We take the time to search out the best in the industry, introducing you to exceptional designers, best-selling authors, creative thinkers and visionaries. Taking classes at Original Sewing & Quilt Expo and Georgia Quilt Show adds to a memorable and satisfying experience!
Lorene Bonewitz
Hurst, TX
Sew It Up
Lorene Bonewitz is the owner and founder of The Grapevine Collection of Fine Fashion Fabrics which had its start in 1998 in North Texas. Her shop is a culmination of her passion for sewing and embroidery. She has travelled and studied extensively. Some of her mentors include Sandra Betzina, Judy Barlup, Margaret Islander, Martha Pullen, Susan O'Connor and Judith Baker Montano to mention just a few.
In order to reach customers worldwide, Lorene opened up SewItUp.com Making sample garments and accessories to inspire her shop customers who, in turn, wanted to copy them, gave Lorene the idea of kitting up her designs. These kits are the core of the web store. The quality of the fabric selection found at the shop, along with the quantity of specialty trims and buttons, make SewItUp.com's kits unique. Her kits, fabrics and trims have been featured in Sew News, Butterick and McCall's Sewing Today, Quick Quilts, Sew Beautiful (a six page feature article in the August 2008) and Southern Living. This last publication heralded her newest endeavor, Sewing in Southern Comfort, three day sewing retreats.
Lorene's initial dream in opening up a shop was to share with others her knowledge and passion for the needle arts in an environment where women feel at home in to learn and grow. Most of her customers would agree that she has accomplished that goal. www.sewitup.com
Lisa Bongean
Menasha, WI
Primitive Gatherings
Award winning quilter, teacher, designer and quilt shop owner Lisa Bongean has loved quilting since she began in 1996. She has won several local awards, and has had the privilege of showing quilts in Paducah, KY in 2000 & 2002. Her primary focus is to spread her love of quilting and the pride of accomplishment for working hard & trying new techniques. Lisa enjoys each and every step in the quilt making process; hand applique and wool appliqué are her favorites! Lisa is a well-rounded quilter, and experienced teacher and the owner of Primitive Gatherings, a quilt shop that opened May 2004 in Menasha, WI. Her shop features her line of hand dyed wools, reproduction and designer fabrics that carry the same warm feeling of the shop. Lisa wants to share as many skills as possible with her students and quilting friends; pinning, piecing, trimming, perfect points, time savers, etc. "The feeling is indescribable when I've inspired a quilter with one of my designs and it overwhelms me to see their finished projects. I also try to teach them how to add their own personal touches so the quilt becomes their 'own'."
www.primitivegatherings.us
Barb Callahan
Venice, FL
Barb Originals
Barb designed and constructed one-of-a-kind garments using her label Barb Originals and sold them at art shows for almost 25 years, alongside her antique linens, buttons and trimmings. After years of hearing customer requests for patterns and instructions for these very wearable items, she decided to accommodate them. Today Barb travels the U.S. sharing her expertise in using vintage linens, buttons, hankies, trimmings and more to create stylish, flattering and easy-to-make clothing and accessories. She holds a bachelors degree in education and a masters degree in administration and counseling, and has also attended classes at FIT in New York. Her articles have appeared in Threads, Sew Beautiful and her company’s newsletter.
www.barboriginals.com
Regina Carter
Jackson, GA
Regina Carter is a professional longarm quilter from Jackson, Georgia. Regina began has been quilting for 30 years, professionally for 10 years. She works full time for customers and is experienced in both Gammill hand guided quilting and Gammill Statler Stitcher computerized quilting. Over the years her award winning quilts have gained her local, regional, and national recognition in shows and publications. Regina teaches longarm quilting at shows and private studios. Regina challenges herself with every quilt to provide her customers with a work of art.
Colleen Casey
Marietta, GA
Some Art Fabric
I knew I would be an artist at an early age – I need to make things. Throughout school I excelled at all creative endeavors and decided to attend Savannah College of Art and Design. After college I moved back to Atlanta and began a career as a fine artist. In '98 I started teaching high school art, so I could share the joy that art brings me. Now I teach, parent and create art as time permits. I feel that everyone should be able to create and I use my time and talents to help others find joy in art.
www.someartfabric.com
Susan ClarkCedar Falls, IA
RNK Distributing
Susan is a Certified Jenny Haskins Accredited Educator for RNK Distributing, and she has been an active part of the Home Sewing Industry since 1985, teaching sewing, quilting, embroidery and embroidery software from coast to coast. During this time she has served not only as a teacher for consumers, but a trainer of those who teach. Susan’s extensive experience in our industry includes managing a number of dealerships or retail stores selling a multiplicity of machine makes and models. Her broad knowledge of so many different machine types make her classes extremely interesting to owners of every brand and since Susan has been fully trained to teach all types of sewing/embroidery software she can relate to almost any question regarding any product.
