I pop open a quilt to show and a pair of panties flies out. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas! They all thought it was a hoot.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

Jodi: 30 years ago I took a rotary class.

Christal Carter

2010-10-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Christal Carter
Christal is teaching class 6005

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Christal: My “Kansas” grandmother taught be to hand-piece a ninepatch when I was a teenager, and I was hooked. I didn’t actually complete a quilt until 1971 for the birth of my second daughter, Catrina. By 1980 I had begun designing and teaching. I still LOVE it!

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

C: I have a lovely country studio in Calley Center, CA. It is about 600 Sq. feet and has 2 decks outside among the giant oak trees. The floor below is a quest house and art studio. We included built in bunk beds for overnighters… the grandchildren love it!

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

C: I am known primarily as a designer of the ‘log cabin’ block picture quilts, including the traditional squares as well as diamonds, triangles and hexagons. I also design appliquéd pictorial quilts and geometric quilts. I use many techniques, often combining hand & machine work.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

C: My favorite color schemes tend to be the warmer colors; I love reds, pinks, oranges and purples. I love all colors, however, and am able to experiment with color blending when I do my oil paintings.

M: What books or articles have you written?

C: Books: Holiday Happenings, Quilts for All Seasons, A Child’s Garden of Quilts, The Log Cabin Design Workbook. I am a contributor in these books: Decorating with Quilts and Decorating with Quilts and Collections. My quilts have appeared in numerous periodical publications since 1983.

M: What do you do while you quilt?

C: When I am quilting, I am usually very focused, so music is a great background for that. I sometimes do hand appliqué while watching television.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

C: Everything! It doesn’t take much… a comment by a grandchild, a flower in the garden, memories from childhood, just a swatch of fabric can send me spinning.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

C: While teaching in Washington State one year, my husband was invited along. A well-known national teacher invited us to stay in her vacation guesthouse. When we arrived back at the house after giving the lecture, we found that the key did not work in the lock. Since our hostess lived some miles away, we borrowed a ladder from the neighbor and climbed into an open second story window with quilts in tow! That was great for so many laughs and wonderful memories!

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

C: I loved learning from some of the men in quilting. My favorite was Michael James.. quite the artist! And Geoffrey Gutcheon, quite the quilt rebel at the time. They were both great teachers and very different.

Bonnie Hunter

2010-10-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

Bonnie Hunter

Bonnie is teaching classes 3006, 4006, 5006, 6008, 7007 and 8404

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Bonnie: I started quilting in a high school home economics class my senior year of high school in 1980. I have that teacher to thank for giving me the bug early! I love all things geometric and piecing with shapes just lit a fire in me from early on.

M: Do you have a quilting studio? How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

B: My studio is in the basement of my house. It’s large enough to house my long arm machine, my corner area where I sew and do my piecing. I love being down here. I have a fireplace with a wood stove insert for cozy winter days, and window view out to my 1/5 acres of woods in rural North Carolina. I also have my collection of antique toy machines and other vintage machines down here. I’m not a neat freak, so it is usually a “creative mess in progress” in between bouts of “clean and straighten.”

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

B: I have a dear friend who says I take the “Trash Can Approach to Quilting!” And I think this is true. I am a scrap quilter from way back because scraps are what I started with. When I got married my scraps came with me! I love scrappy vintage quilts, and I was always bored with quilts that used a limited amount of 2 to 5 fabrics. Just not enough going on in them to hold my interest! I like making the most of my fabrics, getting them to go as far as they can. As far as I’m concerned, fabric does NOT have an expiration date! If it’s still ugly, you just didn’t cut it small enough!

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

B: Definitely scrappy, not paying attention to fabric genre, mixing 30’s prints with civil war, batiks, old vips, solids, everything goes. There are no rules as to what fabrics can be put next to each other.

M: What books or articles have you written?

B: For the past several years I have been featured in Quiltmaker magazine. I currently have a column in each issue dedicated to using our fabric to its true potential! The column is called “Addicted to Scraps”. My first book, “Scraps & Shirttails” was published by Kansas City Star in Fall of 2008. My second book “Adventures with Leaders and Enders” was released in January 2010, and a third book the sequel to Scraps & Shirttails, more quilting with recycled fabrics ids due to be released in February of 2011. My website, Quiltville.com has loads of free patterns, tips and techniques for all thing quilty!

M: What do you do while you quilt?

B: I always have music on. It’s the first thing that goes on in the morning when I wake up! The other thing I love to do while piecing, machine quilting or hand quilting is listen to books on my mp3 player. I don’t often get hours just to sit and READ a book but I love to listen while my hands are busy with a needle.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

B: My inspiration comes through my love of antique quilts. I can’t get enough of them, especially the quirky ones. I wonder about the maker, and what her/his life was like. Where did their fabric come from, where did they get their design inspiration. Most of these questions will never be answered, and I am drawn to the mystery in that. I love quilts with no rules, but still have a very traditional approach.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

B: Oh, this is easy! I was teaching for the Gulf States Quilting Association symposium weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When we break for lunch we have to tell the students they can stay in the room and sew as long a there are two people in the room for safety measures. One older lady got a puzzled look on her face and asked….. “You mean they don’t trust us to stay by ourselves? They think we will steal something?” And the response was “No, it’s for you protection, what is someone came in here and molested you?” She got a very silly girlish look on her face and said “REALLY?????” Like that was the best offer she’d had in a long time! We all cracked up laughing because she was maybe 80 years old. It was SO FUNNY. I’ll never forget that.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

B: I’m basically a self-taught quilter. I haven’t taken many classes, but I did get the opportunity to attend one of Gwen Marston’s retreats in Michigan last year. It was such a great week, and lots of inspiration.

Marilyn Badger

2010-08-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Badger
St George, UT
Visit Marilyn's Website!

Marilyn will be teaching classes 1001, 1007, 2001 & 2007.

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Marilyn: Over 30 years. I picked up a copy of "Quilter's Newsletter" in the late 1970's and I was hooked.

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?

Marilyn: Yes, we built a special room onto our house to house all my quilting stuff.

Matt: How big is your studio, and is there anything unique you keep in your studio?

M: Well, I have 12' longarm machine, huge bins of thread, bobbins and industrial racks filled with fabric in the main room, then I have my two sewing machines, serger, cutting table, taptop computer and ironing board in a separate room attached to the longarm room. The unique thing I have hanging in my longarm room is a ceremonial kimono that I received as a gift from the President of Bernina Japan on one of my trips there to teach and work the Tokyo and Yokohama quilt shows.

Matt: What do you consider your quilting specialty or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

M: I was in the 1st class of longarm quilters, along with Linda Taylor, Marcia Stevens and Pam Clarke, who pushed the envelope and made longarm quilting acceptable in the quilting world back in the late '80s and early '90s. When we all purchased our machines they were mostly used to quilt bedspreads with edge to edge quilting all over them. We all saw no reason for that to be the case and each of us independently came up with out own way of dealing with our machines to make our quilting not only acceptable but competitive as well.

Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

M:I love color, period! All colors! Right now I seem to be doing lots of red/rust/green/blue combinations.

Matt: What books or articles have you written?

