About the Faculty
Barbara BarberBarbara is self taught and began quilting in May 1991 having previously run a small but successful business making machine knitted jumpers (that's sweaters in the U.S.). In 1994 she started teaching workshops and gave lectures throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and the USA. Her quilts have received numerous prestigious awards in both Britain and the USA. She has written two books on the subject of quiltmaking, produced 4 videos, and written numerous articles for quilting magazines. She has been asked to be featured in an advertising campaign for Poly-fil Battings and Waddings, produced by Fairfield Processing Inc. of the USA. Barbara has also appeared as a guest on " Simply Quilts" on HGTV. She is very busy teaching in the UK, but more and more frequently Barbara is asked to teach at quilt shows, guilds and shops in the USA. Debbie Bowles Debbie lives in a suburb of Minneapolis with her husband, Rick and
two sons. A million years ago she was an elementary school teacher,
then a mom... and always a big volunteer at church, school and Boy Scouts. Wendy Butler BernsEnthusiastic, encouraging, entertaining, and knowledgeable describe Wendy as a teacher and lecturer. Common threads found in her work and classes are strong use of color, twisting the traditional to focus on original design, an unabashed free motion quilting style, and the versatility to work with a wide range of quilting techniques and student abilities. Since 1997, Wendy has taught the art of quilting, and her work appears regularly in juried shows and galleries as well as private collections across the country. Debbie CaffreyDebbie Caffrey is a self-published author of many books and several patterns. In addition, she has designed and published over seventy patterns for an ever-changing line of quilt mysteries. Debbie has taught many energy-filled workshops nationwide for guilds and shops. These include Houston Quilt Festival, Minnesota Quilters Conferences, Festival of Classes in Bend, Oregon, and the Road to California in January 2000. Debbie has recently contributed articles to Traditional Quiltworks magazine and has taped a guest appearance for the past two seasons of HGTV's television program, "Simply Quilts". Rachel D. K Clark Rachel D.K. Clark is a contemporary folk artist, teacher and lecturer
who comes from a long line of sewers, beginning with her great-grandmother.
She has been doing wearable art for over thirty years and teaching on
the national circuit for twelve years. Eclectic fabric mixes, vibrant
designs, and a keen sense of humor characterize Rachel’s work.
Melody Crust Melody Crust brings to the classroom the idea that quiltmaking should
be fun. She presents new ideas and encourages students to adapt them
and make them their own. She teaches in a positive way aimed to be constructive,
affirmative, and even motivational. She is the leader of the cheering
section for the students. Ann FahlAnn Fahl, quilt artist, grew up enjoying the fiber arts of knitting, embroidering, and sewing. Her degree from the University of Wisconsin was in Textiles and Clothing. She specializes in creating quilts of her own design. Her quilts are shown across the USA in competitions, art shows, and solo exhibitions. Ann works in her studio at home in Racine, WI. She also teaches and lectures on the subject of quilting, occasionally writing articles for quilting publications in the US, Great Britain, and Japan. Recently Ann has published a line of quilt patterns of original designs. They are available from the artist and online. Laura FarsonLaura began sewing s soon as she could "pedal the treadle" sewing machine. She began with clothing for herself and her dolls. Later in life, she began quilting out of necessity, but it became a passion. And, in order to pursue that passion, she began to teach, design, and write about quilts and quilting. She is the author of "Fast-Folded Flowers, Timesaving Techniques for a Quilted Bouquet" and "Ragged-Edge Flowers, Fast-Folded Ways to Make Textured Quilts" and a third book is in the works, "Blooming Quilts and Bags, 24 Fast-Folded Projects for You and Your Home." Her quilt designs have been published in "Quilting Ideas", "The Quilted Magazine", "Traditional Quiltworks" and Burda "Patchwerk Quilten und Appliziern". She makes quilts and patterns for www.marcusbrothers.com, the fabric manufacturer. In the last several years, she has taught quilting techniques in central Illinois. Colorado, and the St. Louis Metro area. Known as "One Quirky Quilter", her column appears regularly in "The Professional Quilter". Gail GarberGail Garber lectures and conducts workshops everywhere. She also leads tours for quilters and birdwatchers to exciting “off the beaten path” locations. She is considered a contemporary quilt artist known for her innovative geometric quilts and bold use of color. Her catalogue features a wide range of patterns which include bold, geometric star designs, applique patterns, samplers and garments, as well as hand-dyed fabrics and related notions. M’Liss Hawley M'Liss Rae Hawley has been teaching art, textile design and quilting
for over twenty years throughout the United States and Canada. She has
conducted hundreds of workshops and seminars as well as operating her
own independent textile design studio - Garden Court Quilting, located
