Talks & Workshops

Please browse my lectures and workshops listed below. I look forward to chatting with you about speaking and teaching at your guild, show, museum, or event!

Graphic Quilts of the 20th Century

Lecture

$350

This presentation is packed with graphic, visually stunning quilts from the whole of the 20th century. Many of these have a surprisingly modern aesthetic! Throughout the conversation, we’ll put these quilts in context: historically, socially, artistically. We’ll explore some of our connections with the past that inform us, inspire us, and drive us in the art and practice of quilt making today.

Enduring Elements:
200 Years of Quilt Blocks
and Motifs

Lecture

$350

In this lecture, we’ll explore the rich history of quilt blocks, quilting motifs, and fabric designs that have emerged and re-emerged over the past 200 years. We’ll trace the evolution of these elements, examining how they’ve transformed and how they’ve remained constant.
From iconic stars and log cabins, to elegant flora and fauna, and all the various ways to use a simple square or triangle, we’ll see how these designs have traveled across time and across the globe, transcending cultural and geographical boundaries.

The Magic of Mixing Prints

Lecture

$350

Combining prints from different lines and manufacturers can make your quilts zing! I’ll help you get unstuck and gain the confidence to create stunning, vibrant quilts. Discover the secrets to mixing colors, motifs, and fabric styles to elevate your projects.

Join me and turn your quilting chaos into cohesive beauty!

* Also offered as a workshop! 

Quilting with the Fire of My Foremothers 

Lecture

$350

Let’s get connected to the women and quilts that came before us… We’ll investigate vintage and antique quilts in my collection to discover the stories they tell us. From fabric design to patterns (or lack thereof!), from constrained to improv, from purchased yardage to clothing scraps, from published patterns to original designs.

I’ll demystify some of the quilt-dating mysteries!

Legacy Wheel

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

The curves in Legacy Wheel are gentle and a great way for beginners to learn. Experienced curved piecers will enjoy the stress-free blocks, as well. The soft pink and blue version of this quilt (library photo below) appeared in Quiltmania issue 147. I love it so much that I keep making more!

Big blocks finish at 24 inches, creating a big quilt in a short amount of time.

Psst… this workshop pairs fabulously with my Magic of Mixing Prints lecture or workshop!

Techniques: Curved piecing, optional fussy cutting

Fan Girl – A Crazy Lady!

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

With a circa 1910 crazy quilt as our inspiration, we’ll make fan blocks using simple, quick, and fun methods. Students use decorative or straight stitches on their machine to create this quilt. I’ll show you how to use the simple herringbone embroidery stitch to add an additional layer of design to the straight-stitch applique. This workshop is great for the confident beginner, but is also loads of fun for experienced piecemakers. The result is a bold and graphic design! (Pattern has fabric requirements for a pillow front, table runner, and quilt.)

Techniques: Raw-edge machine applique, hand embroidery (optional)

Evie

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

We’ll take inspiration from a vintage quilted coverlet made by Eveler Blankenship in Kansas in 1970. These scrappy string kaleidoscope blocks are fun to make and go together quickly. Use up your scraps or cut up assorted fat quarters–it’s up to you!

Specialty templates are available for purchase, but are not required.

Technique: Improv, scrap-busting, foundation muslin piecing

The Magic of Mixing Prints

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

Combining prints from different lines and manufacturers can make your quilts zing! I’ll help you get unstuck and gain the confidence to create stunning, vibrant quilts. Discover the secrets to mixing colors, motifs, and fabric styles to elevate your projects.

Join me and turn your quilting chaos into cohesive beauty!

Techniques: Color, style, confidence

* Also offered as a lecture!

Churned Up!

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

Churned Up is a modern take on the classic Churn Dash block — kinda what I imagine happens if you put the Churn Dash in a blender and toss it up! Works great with a layer cake, but students can certainly also start with 10″ squares from their stash! This is a fun pattern to showcase some of your favorite fabrics — from reproduction to holiday to ultra modern.

Technique: Traditional piecing

Mohawk Trail

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

Using a 1920s wool quilt in my collection as inspiration, we’ll create this traditional Mohawk Trail quilt. Big blocks for a big finish!

This is a terrific techniques class! Foundation paper piecing or traditional piecing options for the spikes (I’ll teach both and the students can choose their favorite), AND curved piecing instruction.

Techniques: Foundation paper piecing or traditional piecing, and curved piecing

Diamond Lane

Workshop

4-hour: $450, 6-hour: $600

With a vintage quilt as our inspiration, we’ll make a diamonds quilt using strips! This is a technique class–we’ll demystify diagonal piecing. This workshop is geared toward the confident beginner or intermediate quilter. Students use strips from their stash or a jelly roll. Make a little or a lot!

Techniques: Diagonal piecing