M: No books - not enough time to quilt and write books. I have written several articles for "Love of Quilting" magazine and contributed to articles about my quilts in other magazines.

Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

M:At one time I listen to lots of music but now I seem to like the silence when I quilt. I do listen to the radio sometimes when I'm pinning a quilt on or during one of my ripping sessions that can take quite a while.

Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?

M: I would say my partner, Claudia Myers, is a big inspiration to me. She comes up with fabulous designs just one after another. There are so many of them up there in her head and they are all so totally different. That keeps me on my toes because I want to have my quilting original on them all as well. Of course, there are some other big names in quilting who have been truly an inspiration to me as well as thousands of other quilters. Two that I can come up with from my early days of quilting are Charlotte Warr Andersen, and Caryl Bryer Fallert. Their work is perfection!!

Matt: What was the best class you ave ever taken?

M: I have not taken very many classes, but the ones that stand out to me were classes I took in Oregon in the early 90s from Moneca Calvert, Margaret Miller, Nancy Pearson and Marilyn Doheny and a 2-day class at Houston from Charlotte Warr Andersen.

Karla Alexander

2010-08-18T13:44:00.001-07:00

Karla Alexander

Salem, OR

Visit Karla's Website!

Karla will be teaching classes 4001, 5001, 6001 & 7001.

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Karla: I always sewed as a young girl - I began my quilting career during the long dark winters in Kodiak, Alaska.

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?

Karla: Yes I have a studio by default. When we purchased our house, it came with a newly built 20'x24' music studio, entirely hidden from street view, complete with lots of windows and vaulted ceilings, overlooking out back yard. The only thing in my studio that I think is unique is Lucy, my black lab.

Matt: What do you consider your quilting specialty?

K: I like to work and teach designs that can be re-worked into whatever style I want without always having to have a predetermined out come. I encourage students to make projects their own rather than simply duplicating a pattern, to change it up and put their own spin on it. I also love using a lot of different fabrics - often using 8 to 10 different pieces to represent one color, etc.

Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

K: As much as I hate to hem myself in to one color scheme... seems purple and green are always in the final cut!

Matt: What books or articles have you written?

K: I have written six books; Stack the Deck - 2002, Stack a New Deck - 2004, New Cut for New Quilts - 2006, Baby Wraps - 2008, Color Shuffle - 2009 and Stack the Deck, Updated Quilts - 2010.

I have also designed 4 rulers for Creative Grid, unique for cutting curves.

Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

K: I listen to music ALL day long - fill orders and hang with my Lucy.

Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?

K: To begin with - I am fascinated with quilts from the past. I am amazed at what quilters accomplished with the tools and fabric they had available. Quilters from the past are an enormous inspiration to me. with that in mind... I love to find designs in nature, floor tiles, old buildings etc.

Matt: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

K: That would have to be when I showed up to teach a class and found most of the students had the wrong supplies. I continued on, encouraging them to learn the new techniques I was teaching - claiming they would eventually begin using them in their project. It wasn't until an hour in that I realized I was teaching an entirely different project than they had signed up for...

Matt: What was the best class you ave ever taken?

K: July 2009, I had the pleasure of taking a class with the Ladies of Gees Bend. Nothing will ever top that experience!

Classes at Road

2010-07-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

As of this morning Road has 16 sold out classes and events! I would like to take some time and give you some insider tips on getting the best classes and being the first to know when we have added classes and/or have open spaces.

Road periodically sends out an email newsletter. If you are signed up for classes, have signed up for classes in the past or entered the contest in the past you should get the newsletter. We will have this information on file, so you don't need to resign up.

One of the jewels of this years road show is a Saturday class we are offering. This is a "Mommy and Me" class. The class is number 6005 and is taught by Christal from Christal Carter which will be located in booth 1216. This class allows you to bring a daughter, granddaughter, son, grandson or whatever youngster in your life that is excited to learn a little about quilting! You will need to bring one sewing machine for the two of you to share! The cost of the class includes a name badge for your "sewing buddy" so they can enjoy the show with you!

Did you know that Road is now offering Hands on Longarm class all week? Handi Quilter has generously provided machines for the entire conference. Hurry and sign up before these classes fill up!

Our online system is so advanced it can now accept waiting lists for classes and lectures. You can wait list the same was as you can sign up for classes at https://online.roadtocalifornia.com We have already filled spots from the waiting lists, so don't be bashful to put your name on one!

Mickey Depre

2010-06-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Mickey Depre

Machine Quilting and Piecing Faculty

Mickey will be teaching classes 3004,4011,4013,5004,6006,7014

(Information about this class will be posted soon)

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Mickey: I have been quilting since 1987. As a daughter of an accomplished seamstress I have learned to love fabric, needle and thread from a very early age. The bicentennial quilts in 1976 (when I was 10) intrigued me and when I was married and spending evening s along (husband worked second shift) I decided it was time to learn to quilt. So I dove into the dusty books on the library shelves and taught myself.

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?

Mickey: My studio is pretty much the entire basement of our home. It started out as a family room and slowly but surely I took it over and last year it got one last “remodel” and well…it’s my own slice of heaven on earth now!

Matt: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

M: I am known for my whimsical art quilts..but truly I love and make traditional and art quilts. It is a joy to hear someone giggle when they view my art quilts. That makes my heart sing.

Matt: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

M:I truly love all colors and as for schemes…I guess…just mixing commercial and hand dyed fabric (done by my dear husband Paul) together is my favorite. I find I can’t work exclusively just with hand dyes, as lovely as they are…well there are too many beautiful commercial fabrics out there that need a good home too. And I love the character/texture/movement that they bring to my work

Matt: What books or articles have you written?

M: Articles…to be honest…starting to lose track. The latest was just published in Professional Quilter . As for books…my book Garden Whimsy Applique is a technique /creativity book that discusses my method for machine appliqué and has 12 patterns (to which any style of applique can be applied) too! And I currently working on a new book….shhh….

Matt: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

M: Music…oh yes! All types, rock, country, jazz, instrumental…my ipod is FULL. Podcasts too! And a funky thing that I listen to is my police scanner. I find it gives my brain just enough to hold it’s interest but I don’t get lost in it. Plus as a nocturnal person by nature I do a lot of studio work between the hours of 1am and 4am…very interesting police scanner time…that’s all I’m saying…lol.

Matt: What is your quilting inspiration?

M: Anything and everything has inspired a quilt. Current events to just a silly phrase someone has said. It is the spoken word that usually sets my creative muse into overdrive and half the time I have the image in my head before I can locate a pen and paper after hearing something.

Matt: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

M: My first teaching gig was in Kentucky. And I was nervous. Of course..I’m only human. The class was Machine Quilting 101 and if was full..actually overbooked to the tune of 29 students. All were heads down about a few hours in working studiously…when Ruby (age 95 and bought a new machine just prior to class just to learn this technique…no pressure…) let out in a very loud voice. “HOT DAMN! I can do this!” the entire class bust out laughing and my life on the road has been a joy ever since.

Cathy Van Bruggen

2010-06-15T14:44:00.000-07:00

Cathy Van Bruggen

Appliqué Vendor Teacher

Cathy will be teaching class 3009

(Information about this class will be posted soon)

Matt: How long have you been quilting? What made you begin quilting?