Susan has also contributed to different sewing industry magazines and newsletters with articles and projects as well as having published embroidery design sets and sewing and embroidery patterns of her own. Susan will teach you the secrets, tips and tricks she has learned in creating perfect embroidery and carefree quilting. You will love the relaxed atmosphere of her class and her down to earth teaching method.
www.rnkdistributing.com
Pam Clarke
Spokane, WA
Home Stitches
Pam Clarke has been quilting since the late 1960’s and sewing for 46 years. She lives in Spokane WA and grew up in Sacramento CA. Pam has been machine quilting and teaching machine quilting, piecing and appliqué classes since 1988. She is the owner of Homes Stitches a professional machine quilting business that was started in 1988. Her work can be seen in several published magazines and books. She quilts for Debbie Mumm, K-P kids, Fiber Mosaics, Mary Lou and Company, Fabric Sales, Kaufman, Bernatix, Retta Weirheim and Martingale. To this date she has quilted over 7000 quilts and has made several hundred. Pam has appeared on Quilt Central and with Linda Taylor for PBS. Quilt It and as a guest on Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson. She has also been featured in Fons and Porter as a Celebrity Quilter. Pam is an international instructor, including IMQS, Innovations, Machines in Motion, The Home Machine Quilt, IMQX in NH, International Quilt Festival in Houston and several local shows in the Northwest. Her favorite type of quilting is appliqué mixed with simple piecing with a scrappy look that has won her numerous ribbons across the USA.
www.homestitches.com
June Colburn
Largo, FL
June Colburn Designs II, Inc.
June's odyssey began in 1973 with itchy feet and a Master's degree in library science. While working for international schools, June's motto, "Have sewing machine, will travel" led her into adventures hunting for fabrics in souks, bazaars and temple sales from Quito to Paris, Istanbul to Singapore. Talking with the people who wove, dyed, embroidered, sewed and sold native textiles influenced her life. The exquisite kimono fabrics of Japan defined her creative direction. June's work has been featured in many exhibitions, collections and design shows. She shares her knowledge and love of Asian textiles through lectures and classes.
www.junecolburn.com
Meg Covalt
Pensacola, FL
Jenny Haskins Products
Meg Covalt began sewing as a teenager with no help or instruction from anyone and continued to develop both her love of sewing and artful skills while raising a family. She created most of the family’s wardrobe from her own wealth of creativity. When the children were grown and sewing was no longer a necessity her home sewing studio became her hobby room. She purchased her 1st embroidery machine early in 2004 and the enthusiasm and love of sewing began to flow again, so much, that 6 months later she purchased a 2nd machine and the journey that has brought Meg to your location for this event was started.
After purchasing her machines, she attended seminars and classes as much as possible to expand her knowledge in the embroidery/sewing field. Soon, she was asked to help out with the events at her local dealer and there learned how much she enjoyed being around others who share her love of embroidery. In 2009 Meg attended the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion in Huntsville, AL and has been teaching amazing ideas and techniques since.
Meg says “I have a passion for helping others be creative with their journey to learn more. A great feeling of satisfaction fills me each time I’m able to help someone wade through the embroidery process and make things easier for them”. You will always cherish your time with Meg Covalt. You will not only leave the class with new found knowledge, ideas, and techniques, but with inspiration and an “I CAN” Attitude!
www.rnkdistributing.com
Pam Crosby
Hernando, FL
Pamela Crosby is an avid garment sewer who loves to share her passion with others. She holds a BS, an MS and an Ed.S in education and has over 32 years experience working with students at middle, high school, college and adult levels. Pam has been teaching garment sewing and techniques for the past 15 years in Michigan, South Carolina and Florida. She is a certified Louise Cutting instructor and is also an Independent Sewing Instructor for Linda Lee’s Project Sewing Workshop. Pam’s philosophy of sewing is that garment sewing should be rewarding and fun and that we should utilize our machines to the max! Pam is an active member of the Central West Coast Florida Sewing Guild and is currently co-leader of the chapter’s Special Interest Couture Sewing Group. Pam continues her own sewing education and training through workshops, classes, seminars and conferences. Pam has contributed articles to sewing industry newsletters and magazines.
Louise Cutting
Winter Park, FL
Cutting Line Designs / Cutting Corners
Louise is a contributing editor for Thread’s Magazine, and the designer of 'Cutting Line Designs' patterns. She is the creator of the 'One Seam Pant'© with over 51,000 patterns sold to date. Her sewing instructions have been quoted as the best in the independent pattern industry. Louise was the Fashion Design Department Head at Prospect Hall College, The Art Institute and taught Interior Design at Marymount College. 'Sew Much More' for HGTV, 'America Sews' and ‘Sewing with Martha Pullen’ have featured Louise’s talents on their TV programs. Her articles & pattern designs have appeared in Threads, Sew News, Sewing Today, Sew Stylish, Handwoven, and Sew Beautiful magazines. She is an internationally known speaker on sewing and design and in 2008 received ‘The Outstanding Teacher Award’
www.cuttinglinedesigns.com
Carmen DePalma
Tampa, FL
Marathon Thread Guy
After arriving in the USA from Puerto Rico, Carmen worked for Exxon as a Systems Analyst. She learned to sew by altering hand-me downs with her Grandmother's help. She continued her love for sewing as the Costume Chair at numerous high school productions and at the Pickford Theater in NJ. She was education chair for the ASG-North Jersey Chapter. She teaches "Beyond Basic Serging" and “Stabilizers: B(asic) to A(dvanced)”. Home is in now in FL where she is a member of the Tampa Chapter.
Chris Dolinar
Munroe Fall, OH
Chris has been sewing for over 40 years and enjoys everything involved in sewing, from quilting to home decorating, from heirloom to garment construction. She enjoys sharing tips and techniques as well as notions and accessories that every sew-ist will want (and need) in order to complete sewing projects faster and with that professional touch. Any class you take from Chris will be enjoyable, and you're certain to pick up at least one new trick.
