- See our Programs and Workshops pages for complete lists of what we have planned and what we’ve been up to!
- Unless otherwise noted, all speakers and workshops will be virtual, on ZOOM.
- For information on joining the guild see our Membership page. To attend a meeting as a guest see our Programs page.
- For general information about our monthly meetings, please see our Meetings page.
- Find Us On: Facebook Public Page – Facebook Private Page (members-only)
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 9th, 2024
Recent Posts
Oct 9, 2024 (Wed) Program: Lisa Walton “Leap & the Net Will Appear”
In this one hour presentation, Lisa will take you on her creative journey and you will see how her work has developed over the years and the milestones and ‘leaps’ she has taken.
Bio: Lisa Walton from Sydney, Australia has been awarded many prizes for her quilts including major International and Australian Quilt shows. Lisa teaches Internationally and was awarded the Jewel Pearce Patterson Scholarship for Quilting Teachers by the International Quilt Association Houston, USA. Lisa’s quilts have been exhibited in solo and joint exhibitions and her work is included in collections in the USA, Australia and the UK. Her book, Beautiful Building Block Quilts, was published by C&T Publishing. She has appeared on Quilting Arts TV and The Quilt Show.
Lisa was a Board Member and then President of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA).
She is now teaching & lecturing virtually online as well as producing a series of Quilt Stories on her YouTube Channel. Her details are:
Website – lisawaltonartist.com
Facebook – facebook.com/lisawaltonart
YouTube – youtube.com/lisawaltonartist
Instagram – Instagram.com/lisawaltonartist
Oct 19, 2024 (Sat) Workshop: Linda Sullivan “All Stacked Up”
Precision Piecing with All Stacked Up
Instructor: Linda Sullivan (Colourwerx)
Full Day: 9:00am to 3:30pm PDT including a 30 minute lunch break
Cost: $65 members; $75 non-members (price includes $17US pattern)
Fine tune your precision piecing skills and learn tips and tricks for fast and accurate half square triangles while making this fun and easy to piece quilt. Clever positioning of your blocks make this quilt look complicated but it is so easy to piece and goes together in a breeze! Choose one of the three sizes to get started on in this fun and relaxing workshop! Baby 48” x 48”; Small Lap 57” x 65”; Large Lap 64” x 72”
Nov 13, 2024 (Wed) Program: Elaine Quehl “A Design Journey”
Bio: Elaine Quehl is a Canadian quilt artist, teacher, and fabric dyer/designer who is best known for her dramatic and colourful nature-themed art quilts featuring luscious foliage (particularly hosta leaves), flowers and trees. All fabric used in her artwork is hand-dyed by the artist to provide the wide range of values she employs to create depth, drama, and contrast, and to read like nature’s dappled light. Each art quilt is also abundantly textured with free-motion stitching.
A Design Journey:
A design primer that is packed with information, tips, and images about good composition. Elaine shares examples of her earlier work, along with ideas on how they might be improved. The presentation starts with basic principles that you can use right away to give your work more impact and then moves into more complex principles that you can introduce as you grow in your art practice. http://elainequehl.com/index.html
Dec 11, 2024 (Wed): Holiday Program
Our regular virtual meeting with some special show & tell, zoom-friendly games, breakout rooms and prizes. More details closer to the date.
Jan 8, 2025 (Wed) Program: Rachel Derstine “Keep it Simple, But Pack a Punch”
“A PowerPoint lecture presentation demonstrating the idea that quilts do not need to be complex to be compelling. I share my thoughts on how to choose great fabrics and simple designs to create amazing quilts. I show some work from artists who have inspired me and also speak about how my background has informed my work.”
Bio: “I know this is not what you are expecting but I have two degrees in piano. I’ve taught piano, from beginner to college level, for 42 years. I have loved teaching piano although the quilting has almost taken over my life. I also have loved sewing from the time I was around 11.
Fast forward to when my children left home and I found myself wanting to quilt and sew all day right up until my students walked in the door. In 2011 I got the nerve up to submit a quilt to the Pennsylvania National Quilt Competition and I’ve never looked back. I won Judges Choice, then went on to win many more awards at New Jersey, Albuquerque, Paducah, and more. I have also sold my quilts, table runners and bags at fine art and craft shows across the country. I have won awards at those venues, as well. My work hangs in corporate venues such as Epic Corporation in Madison Wisconsin and at Milton Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.”
Rachel Derstine About
Feb 12, 2025 (Wed) Program: Jennifer Houlden “Creating Contrast in Your Quilts”
Using contrast in the form of fabrics with different textures, patterns and value is one of the first steps to creating contrast in quilts and textile art. Adding embellishments such as thread play, couching, beading, painting, and other mixed media can also create contrast by adding dimension and texture within the piece. Most importantly a design or concept is needed to expand on. Using some or all of these different techniques – the ideas will be never ending. Join Jen as she explores the world of contrast and learn a few tips, tricks and techniques that you can incorporate into your quilt making and art to boost the contrast in your work.