Cathy: I began quilting when I retired from the family clothing business in 1995. Customers told me about their wonderful projects and the fun of being involved with a quilt guild. So, I decided to become a member of the Orange Grove Quilters Guild. I love the creative process while working with cloth. The first few years were spent trying every quilting technique possible. I soon found that appliqué was my favorite because I love to tell a story with my quilts. Designing patterns that look realistic gives me so much pleasure!

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?

Cathy: My formal living room became my quilting studio. I agonized over selling all of my furniture. Of course, I was concerned about visitors seeing my “creative mess” when they entered the front door. My daughter, Kim, convinced me that I shouldn’t worry about the mess because my friends are quilters and they would love my special space. Now, my studio has a view of the garden with wall to wall storage. The middle of the room has a cutting table and large sewing machine cabinet. The best part is that I work in the middle of family activities

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

C: My quilting “specialty” is appliqué. My designs are unique because they feature “botanically correct” flowers and small creatures. I attempt to tell a story with my designs and quilting. When I quilt my finished design, I continue the story by quilting in birds, butterflies, and small creatures. Next time you are close up to one of the quilts, take a second look and see if you can find quilted surprises.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

C: When I began quilting, I loved soft cottage color themes. Now, I try to design pictorial appliqué with vibrant colors. Mother Nature is very colorful and I like my designs to be colorful too.

M: What books or articles have you written?

C: The Appliqué Society Newsletter recently featured a series of my quilt designs. I am presently writing a book that explains a fantastic new approach to hand appliqué. The book will feature blocks that have creatures in a natural setting.

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

C: I frequently have the television on for background noise. I really don’t know why, because there is usually plenty of noise and confusion with two dogs, three cats, a daughter, and her teenage daughter running through my quilting studio!

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

C: There is inspiration everywhere! I love to walk in my garden and see the beauty in how a flower grows. Watching a momma bird build a nest and hatch babies always brings new ideas for quilt blocks.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

C: Once a young police officer came into my class and looked around at us sewing. He finally confessed that he wasn’t looking for a criminal. He had lost a button and wondered if anyone could help him sew it back onto his shirt. Quilters are always so helpful. Hopefully, the word won’t get out to those officers in need of assistance.

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

C: I’ve taken so many wonderful classes. I can’t decide which one was best. Each teacher has influenced how I make quilts and teach my classes. I never have a closed mind to learning new things. In every class I gain something new.

Darlene Zimmerman

2010-05-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Darlene Zimmerman

Traditional Piecing Faculty Member

Darlene will be teaching classes 3012, 4010, 5014, 6015 and 7011

(Information about these classes will be posted soon)

Matt: How long have you been quilting?

Darlene: I started about 25 years ago.

Matt: What made you begin quilting?

Darlene: Two reasons: 1) I loved to sew 2) Desperation! I was a stay-at-home mom with 3 small children and one on the way. I needed to do something more than just be a mommy.

Matt: Do you have a quilting studio?

Darlene: Yes

M: How big and is there anything unique that you keep in your studio?

D: Too small!!! We added an addition to our house 18 years ago—before I had a computer, printer, fax machine, etc. and before I started designing fabrics. Now it's stuffed with fabric and my office area takes up way too much space!

I also collect vintage toy sewing machines and pincushions of all types. I love to make my own pincushions using 30s vintage planters. (See photos)

M: What do you consider your quilting “specialty” or what makes you unique in the quilting world?

D: I'm best known for my 30s fabrics and also my quilting tools with EZ Quilting by Wrights.

M: What is your favorite color schemes to work with?

D: Pastels of course (my 30s fabrics and other pretty fabric). But I also enjoy sewing with reproduction fabrics from the 1800s—the Civil War quilts and later.

M: What books or articles have you written?

D: I frequently contribute to Am. Patchwork & Quilting magazine, McCall's Quilting, Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting and others. I've written quite a few books. Those still in print are:

Fat Quarter Small Quilts

Granny Quilts

Granny Quilt Decor

The Quilter's Edge

Quilting: The Complete Guide

Quilts from Lavender Hill Farm

I've also started self-publishing patterns. You can see them on my website: www.feedsacklady.com

M: What do you do while you quilt? Do you listen to music?

D: I usually have music playing while I'm sewing on the machine. I do quite a bit of hand applique and quilting, which I generally do in the evening while watching tv or listening to audio books.

M: What is your quilting inspiration?

D: Primarily old quilts.... I have a collection of the state quilt search books that I love to page through. In the past quilters weren't so bound by color or quilting "rules" and were very inventive. I look for interesting color combinations, interesting settings or border treatments. Since I work primarily with reproduction fabrics I also try and determine what is typical in design and color for a time period.

M: What is the funniest moment you have had happen while you were teaching?

D: The most exciting moment was when a woman dropped her small scissors which caused a deep puncture wound. There was blood everywhere! She had to go to the emergency room to get it stitched up and have tetanus shots.

funniest moment (for me) was when a woman in class was having problems with her machine "eating" her fabric. I suggested The she change her needle. She replied "You can replace the needle??"

M: What was the best class you have ever taken?

Unfortunately I'm usually teaching classes, not taking them. However, I took a wonderful design class with Jeanna Kimball years ago, and still remember what she taught us that day.

2010-05-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

We have been busy little workers here at the Road office this month. Terry and myself have been working on putting together teacher and vendor contracts for the 2011 show. Carolyn has been busy coordinating a travel schedule for Road's Quilting Makes a Difference Exhibit as featured in the 2010 Showcase.

Road has had a Facebook page now for some time, and we are still in the process of figuring out what content you would like to see on the page. Please let me know what you would like to see on the Facebook page! facebook.com/road2ca

At the show, our office overlooks the Exhibit Hall B. This year we decided to place a camera to take a picture every 5 minutes at the show. The video can be found on Road's facebook page. It goes from the decorator set-up of the show, to the tear down. We hope you enjoy a birds eye view of the 2010 show! Check it out at facebook.com/road2ca

Teacher bios and interviews will be posted as soon as we get information back from our 2011 Faculty.

Be sure to save the dates for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 shows.

Jan 20-23, 2011 Classes will begin on Jan 17, 2011

Jan 19-22, 2012 Classes will begin on Jan. 16, 2012

Jan 24-27, 2013 Classes will begin on Jan. 22, 2013

As always, if you have any questions about the Conference, Showcase or the Quilting Makes a Difference Exhibit please email us.

The Jury Process at Road

2009-11-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

As far as I know we are the only show that juries the entries on the Internet. We have three quilters who jury the entries. I am one of the jurists; another is in Virginia and this year another was in Massachusetts. Dave has written a program that allows us to do the process by computer. Sometimes we actually look at the quilts in our “Jammies” at home.

I feel that our jury is very well balanced. Traditional Quilts really appeal to me. Our second jurist is involved in the jury and judging process in several national shows and is experienced in jurying both Traditional, Innovative and Art. This year our third jurist really enjoys the art aspect of quilting.

The computer divides the entries into categories. We the jurors can see the artist statement, methods of construction, design basis and both photos of each entry, but not the makers name or address. On the first pass through the category we can mark accepted, not accepted or undecided. We do not know how the other jurists are voting until after we have completed the category.