Eric Drexler
Port Charlotte, FL
Sulky of America
With over 25 years in the sewing industry, Eric Drexler has developed a wide spectrum of expertise. As a senior in High School in 1983, Eric started working in Joyce and Fred Drexler’s Sewing Center as their sewing machine mechanic. Over the next 15 years he went on to become a Teacher, Manager and Co-owner until the business was sold in 1998. For the last 10 years he has been a full-time employee of Sulky of America during which time he has become more heavily focused on his creative side, while continuing to indulge his passion for sewing machine repair. Free-motion artistry has been Eric’s other life-long passion ever since he was inspired by Joyce when, at age 10, she first taught him the technique. He has made numerous large and small works of machine art, some of which have been featured in Sulky Books and at Trade and Consumer Shows all over the country. Through his association with Sulky of America during all the years of its existence, he has had the pleasure and honor of being inspired by some of the world’s greatest creative sewers and quilters. For the 10 years of its existence, he managed the Sulky Challenge and was responsible for its appearance all over the country.
Eric loves life and he loves to teach and share his exuberance for creative sewing. He is passionate about inspiring students of all ages so they can discover and enjoy a lifetime of creative fun. His infectious smile and warm humor put everyone at ease and ready to learn. He is widely sought after to teach and share his contagious enthusiasm at Consumer shows, Sew Exciting Seminars, Guild Programs and, more recently, on PBS shows.
www.sulky.com
Kimberly Einmo
Palm Harbor, FL
Kimberly Einmo is an author, international quilting instructor and quilt judge. She has written two books, Quilt A Travel Souvenir and the #1 best-selling book in 2010, Jelly Roll Quilts & More. Her third book, Jelly Roll Quilt Magic was released in September, 2011. She has written many articles and designed original patterns which have appeared in numerous publications including McCall’s Quilting and Quick Quilts Magazines, American Quilter Magazine, Quilters’ Home Magazine, Japanese Patchwork Tsushin Magazine, and Irish Quilting Magazine. Kimberly has also developed a signature line of innovative tools including the Easy Star and Geese Ruler, the EZ Hearts Cut Tool, the EZ Pineapple Ruler, and the EZ Jelly Roll Ruler which are manufactured and distributed by the Simplicity Creative Group.
She has traveled the world extensively to lecture and teach and she represented the United States at the 2nd and 4th Annual Prague Patchwork Meetings in 2008 and 2010, and has been invited to return to Prague to teach at the 6th PPM in 2012. Kimberly represents VSM, Inc. as a Pfaff Sewing Star and is part of the prestigious group of Bernina Sewing Professionals of America. Most of all, Kimberly loves to meet quilters from around the world and share the joy and passion of patchwork with everyone!
www.kimberlyeinmo.com
Karen Erickson
Snohomish, WA
Home Fashions U
Karen’s passion for sewing began at 10 years old, taking apart used clothing and using parts for patterns. During high school in 1971, she was awarded Home Economics Student of the year. In the 70s she pursued studies in photojournalism, and in tandem found herself teaching for Art Craft Needlework Co at home parties, plus assisting her customers in how to sew their completed projects. In 1986, Home Finishing by Karen a (home based professional sewing workroom) was born, sewing window treatments, pillow, bedding and slipcovers for customers. In 1999, when 75% of her business had evolved into slipcovering she morphed the business into Slipcover America Inc. and started a networking forum for slipcover professionals. Karen’s world has evolved into being a fulltime educator whose passion is dedicated to home décor, interior fashion and sewing. She has joined forces with Claudia Buchanan and together they have created Home Fashions U “dedicated to home décor interior fashion”. Karen hosts a radio podcast “Home Fashions U Blog Talk radio” and produces newsletters, DVDs, CDs and continues to write articles for various print magazines and online publications.
www.blogtalkradio.com/Home-Fashions-U
Diane EricsonAshland, OR
ReVisions
Diane Ericson, founder of ReVisions, is an artist and designer living in Ashland, Oregon. In her 30 years of teaching, Diane has provided art and design classes for public schools and guilds, teacher training programs, art therapy workshops, creativity coaching and numerous retreats. As a frequent contributor to various fiber publications including Threads & Sew News, Diane enjoys playing in her studio, creating new designs for ReVisions and exploring other inventive ways to inspire and celebrate creativity. Diane teaches workshops and retreats in various locations, and has become a recognized expert in the sewing field and motivational speaker for women’s groups. "I am fascinated by how we learn and evolve as creative beings. The creative process is full of rich opportunities to grow, understand and share our experience of being in the world." www.dianeericson.com
Tamara Evans
Dallas, TX
RNK Distributing
Tamara Evans, National Education Coordinator for RNK Distributing, (exclusive distributors of Floriani Products) is from Dallas, TX. Tamara says she has been sewing for as long as she can remember and loves every aspect of it - except maybe handwork. Her "professional" sewing experience began in Jr. High sewing costumes and clothing for family and neighbors. After graduating from The University of Oklahoma, she worked at a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial ventures, but eventually returned to her passion - sewing. Tamara's experiences include machine embroidery, digitizing, quilting, garment design, home decor, and crafts. Through her years of working in the Sewing Industry she has developed a particular talent for rationalizing the purchase of any new gadgets, fabrics, or machines. Tamara's life journey took her to Illinois for a while and it was there she developed a very successful embroidery and gift business, And Sew On. Upon her return to Texas she began developing a series education and sewing related products. Tamara is now putting her energy and expertise into bringing the best in sewing education directly to the sewing public through the vast Floriani Dealer network.
