Teaching Philosophy | Artist Statement | Biography
Teaching Philosophy
My goal as a teacher is to encourage students to try new techniques in a supportive environment. I want them to have fun, expand their skills and enjoy the creative process. I strive to create a safe place for them to experiment with ideas and methods they may be trying for the first time.
I have over 25 years experience in traditional and contemporary quilting. I have extensive teaching and presentation experience at major quilting conferences and for guilds and shops throughout North America. I have taught on five Quilting Cruises.
I am the author of 5 quilting books, design and publish patterns and write articles for quilting magazines. I am a nominee for ‘Teacher of the Year’ (2013) sponsored by the International Association of Professional Quilters. My work has been exhibited in Canada and the United States.
I have studied how students learn and tailor my workshops to accommodate these differences, providing detailed handouts, oral instructions and hands-on demonstrations. I consult individually with students throughout my workshops to guide their progress, provide feedback and answer questions. My students most often comment on how supported and encouraged they are in my workshops.
Artist Statement
My contemporary art celebrates elements and growth in nature, most particularly the growth of trees and plants and my personal growth as an artist. I focus on visual texture of fabrics and surface texture created with stitching and embellishments. I often work spontaneously in response to an idea or feeling. All types of textiles have a place in my work, as do many surface design techniques. My goal is to communicate awareness of the world around us with my work.
The pieces I design and create for patterns and books are more structured, however texture is still important to me within the confines of traditional quilting patterns. I concentrate on repeatable, teachable processes and have developed superior technical writing, presentation and leadership skills over the last 25 years.
My creative life is enriched as I explore new designs and methods and ways to express myself with my art and share discoveries with my students.
Biography
Teaching and Presentation Experience
Conferences & Retreats
Come Quilt With Me Retreat, Kona, Hawaii, 2013
Tennessee Valley Quilter’s Association Conference, Alabama, 2012
International Quilt Festival, Houston, 2009/2011/2013
American Quilter’s Society, Paducah, Nashville, Des Moines, 2001/2005/2008/2012
Association of Pacific West Quilters, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, 2004/2008/2011
Mayflower Quilters Retreat, Pictou, Nova Scotia, 2011
Hands Across the Water, Quadra Island, BC, 2010
International Quilt Market, 1998-2013
Georgia Quilt Show, Atlanta, Georgia, 2010
Minnesota Quilters, Duluth, 2009
BC’s Creative Expo, 2007/2008
Gulf States Quilting Conference, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2006/2009
Quilting in the Trees, Metchosin, BC, 1999-2009
Creative Sewing & Needlework Festival, Toronto, Ontario, 2002-2004
Manitoba Prairie Quilters Conference, Winnipeg, 2002
Victoria & Vancouver Sewing & Crafts Show, 2000-2008
Canadian Quilters’ Association Quilt Canada, 1998/2000/2004
Shops
Colette’s Sewing, Yorkton, Saskatchewn, 2013
Satin Moon Quilt Shop, Victoria, BC, 1990-2013
Calico Cupboard Quilt Shop, Victoria, BC, 2000-present
Serge & Sew, Nanaimo, BC, 2003-present
Suzy Q’s Quilt Shop, Fort McMurray, Alberta, 2011
Quiltique, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2010
Bits & Pieces Quilt Shop, Drumheller, Alberta, 2007
Guilds
Bitterroot Quilters Guild, Corvallis, Montana, 2013
Sunbonnet Sue Quilters, Sequim, Washington, 2012
Athens Piecemakers, Athens, Alabama, 2012
Nanaimo Quilters’ Guild, Nanaimo, BC, 2008/2012
Burnaby Quilters Guild, Burnaby, BC, 2012
Westshore Quilters’, Langford, BC, 2009/2011
Saltspring Quilters, Saltspring Island, BC, 2009/2011
Sudbury Quilting Guild, Sudbury, Ontario, 2011
Island Quilters, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, 2011