Our program accepts entries that all three jurors accept, declines entries that all three jurors decline. Then we begin analyzing the entries that we differ on until we have accepted our maximum number.

Our judging takes place just two days before the show begins. We can only accept the number of quilts that can be judged within the two days. That is how we determine how many quilts to accept. Sometimes to reach that number we have to eliminate some really good quilts. And that certainly was the case this year!!

A heartwarming story

2009-07-07T11:17:00.000-07:00

I received this email today and I asked Shirley Rickard if I could share her story.

Here is her story in her own words.

I have been meaning to send you this email about my fantastic, and somewhat eerie, experience from the last Road to California Show.

Last year I did not get my first choices, but I'm glad. Sitting in my row in the Hands All Around class (my 2nd choice) was my sister's roommate from college (she was a walk in) and my sister's bosses wife (her husband was taking my 1st choice that day). My sister, Peggy, died of cancer 7 months before. I over heard the boss, his wife and her roommate talking, realizing that they all knew Peggy. The roommate did not know that Peggy died, so the boss told her. That was when I asked them if they were talking about a woman named Peggy who lived in Ridgecrest and who died of cancer last year; She is my sister. Debbie then said that she was her college roommate, and Margaret's husband said that he was her boss before he recently retired. It was the most exciting experience I have ever had. I mean, what are the odds of the 3 of use sitting in the same row in a class that was my 2nd choice and one that Debbie added at the very last minute? I found out later that the women sitting in front of me was so moved that she was crying. Debbie and I had lunch that day because she wanted to hear more about Peggy and her life. We also have kept in touch since the class. My Mom, Dad and older sisters all fondly remember Debbie from those college days and were floored when I told them my story. I feel that Peggy worked hard to get all of us together for that class. Quilting does bring people together! Thank you for being a major part of this fantastic story!

Sometimes we wonder why things happen the way they do. I was bummed when I did not get my first choice last year...Now I know why I didn't. I was meant to be in that class, sitting in that seat (I almost sat in front of the class), and Debbie and Margaret were also meant to be there, sitting in their seats.

I feel that this chance meeting was a gift that needs to be shared. Thank you for helping me do that.

This is my 3rd year of attending classes at Road to California. You definitely do provide a wonderful haven for women...and men! Thank you!!!!

I have always felt that The Fabric Patch, the store Mother and I owned for 25 years, and now Road to California were my mission in life to provide a haven for women. Many times when things were not going well, I would say a prayer and God would help. I love producing Road to California. I like to see ladies smiling as they walk around the show and stories such as Sharon's are the icing on the cake.

God Bless!!
Carolyn

Class Brochures

2009-06-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Our printer called and our class brochure is ready. They will be delivering copies to our mailer and the brochure should 'hit' the post office about July 1. We use bulk mail so they may be a few days reaching your mailbox.

OH!!!!!!!! the printer just delivered our copies.

We hope to get the classes on our web site in the next couple of days. The web site will have photos of most projects and in some cases a more complete supply list.

We are implementing a new registration process. You will know if you are in a class when you press the registration button. No more waiting two weeks for us to process your registration in the office. More info about this will be coming.

Online registration will begin on July 7.

If you want a brochure mailed to you please send $3.00 to: Road to California, 1529 W. 13th Street, Suite A, Upland, CA 91786.

2009-06-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Badger

Marilyn Badger has agreed to come out of retirement to be a member of our faculty this year teaching hands-on longarm classes. She will be teaching various classes from beginning (pantograms and stencils) to more advanced – anything but feathers. She will also be teaching on Wednesday about using longarm tools and accessories. If you are thinking about buying a longarm machine don’t miss her lecture on Wednesday afternoon on What to look for in a Longarm.

How many years have you been quilting? I would say it has been about 34 or 35 years now. My, how time flies when you're having fun.

What motivated you to start quilting? I saw a copy of Quilter's Newsletter way back in the 70s and was stricken instantly. It was something I could do on the boat that didn't take up much room. That was before rotary cutters and mats and stashes. You bought whatever you needed for a project and no more. Everything was cut and pieced individually by hand. My first quilt was a king-size lone star - nothing like starting big! I had it hand quilted by a group of church ladies my mother knew in Mississippi. I purchased my first longarm machine 13 years after making that first quilt and have been longarm quilting since 1991.

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career? I have taught in Australia, Japan, Canada and various places in the US.

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career? Probably the most frightening experience was taping the first TV show with Fons and Porter back in 1998. Never having done anything like that, it was somewhat intimidating to show up at the PBS studio in Iowa and try to appear cool, calm and collected. I was told to prepare to be there all day as we would probably be doing lots of re-takes. However, we just clicked and they made me feel like a friend immediately. We were finished in one take and out of the studio before noon. It's been that way every year since. Probably the most frustrating experience was co-chairing a major quilt show held in Duluth, MN in 2002 called "Quilting the Quilt 2002. My hat is off to you, Carolyn, for doing this all these years and I'm very thankful to those of you who do it. I'm very happy in my studio doing my thing and leaving the quilt show business to people who know and lov

e what they are doing.

Who is your favorite author? I have been really enjoying reading books by David Baldacci, Michael Connelly and Vince Flynn. Guess you might say I like action books.

What is the last book you read or are reading? Split Second by David Baldacci.

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ?? I am the 3rd of 3 children, the only girl.

Where did you grow up? Memphis, Tennessee.

Where did you go to college? Memphis State University. Among my classmates was Sen. Fred Thompson.

Do you have children – grandchildren? No.

Do you have any pets? Yes, we have a kitty named Hazel. We rescued her from starvation 20 years ago. She was roaming the beaches in Brookings, OR and finally gave in and came to us when I put a can of chicken meat out for her to eat.

What is your favorite food? I love lots of foods but I would probably say my favorite is seafood. Hartley makes a really wonderful cioppino that has lots of crab, scallops, shrimp, clams and halibut. It has become a tradition to have during the Christmas holidays.

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting? I play lots of golf with Hartley, work out 3 times a week and also enjoy working in the yard. When I have time, I also enjoy making garments and knitting scarves.

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object? I would turn back time to 1978 and be back in Marina Del Rey, CA, where I met my husband, Hartley while pounding abalone for a feast with friends at the dock. We would be living on our boat again and cruising the West Coast from Canada down to the Sea of Cortez and beyond doing some fishing, getting together in anchorages along with way with other boaters and just generally having one heck of a time!!

2009-06-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Linda Thielfoldt

www.thequiltedgoose.com

Linda will be teaching in our Longarm Division Classes on Monday and Tuesday. She will also give a lecture on Wednesday afternoon on How to Start a Longarm business.

How many years have you been quilting? Well I made my first quilt in 1974. My sister was expecting a baby - the 1st grandchild and I wanted to make a baby quilt. It was applique and the design was hand drawn by me. I had no clue what I was doing but I did know how to sew. I was 13.

What motivated you to start quilting? Well my grandmother was a quilter and although I olnly got to see her a couple of times a year (she lived in Canada) I was always facinated by the quilts she had made. My mother was not a quilter but a wonderful seamstress. I made the baby quilt and then the bicentennial was coming up and quilting was back in the forefront and I just got the bug.