www.rnkdistributing.com
Dusty Farrell
Cambridge Springs, PA
Country Stitchin
Dusty is a free-hand quilt artist. He is mostly recognized for his incredibly fast no holds bared quilting and "Quilting in the Dark". He has quilted for several top designers in the industry and has appeared in numerous magazines and “Quilt It” online program. Always being up for change Dusty changes quilt designs on the fly to fit his unique personality. Dusty's motto’s are "the imperfect perfect" and “If I can draw it I can quilt it“.
www.cscountrystitchin.com
Rita Farro
Princeton, IA
Rita's Sew Fun
In 1986, because she loved to sew -- Rita Farro opened a fabric/sewing machine store in Clinton, Iowa. Rita wrote the popular book, “Life Is Not A Dress Size” and became a professional speaker and writer. In 2001, she wrote “Dress Your Dream Bed” for Krause Books. Now that she realized her destiny was to WRITE SOMETHING...she got a job writing the last-page-of-the magazine column, “Linking Threads” for Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine. In recent years, Rita developed many seminar topics for sewing machine conventions and industry trades shows, including: “Fat Girls Have Gold Cards, Too” and “Humor at Work and at Home”, "36 Things in 36 Minutes" -- Easy strategies to improve your bottom line. Martha Stewart says you should "learn something new every single day"...and Rita agrees with her 100%. Meet Rita in the Creative DRAWings / SCHMETZneedles.com booth in Chantilly and Kansas City.
www.ritafarro.com
Cathy Gandy
Alpharetta, GA
Baby Lock Education Consultant
Variety is the spice of life," says education consultant, Cathy Gandy. She takes pride in her sewing background which boasts of working in fiber art, teaching classes, retail selling, and fabric buying. When that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, she occupied her time spinning and weaving. Her finished samples include tapestries, rugs, baskets, and garments. As a hobby, Cathy really enjoys machine appliqué for quilting and creating her own designs using the Baby Lock software products. Whether it’s garment sewing, home décor, quilting, or heirloom techniques, her creations express her love of the industry. Sharing her ideas, talents, and knowledge with sewing enthusiasts everywhere is what gives Cathy the most pleasure.
www.babylock.com
Diane Gloystein
Lincoln, NE
Sulky of America
Diane Gloystein travels across the country as a freelance educator. She loves to share her passion and enthusiasm for embellishment as she entertains and educates. Her creations have been featured on Fons & Porter Love of Quilting, America Sews with Sue Hausmann, Sewing with Nancy and Quilting Arts television shows. Diane's creation, Caribbean Sunset appeared in the 2008 Rendezvous Bernina Fashion Show.
A love of designing interesting and original clothing led to a lifelong love affair with fabric and fiber arts. A sense of whimsical imagination is found in many of Diane's creations. She inspires her audiences with high energy presentations featuring a myriad of sewing techniques, surface design and embellishment techniques that will excite quilters and enthusiasts of fiber arts.
www.sulky.com
Karen Grof
Safety Harbor, FL
Happy Apple Quilts
Karen began quilting almost 30 years ago with an appliqué baby quilt for her daughter, Katie. With an art background and training in drawing and painting, she enjoys creating original designs. Karen now has her own pattern design company, Happy Apple Quilts. She writes patterns with beginners in mind so extra details are added. Karen believes quilting should be easy and fun. She likes to complete a project quickly because there are so many more she wants to do! She enjoys sharing techniques that all quilters can enjoy.
www.happyapplequilts.com
Cynthia Guffey
Baton Rouge, LA
Cynthia has owned a fabric and design studio bearing her name in Baton Rouge, Louisiana since 1983, and her designs have been worn everywhere from the opening of the Met to governors’ inaugurations to Acapulco. Her fitting and sewing expertise is derived from a mathematical background, and her constant search for the simple and the obvious. And although her precise sewing techniques are not short-cuts, she saves you time by helping you get it right the first time. She shares her effective, practical and simple fitting and construction techniques with students throughout the United States, offering seminars and workshops filled with information that results in beautifully fitted, custom-look clothing. Cynthia’s design philosophy involves creating lines that multiply opportunities to fit and enhance a figure type.
www.cynthiaguffey.com
Lorraine Henry
San Diego, CA
Conselle Institute
Lorraine is a specialist in sewing, fitting and pattern alteration for Conselle Institute of Image Management. She has a degree in Clothing and Textiles and has been a university instructor. Teaching pattern alteration and fit is her favorite thing to do. She is the creator of the Two Easy Measuring tape set which makes it easy to get accurate body measurements when you follow the instructions in her “Measuring Made Easy” booklet. She has also written for Sew News Magazine. With 30 plus years of experience as a custom dressmaker/tailor and teacher, she has a wealth of knowledge to share with you about sewing and fit.
www.conselle.com
Debra Justice
Abbotsford, BC Canada
Labours of Love
Debra Justice is the president and founder of Labours of Love Heirloom Sewing Supplies Inc. An online mail order company based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Debra's interest in sewing began at age 10, when she was enrolled her in some sewing classes. By the age of 20 she was teaching classes in quilting, a subject that she covered for several years during her off hours as a civil and municipal draftsperson.
With a love for the Victorian Era it was only natural that Debra would fall in love with Heirloom Sewing. Labours of Love was opened in 1990 offering a selection of Vintage styled patterns, fine old fashioned fabrics, French Laces and her own how to DVD "Precious Petticoats" an Introduction to Heirloom Sewing. Her first DVD was received with rave reviews and Sew You Want To Get Fancy her second DVD soon followed. Her DVDs and patterns have been featured in publications such as Sew News, Sewing Decor and The Creative Machine. In 2004 Debra wrote her first book Modern Machine Techniques which has already turned into a best seller. Her newest book on sewing machine feet called Learn to Sew With Your Feet was released in March of 2009.