Lanark County Quilters, Perth, Ontario, 2011
Thousand Islands Quilters, Brockville, Ontario, 2011
Ottawa Valley Quilters, Ottawa, Ontario, 2011
Sunshine Coast Quilters Retreat, Gibsons, BC, 2010
Las Vegas Quilters, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2010
Parksville Schoolhouse Quilters, Parksville, BC, 2010
Victoria Quilters’ Guild, Victoria, BC, 2008/2010
Vancouver Quilters’ Guild, Vancouver, BC, 2006
Boundary Bay Quilters’ Guild, Ladner, BC, 2006
Simcoe County Quilters’ Retreat, Barrie, Ontario, 2005
Online
QuiltUniversity.com, 6 workshops
Cruises
Caribbean, 2012; Alaska, 2005/2010; Hawaii, 2009; Mexico, 2006
Television Appearances
The Quilt Show with Ricky Tims & Alex Anderson, Episode #309, Fall 2008
Great Canadian Shop Hop with Tricia Sherman, 2007
Publications
Books:
Give & Take Fabric Appliqué, American Quilter’s Society, July 2011
The Art Quilt Collection: Designs & Inspiration from Around the World, Linda Seward (forward), 2010 (Blue Ocean, Turquoise Sea included)
Simple Stained Glass Quilts, Krause Publications, Fall 2008
Fat Quarter Frenzy Two, American Quilter’s Society, March 2008
Innovative Fabric Imagery for Quilts, Cyndy Lyle Rymer, C&T Publishing, 2007 (Anemones included)
Creative Quilting – The Journal Quilt Project, Karey P. Bresenhan, ED., 2006 (Stamped Quilt included)
Fat Quarter Frenzy, American Quilter’s Society, March 2005
Publish Your Patterns by Nancy Restuccia, 2001, Featured Articles
Quilted Havens – City Houses, Country Homes, American Quilters’ Society, February 2000
DVD:
Give & Take Appliqué™, Quilters Schoolhouse DVD Series, Nine Patch Media, October 2011
Magazine articles:
McCall’s Quilting, McCall’s Quick Quilts, Quilter’s World, American Quilter Magazine:
27 project articles since 2001
The Canadian Quilter, 2012-present, Gizmos & Gadgets columnist (product reviews)
Exhibits
| Summer 2012 | Association of Pacific West Quilters, Tacoma, Washington – ‘Miyagi Tsunami’ |
| Fall 2011 | International Quilt Festival, Houston Texas – ‘Looking West’, ‘Three Wee Figs’ |
| Summer 2011 | Association of Pacific West Quilters, Tacoma, Washington – ‘Chutes & Ladders’ |
| Fall 2010 | International Quilt Festival, Houston Texas – ‘Broken Cookies’, O Canada Exhibit |
| Fall 2009 | The Grand National, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Ontario – Off the Wall ‘Doors I’ |
| Summer 2008 | Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters, Seattle, Washington – ‘Arabesque’ |
| Fall 2007 | International Quilt Festival, Houston Texas – ‘Anemones’ and ‘Birches’ |
| Fall 2006 | International Quilt Festival, Houston Texas – ‘Arabesque’ |
| Summer 2006 | Association of Pacific Northwest Quilters, Seattle, Washington – ‘The Cloth of Africa’ |
| Spring 2005 | American Quilter’s Society Conference, Paducah, Kentucky – ‘The Cloth of Africa’ |
| Spring 2004 | Pan Pacific Quilt Show, Honolulu, Hawaii, – ‘Emily’s Forest’ |
| Summer 2003 | Reflections of Canada, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery – ‘Emily’s Forest’ |
| Summer 2001 | North End Gallery, Whitehorse, Yukon – ‘Maisons Sans Frontieres’ |
| Spring 2001 | Canadian Quilters’ Association National Juried Show, ‘Maisons sans Frontieres’ and ‘Pure Fun with a Baker’s Dozen’ |
Awards
Spring 2012 Victoria Quilters’ Guild, Victoria, BC
‘Miyagi Tsunami’ – Second, Art Quilt
Spring 2004 Victoria Quilters’ Guild, Victoria, BC
‘Moon Rings’- Second, Traditional Mixed
‘Protea’ - Third, Contemporary Appliqué
Spring 2000 Victoria Quilters’ Guild, Y2Quilt Millennium Show, Juried & Judged Contemporary Show
Judge’s Choice Award, ‘Maisons Sans Frontieres”
Spring 1998 Victoria Quilters’ Guild, Victoria, BC
Best Use of Colour Judges’ Award, ‘Emily’s Forest‘
Judging
Judge – Needlearts Section – Quilting, Saanich Fall Fair, Vancouver Island, 2003 – 2006, 2009
Professional Memberships
International Association of Professional Quilters
American Quilter’s Society
International Quilt Association
Association of Pacific West Quilters
Canadian Quilters’ Association
Victoria Quilters’ Guild
SAQA – Studio Art Quilters Association