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career? US, mostly places I could drive to since I never can pack light and I had the whole airport thing!

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career? Well the most frightening was when a student cut the end of her finger off with a rotary cutter - I mean clean off! I hate blood and was so calm and collected I wondered afterward who it was that picked up the finger, wrapped it in a wet paper towel and called 911. I still to this day cannot believe I actually did that. Even more ironic is that she came back to class with 18 stitches - it was an all day hands on class and she did not want to miss it! Funny thing I just ran into her in JoAnns a couple of months ago and that class was over 12 years ago...her finger looked pretty good.

Who is your favorite author? Well there are quite a few. I am fond of Janet Evonovich - can't wait for 15, love Emilie Richards and Susan Wiggs

What is the last book you read or are reading? The You I Never Knew - by Susan Wiggs, I read while I ride my trainer (one of my bikes is indoors on a stand -kind of like an exercise bike)

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ?? Fourth and the "Baby" - change of life baby, my mother was shocked when she found out. I hated being called the "Baby" growing up.

Where did you grow up? Birmingham, Michigan, Small suburb of Detroit

Where did you go to college? Oakland and Macomb Community College, RIT

Do you have children – grandchildren? Just 3 furry ones - I am a 16 year survivor of ovarian cancer and never had any children but do have Zach, Spencer and Winston - all Devon Rex kitties.

Do you have any pets? See children above

What is your favorite food? Well I am not sure it should be called a food - potato chips - I cannot have them in the house! Chocolate howerver can go moldy in my house - I think I still have red and green kisses from Chirstmas, but a bag of chips rarely lasts more than a few days. As for real food, I love broccoli.

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting? Gardening, cycling - my husband and I love to ride and we have a tandem. I love to play golf but sadly don't have the time like I used to. I have been making my own bread for the past 6 months and it has become an obsession.

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object? Go to art school. My sister got to do that and sadly she does not do anything with it. I would love to have some formal training. I want to sky dive but my insurance won't insure me if I do. I would love to ride every roller coaster in the US. I am sure there are more things, but my list is pretty short since I am doing what I love to do (professional quilter) and have a happy life - each day is a gift and I am thankful for what I have

2009-06-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

Robin Kingsley

www.birdbraindesigns.n et

Robin is teaching one evening class using her wool appliqué techniques.

How many years have you been quilting?

Officially I am not a quilter but a “needleworker” for 45 years! (shocking). I have made quilts plus quilting up my embroidery designs for Bird Brain Designs, but my real love is embroidery and wool appliqué. Both so relaxing an enjoyable.

What motivated you to start quilting?

At the beginning of my career as a home economist, I was fired because I was pregnant with my first child (try that now). For something to do, I taught myself how to embroider and began to embroider anything that didn’t move for the up coming baby. That passion turned into my vocation, a wonderful occupation!

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

Bird Brain Designs has taken us all over the west coast for retail quilt shows plus Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kansas & Kentucky

Who is your favorite author?

I love adventure/mysteries by Patterson, the Kellerman’s, the Burke’s, father and daughter and so many more…can’t choose just one.

What is the last book you read or are reading?

I just finished “Angel’s Tip” by Alafair Burke

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ?

I am the first of 3 daughters. My sister, Tina (the youngest) is my best friend and partner in Bird Brain Designs.

Where did you grow up?

I was born in New Jersey and at the age of 3 moved to California’s bay area and have lived both in the southern California as a small kid and then northern California for the rest of the time.

Where did you go to college?

I graduated from University of California, Davis with a BS degree in home economics

Do you have children – grandchildren?

I have 2 terrific kids, Jeffrey and Jennifer. Jeffrey has 2 kids, Anika 8 years old and Zane 6 years old. Jennifer has 5 year old, Milo.

Do you have any pets?

Mackenzie, my wire haired fox terrier is now my“new child”. She goes with me everywhere including our shows.

What is your favorite food?

Hey, way too hard to pick anything out as my favorite! See’s Chocolate comes to mind, though.

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting? I love to putter around in my garden. Pulling weeks and “heavy” stuff is not so fun anymore but that is what a gardener is for! I just planted a terrific cactus garden complete with a metal cactus sculpture, rocks and broken pots…..that is fun gardening! Another passion is hunting down and collecting vintage needle

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

Our travels with Bird Brain Designs has taken us to so many great places and we have had some really wonderful experiences.

2009-06-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

RaNae Merrill

www.ranaemerrillquilts.com

RaNae will be teaching classes based on her new book “Simply Amazing Spiral Quilts.” There will be all day classes on Thursday and Friday and then a 1 ½ day class on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Note: As I was writing this blog I discovered that the #676 class on Sat.-Sun. – “Exploding Spiral”, was omitted from the printed brochure. It will be included in the class listing on the web site. Our apologies for the omission to RaMae. Something always turns up no matter how much you proofread.

1. How many years have you been quilting?

My mom taught me to sew when I was 7 or 8, but I made my first quilt in my first year of graduate school, which would have been 1989, so that's -- YIKES! -- 20 YEARS!!!!!

2. What motivated you to start quilting?

My grandmother (mother's mother) was making a quilt for me when she died in 1976. My mother brought me the unfinished quilt when she came home from the funeral. I finally picked it up in 1989, and that was the first quilt I made. It was king-size and hand-quilted. YIKES! A graphologist once looked at my signature and said "You never start anything small."

3. Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

I am just starting to travel in my quilt teaching career, and that has taken me to many places in the USA I would not have otherwise visited. But my previous work as a travel writer and photographer took me far and wide -- most notably three times to Uzbekistan. I also lived for 1-1/2 years in Argentina back in the 80's, and return as often as I can to brush up on my tango dancing.

4. What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?

None come to mind, except that the whole fact of stumbling into this quilting career has been an incredibly serendipitous surprise!

5. Who is your favorite author?

Diana Gabaldon. Start with Outlander, and you'll be hooked too!

6. What is the last book you read or are reading?

Magician by Raymond Feist. I don't love it, but the French grad student who is living with me recommended it (he likes medieval fantasy fiction) and it has been part of my getting to know him. He also loves to cook, so we spend a lot of time together in the kitchen!

7. What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

First of six. That's probably why I ended up teaching -- I've been telling everybody what to do for my whole life!

8. Where did you grow up?

Southern California, but from the time I was about 12 I wanted to live in New York City. I moved to NYC in 1995, and it has felt like home from the moment I arrived. For my high school years we had a farm in Moorpark, CA, so I feel as at home in the country as I do in the city. I can still milk a goat!

9. Where did you go to college?

Scripps College (the women's college, not the oceanographic institute) in Claremont, CA for my first 2 years. Then USC to finish my bachelor's degree in piano performance. After I came back from Argentina I did a master's degree in piano at UCLA.

10. Do you have children – grandchildren?

11. Do you have any pets?

No kids, but I have a dog. Her name is Morgan, she is half golden retriever, have chow chow. She's 13 years old and I've had her since she was a baby.

12. What is your favorite food?

I enjoy eating anything except liver, and I love trying new things. I won't hesitate to spend any amount for excellent chocolate.

13. Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

Lately there hasn't been time for much else, but I love the outdoors and there's the tango dancing I mentioned earlier.

14. What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

Wow, that's a question about priorities, isn't it? I could say the question is more about time than money, because I believe you can always find the money for what you really want. But that could be said about time as well. But then there's the question of finding the time to make the money, which then raises the question of why you're doing what you're doing with your time, and if that's really giving you what you want. And if it isn't, why are you doing it? And what could/should you be doing instead......?

2009-06-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Linda Ballard

www.letsquilt.com

Linda will be teaching two all day machine piecing classes. She will also be the instructor for the two evening mystery classes.

How many years have you been quilting?

I’ve been quilting since the early 70’s …. Wow that’s been a long time when I do the math!

What motivated you to start quilting?

I’ve sewn all my life, making clothes and some home decorating items. When I saw a friend doing a quilt, my thought was “I can do that”! So I started with 1” gingham squares, very lofty batting and tied the quilt with baby yarn. If it was a girl, she got eyelet ruffles for the edge, if it was a boy I just whipped the edges together. This was so much fun it was then time to seek out ‘real’ patterns and a quilt shop, not just a yardage store.

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

Lucky for me, I’ve been all over this country, to Alaska several times, have done 8 quilting cruises that took me to the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska twice, New York to Quebec City and this fall I’ll be doing the Baltic Capitals in Europe. So guess you could say I’ll be international soon. For the most part, it doesn’t make any difference where I travel to teach, I just the fact there’s quilters who wish to have me come to their area …. I’m always ready!

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?

I’m in the airport in Chicago and this lady started staring at me. At first I just caught her glance, I’d look away and then look up and she’s staring at me again. She was facing me talking with a gentlemen ….. she would look away, I would look away and then I’d look up and she would be staring again. Finally I thought maybe she was looking at someone behind me, but there was no one there, it was just me. So I walk to another area, just hanging out. She’s still watching me …. Ok, is there food on my face? Is my zipper down? What’s going on???? Finally she mouth’s something to me …. I look at her with a puzzled look …. She says something again to me, but of course I’m too far away to hear her …. I motion to her ‘are you talking to me’? She says yes. This is feeling really weird, but I can’t let it go. Finally I walk toward her and she says ‘if you didn’t have your glasses on and placed at the bottom of your nose, I wouldn’t have thought twice to look at you …. I told my husband that I saw you on Simply Quilts and I loved the quilt you did and ordered the pattern’.

Who is your favorite author?

If you’re talking casual reading, I enjoy light-hearted reading, something that doesn’t take much concentration. There are a number of authors that fit this category, too many to list. While I read especially when I fly, if I drive I love books on tape.

What is the last book you read or are reading?

The last book will not be the last book when you read this ….. so I’m going to say my quilting magazines as I read them over and over to see what’s happening, what’s exciting, and who’s doing what.

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

I’m have two older brothers …. Yes I’m the youngest and the only girl …. Oh yah, I was daddy’s girl.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in San Fernando Valley, CA …. That’s right, I was a ‘valley girl’. Lived there until I graduated from high school and then moved with my parents to Redding, CA where they retired. I worked for the phone company and got a transfer to the local office where I worked for 4 years.

Where did you go to college?

No college education, my education came from life …. A good job and then became a wife and mother.

Do you have children – grandchildren?

I have two great children …. Jim who is in his residency of becoming a Vascular Surgeon, married to a darling and has my only grandson who is 3 in July. Blake is the love of our life! Everyone tells you how wonderful being a grandparent is …. You need to experience it to know how it feels …. It’s just the best! Cheri is our daughter who is single and works in the hotel industry. Of course you realize my children are in their late 30’s, but they still seem young to me.

Do you have any pets?

What is your favorite food?

I could say I don’t have any, but then I come up with a good list of things. Mexican, Italian, good sandwiches, great salads, wonderful fruit and yes sometimes yummy desserts.

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

I used to long ago knit, crochet and do counted cross stitch …. Now it’s all about the quilting no matter what area I’m working in.

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

So we’re talking anything and no limit to money ….. I would love to take care of my family of course. On the fun side, I would love to have/build a retreat facility so I could have my retreats there or even rent it out to people …. you might say something like ‘Elm Creek Quilters’. Since I’ve been doing the cruises, I’m learning how much I like to travel by sea.

2009-06-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Katie Pasquini-Masopust

www.katiepm.com

Katie will be a judge for our quilt contest. She is teaching two art quilt classes, each will be two-day class.

How many years have you been quilting?

I have been quilting since I was 18 years old and I just turned 54 so you figure that one out. A very long time.

What motivated you to start quilting?

I made my first quilt for my sisters wedding present and continued making traditional quilts because it was fun then I started to express myself with art quilts of my own design because that was what I was meant to do. I am an artist and my medium is fabric. How cool is that?

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

I have traveled all over the United States and Australia, New Zealand, Englan

d, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Japan, Germany, etc.

Who is your favorite author?

Oh I have so many I love to read everything and anything. Art books, novels, historical stuff not to picky love a good writer

What is the last book you read or are reading?

I am reading one on composition right now and looking forward to the next Janet Evanovich novel out in June

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

I am number 5 of 7

Where did you grow up?

In Eureka California

Where did you go to college?

I didn't go to college, self taught with some great instructors along the way

Do you have children – grandchildren?

I have three step kids and one grandchild

Do you have any pets?

I have three. A wonderful Chesapeake Retriever - Charlie, an Australian Sheppard - Buddy and a cat - Max. They are great company.

What is your favorite food?

Yogurt granola and fruit; ah what a great breakfast

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

Gardening and knitting

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

I would love to travel for fun more the galapagous islands, an african safari and being able to plein air paint in all of those locations

2009-06-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

Melinda Bula

www.melindabula.com

Melinda will be teaching two one-day classes featuring her large florals. One of the classes she will be teaching is her new Roses. Melinda was also “Best of Show” winner at Road to California in 2008 and at Chicago this spring.

Carolyn: How many years have you been quilting?

Melinda: I started sewing when I was 9 and made my first quilt at 19.

Carolyn: What motivated you to start quilting?

Melinda: I have always loved to sew and create things. While studying art in college I worked in a fabric store.

Carolyn: Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

Melinda: From Ashland, Oregon to San Diego and all over California. I thought I knew all the towns in California but I guess I really don’t. There is so much to this beautiful state and a lots of it is in these small towns. I love it. Last year was my first time teaching in Houston and this year I will be teaching and speaking from Sacramento to New York. What a life! Thank God I was a flight attendant in my younger years!

Carolyn: What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?

Melinda: The most frustrating right now is proving to the IRS that I have a business (and not a hobby). Dealing with my suitcase being overweight is a constant challenge, too.

Carolyn: Who is your favorite author?

Melinda: Jennifer Weiner

Carolyn: What is the last book you read or are reading?

Melinda: Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner

Carolyn: What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

Melinda: I am the oldest of 3 girls.

Carolyn: Where did you grow up?

Melinda: I grew up in Orange County, CA

Carolyn: Where did you go to college?

Melinda: I went to Orange Coast College in Southern California.

Carolyn: Do you have children – grandchildren?