With the success of her two books she has been retained by Sew News Magazine as contributing writer for their foot column. She will share lots of ideas and new techniques on how to use the feet that came with your machine. Debra teaches others how to recreate vintage clothing and teddy bears inspired by the Victorian Era. Her no nonsense approach and fun seminars have made her a favourite key note speaker and respected sewing expert nationwide. She resides in Abbotsford, British Columbia with her boys Taylor and Spencer.
www.laboursoflove.com
Judy Kessinger
Louisville, KY
Fit Nice Sew Slim System
Judy Kessinger started her career owning and operating a small Retail fabric store in Louisville, Kentucky. She traveled nationwide holding seminars for Hancock Fabrics for over 25 years, designed costumes for national and international figure skaters. Five years ago Judy started a new business combining her art of teaching and fitting into the development and production of two patterns-one for Tops and one for Pants. Once you FIT the pattern, an entire wardrobe can be created. Sewing is the easy part but it's the FITTING that makes garments come alive and compliment the body instead of just covering it! Her new DVDs, CDS and web site www.fitnicesystem.com gives her teaching tools to learn new. Judy has been blessed to have touched the lives of countless women, teaching them the tricks of looking trim and feeling fantastic by simply fitting themselves properly.
www.fitnicesystem.com
Dorothy Koldeway
Ewe-nique Creations
Elkhorn, WI
Dorothy is a designer, teacher, and co-owner of Ewe-nique Creations. Ewe-nique Creations specializes in hand-dyed wool and original appliqué designs. She loves everything about working with hand-dyed wool. Finding new ways to use wool in dimensional appliqué has been both challenging and exciting. Dorothy enjoys showing other "crazy wool ladies" what she has learned. She has been a sewing 4-H instructor for over 30 years and has tried to inspire many kids and adults during that time. Her passion is teaching. Watching her students grow in confidence as their abilities grow is very rewarding. She spends a lot of time in the basement dyeing wool and in her studio (kitchen table) designing. Dorothy enjoys getting out in the real world to exhibit at quilt shows. Most of all she loves meeting and inspiring other quilters through lecturing and teaching workshops.
www.ewe-niquecreations.com
Debby Kratovil
Fairfax, VA
Quilter By Design
Debby has been in the professional quilting world since 1994. She was Quilt Magazine’s Special Projects Editor for 14 years. She contributes to various quilt magazine titles along with sewing and designing for several fabric companies. Her hundreds of published articles about quilts, easy techniques, and how-tos have helped thousands of quilters discover an easier way to approach a wide range of projects. Her published works include “Bold, Black & Beautiful Quilts”, “Supersize ‘Em Quilts”, seven different Quilt Block a Day calendars, and is working on her next book on Mariner’s Compass quilts (March 2013). She is an enthusiastic teacher who especially loves the "aha!" moments with her students. She freely shares tips, tricks and techniques to make quilting a real pleasure.
www.quilterbydesign.com
Cindy Losekamp
Cedar Grove, IN
Sew Artfully Yours
Cindy is the creator of several Signature Series embroidery disks for Cactus Punch and CEO of Sew Artfully Yours, Inc. Cindy's skills take machine embroidery to new heights in creativity, and along with embroidery, she is also the creator of a myriad of other machine techniques. She is the designer and author of thirty-one books, and has been teaching and inspiring people to sew and create for twenty-one years. There are no boundaries in artistic pursuits when it comes to her books and classes. Everyone is encouraged to transcend to a higher level of creativity.
www.sewingart.com
Sandy Miller
Orlando, FL
Cutting Corners Inc.
Sandy currently serves as the first sample maker for the CUTTING LINE DESIGNS pattern line, as well as writing and editing the pattern instructions. Sandra travels all over the US, teaching and staffing the CUTTING CORNERS booth, where she enjoys talking to sewers and answering questions about fabric, patterns, and sewing techniques.
www.cuttinglinedesigns.com
Kim Montagnese
Amherst, OH
AhHa!
Kim began playing with fabric and sneaking the use of her mom's "forbidden" sewing machine in the early 70s. Long before great fabric or creative classes were available, Kim was forced to make it up as she went along. She came to love the look of hand appliqué, but lacked the patience. Fortunately, a series of mistakes led to the method she uses today. Students love the "no curved piecing"," inside out" and "quilts that keep on giving" concept of quilting. Kim loves the AhHa! moment students experience and has felt privileged to share the fun for the past 15 years.
Kim's quilts have won many awards throughout Ohio, been displayed at the Denver International Airport as well as private collections across the country and also featured in Art Quilt Calender. She is a member of Lorain County Piecemakers, Studio Art Quilters Association and Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, and is proudly associated with Pear Tree Gallery and Ginko Gallery.
http://insideoutquilts.com “Inside-Out-Broken Quilts”
(Piece in Cate Pratos book Mixed Media Self-Portraits)
www.martingale-pub.com (Two quilts in Leigh McDonald's book Adventures In Circles)
Marty Moon
Culpeper, VA
Early Times Workshop
Owner of Early Times Workshop for 20 years, Marty enjoys quilting and doing other types of needlework. Trained by hand in very traditional quiltmaking, Marty prides herself on the technical aspects of her quilts and is passionate about passing those skills on to others. Always seeking a challenge or competition to whet her appetite, Marty grounds her ‘art’ quilts in her traditional background. You can find one of Marty’s quilts in Quilting with Manhole Covers by Shirley MacGregor.
www.earlytimesworkshop.com
Mary Mulari
Aurora, MN
Since 1983 Mary Mulari has inspired the sewing world with inventive projects and classy but easy-to-sew accessories and garment embellishments.