on her Whidbey Island, Washington farm. Laura HeineLaura is an award winning quilt artist who wins top prizes for her intricate free-motion thread work that fuses her colors, fabrics, and design into one amazing quilt! Trained as a nurse, she started out just wanting to make one quilt for her first baby. Now, 15 years later, she is one of the top quilters in the world, a national educator, fabric designer, author, thread company consultant, pattern designer, and quilt shop owner. She has had an inspirational journey and discovered the talent that was hidden inside her, and developed it into her sensational style. Chris Lynn Kirsch Chris Lynn Kirsch learned to sew as a child and was taking tailoring
classes by her senior year of high school, but she didn’t discover
quiltmaking until she was married and had children. She graduated from
college as a dental hygienist but is dedicated to quilting full time
now. Chris loves quilting, a vocation she has been able to adjust to
fit the schedules of her family. Didi McElroyDierdra McElroy is a nationally known quilt artist specializing in technique and hand workmanship. Her work has been viewed at every national quilt show in the United States. Didi’s ability to break down tasks into small manageable steps makes her a highly sought after instructor and earned her two nominations for the Quilt Teacher of the Year award. Linda McGeheeDesigner Linda McGehee is the owner of Ghee’s, a mail order sewing and notions company. The most popular patterns are those designed by Linda for handbags with ready to wear handbag hardware. She travels internationally, demonstrating and lecturing on sewing and texturing techniques and designs garments for challenges. She produces Ghee’s annual School of Artistic Sewing held in Shreveport, Louisiana. Heather MulderHeather began quilting nine years ago, as a college freshman. She soon began pursuing pattern designing as a career, while finishing up a degree in business administration. For the last five years Heather has been designing full time and currently has five books and numerous single patterns on the market. Her designs usually feature a combination of piecing and fusible machine appliqué. Color is also a very important part of her designing process and she continues to experiment with different color combinations. She is also currently designing her first fabric line and looks forward to its arrival in mid 2004. Heather and her husband reside in Spicer, MN. Velda NewmanVelda E. Newman is a contemporary fiber artist from Northern California. Her large scale designs portraying subjects from nature have been exhibited extensively throughout the US, Europe, and Japan. She uses textiles and threads the way other artists use paints and brushes. Her primary source of inspiration is the natural world and her exquisitely crafted quilts reflect the detail and design she finds there. Velda was recently honored as having created one of the 20th Century’s 100 Best American Quilts. Her work has appeared in many national and international publications and is included in public and private collections. Sharon SchamberSharon has a long background in fabrics. She was head designer-owner
of Deja Vu and Time and Eternity fashions in Phoenix, Arizona for over
twenty-five years. Her work was worn by Miss Arizona in the Miss U.S.A.
pageant, and by many other notables. It was advertised in Bridal Magazine
and she has been featured in Money Magazine. Mary Sue SuitMary Sue Suit is a self-taught quiltmaker whose love of geometric designs led her to develop her own techniques and tools for creating patchwork quilts. She has several books published by Martingale & Company: "All the Blocks are Geese", "A New Twist on Triangles", and "A New Turn on Drunkard’s Path". In addition, her work has been featured in Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine and on the television show "Simply Quilts". She lives with her family in western Nebraska. Eileen Bahring SullivanEileen Bahring Sullivan was born and raised in Connecticut; currently residing in Alpharetta, GA. Member of East Cobb Quilters Quilt, AQS, and IQA. Quiltmaker since 1979, exhibiting in national competitions since 1985. BS and 5th year in Art Educ. + courses taken at major conferences and symposiums. Quilts awarded honors at AQS-Paducah five times including two first place professional division and best wall quilt. Also Best of Show NQA 1991 an 1993 and blue ribbons several preceding years. Visions 1, San Diego, CA. Other awards include Vermont Quilt Festival, AIQA Roses contest. Current work focuses on foundation piecing with freezer paper for template free and accurate results in both traditional and contemporary styles. Ricky TimsRicky Tims, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, recently moved to Arvada,
Colorado, a suburb of Denver. He has been designing and making quilts
since 1991. His quilts are typically contemporary or artistic and have
been exhibited world-wide. His most recent quilt, Songe d'Automne, has
received numerous awards including the $5000 Master Award for Machine
Artistry at the year 2000 International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX.
Ricky teaches an exciting variety of workshops and is much sought after
for his multimedia presentations that combine narrative, images of quilts,
and live music. He maintains an extensive international schedule of
engagements. Ricky is passionate about quilting and is delighted to
share his experience and enthusiasm with quilters at every level of
expertise. Ricky is challenged by creativity in all forms and encourages
individuals to cultivate self-expression. |