Melinda: One son, 22. He graduates from college with a degree in Mathematics in May, 2009 and goes to Marine boot camp at Camp Pendleton in California 4 days later. He will be a linguist with his training at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey.

Carolyn: Do you have any pets?

Melinda: Cosmo, the golden retriever. We call him our Russian circus dog.

Carolyn: What is your favorite food?

Melinda: Anything Mexican!

Carolyn: Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

Melinda: Gardening. knitting. cooking, blogging and I collect vintage Barbies.

Carolyn: What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

Melinda: Live on a Greek island for a month.

2009-06-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

Brenda Henning:

www.bearpawproductions.com

Brenda will be teaching four one-day classes involving mostly piecing.

We didn't receive photos from Brenda either.

How many years have you been quilting? I have been quilting since the ripe old age of 13 - which is about 5 years ago - actually 35 years ago!?!

What motivated you to start quilting? Apparently a creative bug. My mother is and has always been craft impaired. My grandmothers - that I never really knew - were both crafters and quilters to varying degrees. I guess the bug truly skips generations.

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career? Mostly within the US. Currently I am scheduled to teach in Canada and New Zealand with hopefully a side trip to Australia.

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career? When teaching in Alaska coming and going from the event can be more eventful than the event itself. In 2008, I attended a retreat on Kodiak Island - at a lodge that was accessible via boat. We were delivered and returned on a 40 ft. fishing vessel that a quilters husband had cleaned up for the excursion. On the return trip we had some heavy seas and many green faces. What a great ride!

Who is your favorite author? Janet Evanovich

What is the last book you read or are reading? John Sanford "Certain Prey"

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

Third of 4

Where did you grow up? Central Minnesota

Where did you go to college? Concordia College, Moorhead, MN

Do you have children – grandchildren? 3 babies - 26, 24, 21 a much loved son-in-law and perhaps some day a few grandbabies

Do you have any pets? Two Rottweilers - Kaia and Jade Two cats - Clove and Esma

What is your favorite food? Chocolate - of course

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting? Knitting

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object? Travel worldwide with my beloved husband.

2009-06-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Emily Martin

No web page

Sorry, Emily forgot to send photos.

Emily will be teaching two one-day classes and one two-day class on hand appliqué.

How many years have you been quilting?

If I count the baby quilt I made for Methuselah it would be a much higher number. But I own up to doing it for 35 years, starting with patchwork and going into appliqué in the past 14 years.

What motivated you to start quilting?

Shortly after finishing my first appliqué project and showing it at our guild show, I began to get requests from fellow guild members to show them how to do the techniques used in that quilt. So, in my kitchen I began what became a regular session of classes that reached some 75 ladies over a few years time.

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

My teaching career has pretty much involved teaching in the tri state area of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. 2010 has opened it up to a far greater range though.

Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is Kristin Heitzman but I also read Jan Karon and Leisa Kelly.

What is the last book you read or are reading?

The last book I read and enjoyed (sometimes I read a book just for the need to read) was ….. (Can't remember the title of the book I want to put on # 5 but will send it when I find it out)

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

I was born fourth out of 6 children and had a Mom and Dad who had enough concern for all of us to get us a good education and lots of love.

Where did you grow up?

My roots are from Pennsylvania. I grew up in a very small town ~ the kind with a main road and no stop-light. Gradyville was a wonderful place to live. You left the doors and windows unlocked and never worried about your safety. Do towns like that even exist any more?

Where did you go to college?

I attended a three-year nursing program In Wilmington, Delaware and still use my training.

Do you have children – grandchildren?

Yes, we have five children and 11 of the most beautiful grandchildren (oops, sorry. Grandmother pride showing.)

Do you have any pets?

No, we do not have pets right now because we are away from home so much with my teaching. But I love cats and dogs and we have had both.

What is your favorite food?

Fish! Unequivocally, I would eat it every night of the week.

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

Do I have other hobbies ~ oh, yes. I enjoy arranging flowers, I like to paint in oils, I will be in any singing group that comes my way but what I love most is having the grandchildren come for a visit.

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

Never having seen the movie (I live a very sheltered life, don't I?) I will go with my gut and say ~ I would love to have all the family together at a beach house and spend the week romping with them and doing the fun things they enjoy.

2009-05-28T11:22:00.001-07:00

Joanie Ziere Poole

www.heirloomquiltingdesigns.com

Joanie accepting an award at IQA Awards in 2008

How many years have you been quilting?

Over thirty! So I have experienced all of the wonderful innovations that have transformed this industry over the years, moving us from hand techniques to machine excellence.

What motivated you to start quilting?

My husband and his love for everything quilted. He never stops inventing quilted projects for me to produce. One request he has made several time is for a quilted cover for the dashboard of his truck, So sorry, haven’t had time for that one dear!

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

From the historic textile district of Lowell Mass to the ultra modern fashion show of one of Europe’s hottest designers: from the dusty single paved road of tiny LaVeta Co (taping THE QUILT SHOW, with Ricky and Alex), to the grandeur of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park (teaching along side my mentor and other machine quilting greats), from the pristine vistas of Switzerland (reunion of the Bernina Artisans) to t

he fabulous shopping in the Flea Market and tiny shops of Montmartre in Paris, France, from high atop the rolling hills in Gainesville, TX to the lights of Las Vegas, from walking across the Award stage at both Paducah and Houston, and now to the classrooms the Road to CA, this has been and extremely fun and gratifying experience. For every guild that has welcomed me with such anticipation I am so blessed. What a wonderful feeling it is to be doing what I was meant to do with my life and having students experience growth in their work in reaction to my teaching. I am a lucky girl!

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?

While demonstrating on a students machine, I took one stitch and broke a needle off in my index fingernail. May I balance that answer to the question by adding my greatest achievement, winning Best of Show at Road to Ca. in 2006!

Who is your favorite author?

Jennifer Chiaverini, author of the Elm Creek Quilts Novels.

What is the last book you read or are reading?

Quilts of Provence: The Art and Craft of French Quiltmaking, by Kathryn Berenson. I love the European antique quilts and woven textiles. I am preparing to organize a Textile and Wine River Cruise in Southern France. One of my sons is studying to be a French historian, it is my hope that he could act as translator and travel guide. If this sounds like fun to you, contact me to be included on a list to join us.

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

I was raised as the as the baby (the fourth child) until the caboose, (my baby brother) arrived 11 years after me. One of the benefits of having a child so late is that my parents were recently blessed with a new grandchild when they were well into their eighties. A delightful new little face to laugh at all of Grandpas silliness he hasn’t been able to use in the 19 years that separated her from the last grandchild. So in our family, we have learned to use the term “currently the youngest”.

Where did you grow up?

Madison, Wisconsin, where I watched the sun set behind the state capitol across the shore of Lake Monona every night. It is a very progressive city with a large university. Go Badgers! I think that the state of Wisconsin is one of the best kept secret treasures in the US. Our borders are two of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, yes and Illinois.

Where did you go to college?

U. W. Whitewater where I met my husband and Madison Area Technical College where I earned a degree in Graphic Design in 2003.

Do you have children – grandchildren?