Her first sewing experience and lessons came through membership in the Loon Lake 4-H Club. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Duluth, Mary taught junior high school English for five years. Her sewing career began with community education classes on sweatshirt alterations and trims. Following her first self-published book Designer Sweatshirts, Mary wrote, hand lettered and illustrated eight additional books to establish herself as a national sewing expert and personality. Her topics ranged beyond sweatshirts to applique, travel accessories, and gifts.
The Chilton Book Company published three of Mary’s books: Sweatshirts with Style, Garments with Style, and More Sweatshirts with Style. Her Krause Publications titles include Appliques with Style, Denim & Chambray with Style, Made for Travel, Simply Napkins, and two Embroidery Machine Essentials books.
As a frequent guest on “Sewing with Nancy,” Mary has written four sweatshirt books in cooperation with Nancy’s Notions. She has designed machine embroidery collections for several companies as well as her own company, Mary’s Productions. Her self-published pattern collection includes reversible apron patterns and other accessories and wearables. She has also designed fabric for Marcus Brothers Textiles.
Mary continues to develop projects for new publications and television appearances, test products for the sewing industry, market her books and patterns, and present creative sewing seminars. By using her talents and creativity in sewing, designing, and writing, Mary's work has truly been found at her fingertips.
www.marymulari.com
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Laura Murray
Minneapolis, MN
Laura Murray Designs
Artist, entrepreneur, teacher and author, Laura began her experimentations with textile color and texture in 1989. Her work, which appears in books, magazines, quilt calendars and DVDs includes wearable art and award-winning quilts. Laura's passionate response to surface design resulted in designing her favorite images in a stencil collection, soon followed by a series of stamps, including StarBuilders, along with authoring her book, "StarBuilder Inspirations". Her recent work led to the development of an innovative technique which uses stamps, paintstiks and fusible web to easily create seemingly complex designs without sewing.
www.lauramurraydesigns.com
Mary Nordeng
Rose Creek, MN
Mary Nordeng is an award winning quilter and teacher. She began quilting in 1981. Of course, that quilt was never finished! In 1993, she began machine quilting on a domestic machine. In October, 1999, Mary purchased a Gammill Classic longarm quilting machine. She began her business, Pieceful Settings, shortly thereafter. In 2001, Mary began quilting for pattern designer Pam Bono. Mary’s work on Pam’s quilts has now been published in numerous books and magazines, including the covers of magazines in the United States, Australia, and Great Britain. In 2004, Mary received the award for Best Longarm Machine Quilting at the Minnesota Quilt show. She has since gone on to receive numerous ribbons for her quilting of customer quilts, as well as her own quilts. Mary was a finalist in the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX in 2009 and 2010, as well as the American Quilters Society show in Paducah, KT in 2010.
In 2005, Mary was approached by Superior Threads to quilt some samples for their booth at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX. She has currently quilted three quilts for Superior, which can be seen at numerous large quilt shows across the country. Most recently, Mary has become an author in her own right with the publication of four books, Freehand Freedom, Extreme Makeover: Feather Edition, Beyond the Extreme, and Beyond Basic Backgrounds. To see more of Mary’s work, check out her webshots site at http://community.webshots.com/user/nordeng
Ellen Osten
St. Petersburg, FL
Sulky of America
Ellen has been sewing and teaching professionally for over 30 years. She is the co-author of several books and the creator of a unique line of patterns, Sew...What's New. Ellen has been with Sulky of America, Inc. since 1988, and enjoys traveling throughout the country giving lectures, demos and hands-on classes. She enjoys teaching all skill levels, and instructs in many subject areas including free motion thread painting, computerized embroidery, pattern fitting, design and color. www.sulky.com
Pattie Otto
Franksville, WI
Great Copy Patterns
Pattie Otto, owner of Great Copy Patterns, spends her time creating new and unique patterns, teaching a wide variety of classes, writing books and articles for publication, and designing machine embroidery. Her ideas focus on the practical as well as the classic. Her garment patterns feature timeless styles that transcend the seasons and flatter a variety of figures. Her home dec and accessory ideas are must-have items that make your home beautiful with a no-nonsense approach. You can see all of her designs and ideas on her website at www.greatcopy.com. Along with her husband, Rick, Pattie resides in Southeastern Wisconsin where she teaches the very popular Embroidery Club. The mother of four grown children, she does enjoy gardening and reading in her free time. www.greatcopy.com
Karen Pharr
Luttrell, TN
Karen Pharr Studios
Karen is an award winning quilter with quilts shown in both Quilt Shows and Art Galleries. Karen uses nature as her main inspiration for her work. As a national teacher, pattern designer and art quilter, Karen loves to help students develop new fun and creative techniques which they can apply to their own quilting style. A yes you can attitude flows throughout her classroom so everyone can create while having fun and learning new techniques they can take with them and apply to future projects.
