I would love to come speak to your guild or shop! I am also happy to offer all my lectures virtually. Please contact me for more information on fees and availability.
My current schedule is available here.
Lectures
What is Modern Quilting?
Modern quilting is extremely popular right now, but what exactly is it? We'll discuss some of the common characteristics found in modern quilts, such as negative space, solids, straight line quilting, improvisation, and more.
Designing with Negative Space
Many quilters enjoy the modern aesthetic but are overwhelmed when considering designing their own quilt. This lecture gives you concrete step-by-step ideas on how to begin with a traditional quilt block and then alter it to incorporate negative space (also known as background area). Plus, I'll give you suggestions on fabric and quilting choices for your design. This is my most popular lecture, and works very well in a virtual format as well.
Quilting the Negative Space
You've finished your modern quilt top that includes plenty of wide-open negative space! Now what? It can be intimidating to tackle quilting in the background areas, but this lecture will give you lots of ideas, from simple to complex, to help enhance your negative space and help you choose the perfect quilting design for your project. We’ll cover tips and tricks for both domestic and longarm machines so that everyone can go home energized to finish those modern UFOs.
Quilt Math for Modern Quilts
Do you have ideas for modern quilts, but no idea how to tackle actually figuring out how to make them, particularly if they incorporate a lot of negative space? Let me help demystify putting your quilt together, including how to break your quilt down into manageable sections, and how to figure out what size pieces to cut.
Quilts from Science
Inspiration is everywhere—in my case, I often find it in science. I'll show you my quilts and talk about the science behind them. You'll leave with a few fun new factoids about the way the world works and inspiration to look to your own career for quilt ideas.
Full-Day Workshops
Northern Lights
Piece New York Beauty blocks for the Northern Lights quilt from my book, The Quilter's Negative Space Handbook. In the morning, we'll focus on paper piecing; the afternoon will be all about curved piecing.
Rainbow Sun
This mini quilt from my book, The Quilter’s Negative Space Handbook, combines improvisational piecing and paper piecing in a project designed to use your small scraps. We will begin with improvisational piecing, creating new fabric from collection of old favorites, then we’ll use our improvisationally pieced sections to paper piece the modified Mariner’s Compass block that forms the center of this fun little wallhanging.
Disintegration
Combine the precision of paper piecing with improvisation to create a disintegrating effect! We will be using the Radial Geese pattern in this class, which will give you the tools to apply a disintegrating effect to other paper piecing patterns in the future. We’ll also discuss other ways of incorporating the idea of disintegration or deconstruction into your quilts. Some paper piecing experience is recommended for this class.
Paper Piecing*
Learn the technique of foundation paper piecing, which will open up a whole new world of possibilities in quilt-making! Students will learn the basic technique and how to accurately join multiple sections of a paper pieced pattern, plus get lots of tips and tricks to help make the process easier. Students or guilds can choose from several mini quilt patterns in this class, including Gossamer Wings (at left), Tiny Jewel, etc.
*This workshop can also be offered as a half-day workshop with a simpler pattern.
Celestial Orbs
Combine foundation paper piecing and curved piecing to create a show-stopping quilt with perfect points! Students will begin by learning foundation paper piecing techniques to create the colorful star centers, then add gently curved melon shapes to create this pattern inspired by the traditional Robbing Peter to Pay Paul block. We'll also discuss how to bind the scalloped edges on your finished quilt.
Half-Day Workshops
Modern Quilt Design
This non-sewing workshop leads quilters through a number of exercises on designing modern quilts starting from traditional blocks. We’ll get everyone's creative juices flowing by using colored pencils, scissors, and glue sticks to create fabulous modern quilt designs that incorporate negative space.
Free-motion quilting
This workshop helps students get on their feet with free motion quilting on their domestic machines. We will work through a variety of free motion designs and variations, first on paper and then on fabric. Students will also get plenty of tips on avoiding common pitfalls.
Fusible Appliqué
Fusible appliqué is quick andeasy! Explore this technique using my Dogwood Dreams pattern. Students will be able to complete at least one block in this class, and will go home with assembly instructions and quilting ideas to finish their quilt.
I am also happy to teach any of my patterns not specifically listed here!