We have two sons, both are in grad school. I know when it is my turn, I will thoroughly enjoy the experience of being a grandma. Until then, I have the thrill of practicing that role with Lilianna, the two year old daughter of my niece who shouts “Aunt Grandma Judy!” (Judy is my sister, the real grandma) when she see my photo on my books in fabric stores!

Do you have any pets?

No. Oh, do dust bunnies count?

What is your favorite food?

I love fresh fruits that are bursting with juice and flavor. Coming from Wisconsin, we only have truly fresh for a few months of the year. So if anyone of you have something growing in your yard in CA. in January…

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

Are you kidding? I eat, sleep and dream quilting. I have focused only on this craft since I learned Heirloom Machine quilting from Diane Gaudynski in 2000. My entire life has changed and it is so full. I love what I do, but if I had a staff to help with the details, I would like to get back into exercising! Seriously, I love to walk, swim, bike and just be outdoors.

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

(Speaking in my Miss Universe voice) I would promote world peace by spreading good cheer and a few American dollars visiting quilt shops through out the world.

Long Arm Classes

2009-05-26T14:11:00.000-07:00

Below is a quilt by Judy Wood?? showing a creative use of embroidery designs. Judy we apologize for not getting your name.

Earlier this month Terry, Matt and I attended the Machine Quilters Showcase held in Kansas City, Kansas. A weather front went through while we were there and Terry experienced horizontal rain. It is quite a sight from the ninth floor. Luckily for us we did not have a tornado warning. Matt landed at the airport just after the front went through. He had lots of bumps and lightning.

Long Arm Quilting is growing by leaps and bounds and these quilters are certainly adding a new dimension to our quilting world. I particularly enjoyed the Traditional Quilts that were quilted very Traditionally. From 10 feet away it was hard to tell if the Double Wedding Ring Quilt was hand or machine quilted. Other quilters are doing a phenomenal job with whole cloth quilts, on some the thread colors created the design, others quilted and then painted the design.

We also found some quilters who were using their embroidery designs in very creative ways. Instead of just framing them in samplers, the designs were an integral part of a larger design.

Quilt by Rene Haddadin

We were not only looking at quilts, but we were also scouting for vendors who offer tools and accessories for the long arm quilter. We also had a chance to meet and talk with the teachers who will be teaching our **newly added** long arm classes.

2009-05-12T12:02:00.003-07:00

Lisa Coulombe

www.quilts2wear.com

Lisa will be teaching an evening class representing Embellishment Village.

How many years have you been quilting?

I have been quilting for 20 years. I began when I was 8 months pregnant with my first child so it's easy to remember.

What motivated you to start quilting?

Every baby needs a baby quilt and there were no quilters in the family to provide one so I decided to learn. In that first class we hand drafted each block, used templates and hand pieced everything. The entire quilt is hand quilted. We've come a long way baby!

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

I have taught quilting from the East Coast of the United Staes to the West Coast as well as in the Middle East.

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?

I'm not sure anything has been particularly unusual or scary, but I truly love wearing my quilted jackets and having people stop me to admire them and ask me where I bought them. One of my favorite memories is of walking around at a quilt show in Austria and many people coming up and asking for pictures. They didn't speak any English, but that didn't stop us from communicating. Two Japanese girls I ran into were fascinated by a jacket I was wearing that had a number of 3-dimensional techniques. They spoke no English and were excitedly speaking to each others and pointing at my jacket. I turned around to show them the back (there are pictures of my backside all over the world, LOL) and they both exclaimed "Oooh! Origami!" Comments like that make it all worthwhile.

Who is your favorite author?

If I'm not quilting I'm reading so this is a really tough question. I love J. K. Rowling, Anne McCaffrey, Ellis Peters, Elizabeth Peters, J.R.R. Tolkein just to name a few off the top of my head.

What is the last book you read or are reading?

I'm currently reading Brisingr by Christopher Paolini

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

I am the first child and on my father's side I'm the first girl born in 84 years. Unfortunately my generation is all girls so they sold the family business since a girl couldn't possibly run a large company. It's just as well, I don't think I was cut out for corporate life!

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Maine in a suburb of Portland, Maine's largest city. Maine is very beautiful and I miss that aspect of it, but it's too darn cold!

Where did you go to college?

I went to the University of Maine at Orono where I majored in Botany and Plant Pathology. I only worked in that field for a year. My husband joined the Navy and we moved too often after that for me to find anything in botany. I became a stay-at-home mom and quilting was my joy. Moving often I quickly discovered the best way to make new friends was to join the local quilting group.

Do you have children – grandchildren?

I have two children: Jake is 20 and lives in Arizona and Elisia will be 19 this summer and attends CSU Long Beach as a music performance major.

Do you have any pets?

I have 2 pampered indoor-only cats. One is a long-haired Himilayan mix we found at the shelter and the other is a pedigreed Ragdoll. They both feel that it is their duty to sleep on every piece of fabric as soon as it enters the house.

What is your favorite food?

Without a doubt my favorite food is chocolate chip cookies.

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

When I'm not quilting, shopping for fabric or attending quilt shows I can usually be found reading or playing computer games.

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

I'm actually very happy with my life as it is. I've done lots of wild things in the past: skydiving, had my own motorcycle, hitch-hiked around New England, etc. so no regrets on that score. I would like to see New Zealand, especially after seeing The Lord of the Rings. I've never taken a cruise (my husband seems to think he does enough of that already in the Navy) and would love to visit Alaska that way. Also I've always wanted to write a book and I have a few ideas...

2009-05-12T11:37:00.000-07:00

Paula Reid

www.battsintheattic.com

Paula’s classes will be sponsored by Bernina and she will be teaching three days of machine quilting classes.

How many years have you been quilting?

19 years

What motivated you to start quilting?

A friend of mine took my husband and I to a quilt show in 1990 and she and I were looking at the quilts for so long that my husband thought I might like to try it and bought all the rotary cutting equipment from one of the vendors. I made my first quilt three weeks later.

Where have you traveled in your quilting teaching career?

All over the US and to Switzerland to visit the Bernina factory!

What is the most, unusual, frightening, funny, frustrating experience you have had in your quilting career?

For years I had a machine quilting business, typically quilting about 3 quilts a week for customers. Every year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I would go into total panic mode trying to get everybody’s quilts done for Christmas giving. Every year I absolutely knew I wouldn’t be able to get them all done, but the worst year was the one I finished the last one on Dec. 22!

Who is your favorite author?

I have so many, but right now it has to be mystery writer Allison Brennan

What is the last book you read or are reading?

Embarrassed to say this, but I am reading the middle book of a vampire trilogy set in Victorian times, Rises the Night by Colleen Gleason

What is your birth order, only child, first, second, third, or ??

I’m the oldest of two girls, but my sister is the bossiest

Where did you grow up?

Buffalo NY until 7^th grade, then Sacramento CA until college

Where did you go to college?

UCLA

Do you have children – grandchildren?

I have three grandchildren – Sidney (boy) 11, Vanessa 8 and Zoe, almost 3

Do you have any pets?

What is your favorite food?

Crème brulee – food of the gods

Do you have any other hobbies besides quilting?

Cooking – no easier way to get instant gratification

What would be on your “bucket list” (like the movie) if you could do anything and money was no object?

I would travel all over the world taking cooking classes