www.karenpharrstudios.com
Londa Rohlfing
Savoy, IL
Londa's Creative Threads
With 13 years of owning a retail fabric and sewing machine shop behind her, Londa switched to an internet-based business to go world-wide with www.londas-sewing.com. Her personal mission is “To offer quality sewing products with passion, individual attention, and creative suggestions as a fellow avid seamstress, teacher and designer.” After 40+ years of what she calls “normal (now boring) garment sewing”, her mountain-top sewing experiences are ‘artsy, creative sewing’. She delights in creating garments that are unique and truly one-of-a-kind. Her current ‘obsession’ is with transforming sweatshirts into wonderful, unique ‘couture’ jackets. Her techniques are shared in her ‘books’ on CD and DVD and in her ‘pattern’ Design Booklets. She is published in several sewing periodicals including Sew Savvy and Creative Needle, and appeared in a webisode on
www.nowsewing.net in October 2008. Traveling to teach and vend at guilds, shops, and consumer shows has become a new and exciting aspect of her business.
www.londas-sewing.com
Kathy Ruddy
Mukilteo, WA
Live Guides, Inc
Kathy Ruddy is an international sewing celebrity, educator, pattern designer, Serger and fitting expert. Active in the sewing industry since 1962, Kathy is the star of 10 Serger and sewing videos and author of 12 Serger and sewing booklets and her new enhanced books on CD called Three ways to Learn CD'S. You can look at pictures of her projects from start to finish, read the words next to the pictures as you listen to Kathy impart her wisdom and experiences as she develops her projects. If you like a hard copy you can print off as many pages from the CD as you like. Her specialty is to show how to sew and serge fast and easy without sacrificing quality, fit or fashion details. Her fresh, fun classes are brimming with surprises and ideas.
www.kathyruddy.com
Peggy Sagers
Dallas, TX
Silhouette Patterns
Peggy holds a degree in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising from Brigham Young University. Having drafted patterns professionally on a free-lance basis for numerous manufacturers in the Dallas area, Peggy created her own pattern line, Silhouettes, in the late 1990’s. Her patterns incorporate B, C, and D cup sizing as well as proportionate lengths, which are unique in the pattern industry. She brings no frills to the home sewing world, but instead focuses on classic designs for great-fitting business and casual wardrobes. She has been a featured guest on HGTV’s Sew Much More, and currently spends her time teaching at seminars and workshops in the United States and Canada.
www.silhouettepatterns.com
Nancy Sapin
Franklin, NC
Sulky of America
Nancy Sapin comes from an artistic and creative family. While Nancy learned to sew when she was very young, she really began sewing in earnest when she was in her early 20's. After 3 children, sewing and crafts took a back seat to owning and operating an electronic assembly business.
Nancy has now come back full circle to sewing. She moved to Franklin, NC after meeting and marrying her husband, David. Several years ago she began sewing Sulky samples to be shown at Sulky Sew Exciting Seminars, Certification Trainings and in Consumer and Trade show booths. Nancy has taught classes and lectured in 2008 & 2009 at the ASE in Novi, MI. Her felted bowl is published in Sulky's latest book “Supplement to Sulky's Secrets to Successful Stabilizing.” Her newest fabric wrapped cord square trivet and bowl design was presented by Joyce Drexler on Quilting Arts TV show in February, 2009, and will be published in Sulky's future Embellishing book.
Quilting and sewing have become her passion, along with cooking, gardening, and being a new grandparent. Becoming a National Educator representing Sulky of America has combined all of her acquired talents and fulfilled her other passion, to teach what she knows with fun and enthusiasm.
www.sulky.com
Emma Seabrooke
Islamorada, FL
Sew KeysE, Inc.
Emma Seabrooke is a certified Palmer/Pletsch pant and fit instructor. She trained with French Couture for years and took many fashion design courses in college while obtaining her degree. Emma loves sewing with knits and has designed clothing patterns for them. She has perfected the best styles for all sizes, especially “well-endowed” ladies. Emma is an active member of the Home Sewing Association, and believes all her students can achieve clothing that looks and fits beautifully. She offers patterns, notions and fabrics that apply to her classes for sale.
www.emmaseabrooke.com
Barbara Soumar
Vero Beach, FL
Flamingo Island Designs
Barbara Miro Soumar is a fiber artist and sculptor, showing her work throughout Florida; She is pattern designer and owner of Flamingo Island Designs, an online fabric store. Barbara uses art to express her love of nature, which is a driving force in her life. She has been a teacher of quilting, handcrafts, sewing, sculpture and fiber arts for more than 25 years, teaching students of all ages and levels of experience.
www.flamingoislanddesigns.com
Connie Spurlock
Coeur d’Alene, ID
Sew Wonderful Dreams
Although she didn’t even learn to sew until she was over 30 years old, Connie used her background in marketing and education to develop Sew Wonderful Dreams, a pattern design company. Fifteen years ago the company focused on craft patterns, while today the emphasis is on quilting and education. About her company she says: “We believe the best marketing tool we have is to educate. Everyone can learn but the way we learn is variable. Our classes are designed to help you learn in a way that will be most beneficial to you.”
www.sewwonderfuldreams.com
Kathy Stachowicz
Sanford, FL
Baby Lock Education Consultant
Kathy is a creative needle artist, designer, and author who comes to Baby Lock with an extensive teaching background in sewing machines, sergers, and hand needle arts. She encourages sewing enthusiasts to be creative with fun and easy embellishment techniques. Kathy has received awards for her wearable art, specializing in surface design and fabric manipulation. Kathy co-authored two books full of fun fiber and rich textured techniques, contributed to Sulky of America’s Concepts book series, and was published in Australia’s Machine Embroidery magazine. For 11 years Kathy has shared her knowledge and expertise while working as a freelance educator for Sulky of America and she is thrilled to bring those same skills to the Baby Lock Education team.