Bio: “Growing up in Saskatchewan, I always had my hands on one type of craft or another. Despite my mother being a skilled seamstress, I was never going to sew. However, never say never as fate had other plans for my creative journey. It wasn’t until I found myself in the Canadian Arctic working as a flight nurse that I stumbled upon the wonderful world of quilting and was hooked. Little did I know that this newfound passion would accompany me across continents. In the remote expanses of the Australian Outback, my sewing machine hummed, I stepped into the world of designing and soaked up all kinds of inspiration from my unique surroundings. Returning to Canada, I developed my label, “Quilts by Jen”. I am a designer, teacher, speaker, pattern writer, blogger and magazine contributor. I draw inspiration from the world around me, infusing my quilts with color, texture, and movement. My art combines traditional and non-traditional techniques, utilizing various textiles and embellishments.
From my off-grid studio in the Canadian Shield, I teach and share my passion for quilting surrounded by the beauty that inspires me. My classes are not just lessons; they are immersive journeys into the heart of quilting, where art meets technique, and passion meets joy. You can find out more about my quilting adventures at quiltsbyjen.ca.”
March 1, 2025 (Sat) Workshop: Jen Houlden “Improv Design”
Unleash Your Creative Quilter
Instructor: Jennifer Houlden (https://quiltsbyjen.ca/)
Full Day: 9:00am to 3:30pm with a 30-45 minute lunch break
Early Bird Special $40 until Oct 31, $50 after
Welcome to a day of quilting freedom with Jen! Get ready for a creative adventure where there are no rules or limits – just you, a variety of fabrics, and the exciting world of quilting improv.
Start the day by selecting pieces of fabric that speak to you. Jen will guide you in creating a captivating foundation for your art quilt. Learn how to arrange and piece together fabrics to form the perfect canvas for your creativity.
As the day progresses, Jen will introduce you to a myriad of embellishing and creative techniques. Dive into the world of thread play using water-soluble stabilizers, unlocking a new dimension to your quilting. Explore the fun and magic of texture with techniques that will add depth to your quilt. Appliqué and couching are just a couple of the skills you’ll acquire, expanding your quilter’s toolbox.
As the workshop comes to an end, you’ll be amazed at how your small pieces of fabric have transformed into a unique art quilt.
Whether you’re a quilting newbie or a seasoned pro, Jen’s workshop is designed to be your playground – a space for experimentation, learning, and pure joy in the art of quilting. So, grab your fabric, embrace the freedom, and let the improv design begin!
March 12, 2025 (Wed) Program: Rose Parr “Sew Smart – The Ergonomics of Healthy Quilting”
Learn how to stay pain-free from an expert in sewing ergonomics and health and wellness.
Quilting can be a real pain in the neck, so can cutting, pressing, and handiwork! How high should your cutting table be? How about your ironing board, your sewing chair, or your sewing table? Be ready to learn about: the ergonomics of sewing, pressing, cutting, and handiwork. Her stretches are designed for quilters’ trouble spots including text/quilters neck, tight shoulders, lower backache, carpal tunnel syndrome prevention, and they can all be done right in your sewing room. Plus lots of other tips so we can sew smart to sew long!
Apr 9, 2025 (Wed) Program: Andi Stanfield “Quilting a Little Bit Different”
Bio: Andi Stanfield began quilting when her mother opened a fabric shop. She quickly fell in love with the entire process and took over half the house – installing a long-arm in the loft and converting the spare bedroom to a sewing room. True Blue Quilts launched as an online pattern shop shortly after Andi and her mom published their first book, Monochromatic Quilts: Amazing Variety. Andi loves teaching and shares tutorials for her latest creations on YouTube.
Lecture Description: Andi shares her adventures in Quilting A Little Bit Different, focusing on her exploration of monochromatic quilts and half-rectangle triangles. She describes her interpretation of modern quilt design elements and the inspiration she found in a simple guild block swap event. This lecture is filled with lots of show-and-tell as Andi shares her 20-year journey as a quiltmaker. https://truebluequilts.com/
2024 Retreat Report
The guild holds an annual retreat. Because of COVID, two retreats were held in 2024. In 2025 we will return to one annual retreat. The retreat is organized by a member and membership in the guild is required for attendance.
The retreats are held in the spring at a local camp – in 2024 the retreats were at Charis Camp in Chilliwack. The 2025 retreat will be in April at Camp Luther in Mission. At the retreat members work on their own projects and share quilting ideas and tips with each other. The retreat is four days and three nights of fun where we quilt, shop, share meals, take walks, and generally have a good time with fellow quilters.