www.babylock.com
Carol Steinbrecher
Boulder, CO
Conselle/Style Solutions LLC
Carol has been sewing since she was a little girl and hasn’t stopped since. She learned home décor and window coverings from her grandmother but has stayed with her love of fashion construction and wardrobing. Carol is founder and CEO of Style Solutions, LLC, an image and fashion management services firm. Carol specializes in tailoring, alterations of ready-to-wear, fitting techniques & fashion pattern alterations; wardrobe strategies, personal styling, closet clutter control and image services. Carol’s clients include Oscar award winner, Paula DuPre Pesman. Carol is an affiliate of the Conselle Institute of Image Management, member of AICI, ASDP, BPW and the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. Graduate of UW-Oshkosh-BSN. Carol totally believes chocolate is one of the basic food groups and that at least 25% of every day should be fun!
www.stylesolutionsllc.com
Holice Turnbow
Sturbridge, MA
Holice Turnbow is a Quilt Judge and Teacher certified by the National Quilting Association. His quilting career began in the early 70's when he was asked to teach needlework and quilting for a county recreational program. National exposure followed in 1978 when he served as a consultant to the West Virginia Department of Culture and History to organize a quilt show in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service's issuance of a commemorative stamp recognizing quilting as a folk art. He also served on the planning committee for the First Continental Quilting Congress held in Arlington, Virginia in 1978. These two events resulted in invitations to lecture and teach at quilting events across the United States and in Canada.
Holice Turnbow lectures and conducts workshops in many quilting techniques with emphasis on those subjects related to the development and use of quilting designs. He has written for various quilting magazines and appeared on public television. with Kay Wood's "Strip Quilting with Kaye" and "Quilting for the 90's." He also appeared on 13 segments of "Heirlooms by Design" which was shown in the Alabama area through the CBS cable networks. He has also filmed six shows on QNN representing The Stencil Co.
He is the former co-curator of the "Hoffman Challenge" with Betty Boyink, and has served as a quilt consultant to a number of companies. Holice has also designed and made garments for two invitational exhibits and has designed and made quilted items for various other special exhibits and quilt challenges including the exhibit "Men of Biblical Proportions."
Nelly Vileikis
Aurora, OH
Nelly’s colorful, playful personality encourages students of all levels to reach beyond their normal limits and her goal is for her students to take their newly learned skills into future successes. With an advanced degree in math, a voracious appetite for quilting and a passion for teaching, Nelly is well on her way to becoming a world class quilting artist and teacher. She willingly shares her talent with her students and encourages each to take their knowledge to the next level.
Nelly is an accomplished quilter who has won numerous awards in local as well as national competitions. For over ten years she has taught in several quilt shops, at many Quilt Guilds throughout North Eastern Ohio, Quilting Get-A-Ways and private classes. She is also a designer. Confidence building instruction, mixed with great attention to detail, not to mention a whole lot of fun adds-up to great classroom experience for those who sign up for her classes.
www.artelasquilts.com
Dini Yan
Demarest, NJ
Momo-Dini Embroidery Art
Dini is originally from Beijing, and along with her sister Momo, is a recognized artist in China. Their paintings have won awards in both China and international competitions. As a professor of Fine Arts at the University of China, Dini taught at the Fine Arts Institute of Northeast Normal University. Dini and Momo design and digitize embroidery patterns for their company, Momo-Dini Embroidery Art. Their designs merge the different cultures of the East and West together to give the embroidery new life and energy. Dini and Momo blend the best of art and technology, and their goal is to produce the best designs with the highest standards and quality.
www.momodini.com
Gail Yellen
Glastonbury, CT
Gail Patrice Design
Gail’s original design sweatshirt jacket classes have been a consistent favorite at Manchester Sewing Machine Center in Connecticut where Gail has taught a variety of techniques for the past 7 years. Gail Patrice Design began when a gallery owner in Maine carried these designs as ready-to-wear jackets and sold out the collection each season! Gail has created a pattern line of jackets and is developing a series of DVDs to include her favorite design and embellishment techniques. She is an active member and the Manchester Neighborhood Group leader of the CT Chapter of the American Sewing Guild. Gail holds a BA in English and Dental Hygiene.
www.gailpatrice.com
Hope Yoder
Designs by Hope Yoder, Inc.
Hope Yoder is an author, designer and sewing instructor who specializes in heirloom sewing and loves to incorporate traditional heirloom techniques and machine embroidery into romantic ladies clothes and accessories. She has appeared many times on the popular TV show called Sewing with Martha. She has written two books entitled: "Embellished Heirloom Treasures" and “Victorian Dreams Heirloom Shirt”. Hope has created a new series of machine embroidery CD’s called Heirloom Embellishments which features heirloom techniques that are re-created in the embroidery hoop and has her own line of Fabric Button Cover Machines and designs that are helping many start their own embroidery business. Her work has been featured on the cover of Sew Beautiful, Sew News, Designs in Machine Embroidery and Clotilde’s Sewing Savvy magazine. She also writes for Australian Machine Embroidery, Creative Machine Embroidery and House of White Birches. Hope travels the country teaching hands-on-workshops helping ladies discover how to “Romance Their Wardrobe” using her special techniques. She is also a teacher at Martha Pullen’s School of Art Fashion in Huntsville Alabama.
www.hopeyoder.com