Nov. 6th and 7th with a workshop on the 8th
Our Presenter: Bill Stearman
You can check out Bill's Quilts and his video introduction to his BackPack show on this site: http://billstearmanquilts.blogspot.com/
If there is a quilt he would like to be remembered by it would be:
For the Oppression of LGBTG2 Communities, We Apologize Quilt
Apology to the LGBTQ speech by Prime Minister Justine Trudeau in 2017 --Trudeau was in tears by the end of the speech-- full Trudeau speech video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi23IL3b6cs
-- was a very moving moment for Bill-- The apology was important milestone for his community
-He built the quilt using text examples from experiences of the LGBTQ population
-This quilt will find its home in Winnipeg in the Museum of Human Rights https://humanrights.ca/
Bill calls himself a "Quilt maker". This is a key term as he makes tops, designs tops but does not quilt the layers
-Bill's Quilter is Deanna Gaudaur Her webpage (shared with her husband who is a photographer) is: https://quintestudios.com/
REFERENCES FROM BILL STEARMAN PRESENTATION: a) Men and Quilting
1. Quilt Guy Retreat: Chester, Vermont
The Quilt Guy Retreat started back in August 2008, in Woodstock, NY, with seven men attending from the New England states and Canada. Nine years and 17 retreats later, the attendance is now at 22. The attendees come from as far west as California, Oregon and Washington State and from as far east as England. The author (Paul Leger), a Canadian, is the only one who has attended all retreats. Nothing stops us Canadian quilters from attending a retreat!
--by Paul Leger
Hard to find info from quilt Guy retreat but Paul Leger is one of the organizers so here is info on next retreat: March 17 - 22, 2020
Organizing/Attending 23rd Quilt Guy Quilt Retreat
Chester, Vermont
For more information send email to: PaulLegerQuilts@gmail.com
-articles on the quilt guy retreats:
-interview with Paul Leger on the Quilt Guy retreat history: https://www.pbs.org/video/nancys-corner-paul-leger-all-guy-quilt-retreats-gerrdb/
2. Men and the Art of Quiltmaking
- book by : Joe Cunningham has made a living making quilts for 30 years. Author and co-author of numerous books on quilts, quilt history, and quiltmaking, he teaches nationally and curates special quilt exhibits. His alter ego, Joe the Quilter, stars in a one-man musical that explores how quiltmaking was a masculine domain not so very long ago.
3. Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum
"The mission of The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and educate the public about quilts; honor quiltmaking traditions; and embrace the evolution of the art and craft of quilting."
Address: 200 Violet Street, Unit 140, Golden, CO 80401
The Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum hosts a biennial Exhibit of Quilts made by Men:
Golden museum’s “Quilts Made by Men” show evolves beyond gender bias-- Article:
Upcoming Exhibits
The Boys are Back in Town: RMQM's Biennial Exhibit of Quilts Made by Men & David Taylor's One Man Show
January 20, 2020 to April 25, 2020
Exhibit Opening Reception: Friday, January 24th, 6:00pm
4. Paul Léger-- quilt maker
-originally from Moncton, NB
-worked for the federal government for 16 years after spending 21 years in the Canadian Armed Forces. " I retired on September 1, 2016. My journey in quilting in May 1990
...cut up the good parts of some old air force uniform shirts--cut up more old shirts in an isosceles trapezoid shape, using SURGICAL SCISSORS..." This just hints at a great story about Paul's start in quilting. To Read more about Paul-- http://www.paullegerquilts.com/about-paul.html
B) More Quilters and Designers
5. Jenny Doan Quilter
Description- Jenny Doan is a prominent quilter and the face of Missouri Star Quilt Company. She is a woman who turned her hobby into a multimillion-dollar business. Doan has been called "The most famous quilter in the world" due to her over 350 YouTube tutorials that have been viewed more than 110 million times. Here is her youtube channel -- lots of tutorials for anyone of any quilting level to use. had more than 174,000,000 views as of Nov. 10th
6. Jenny Bowker Australian
"working in Textiles since 1997 - from the time I finished a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Visual) and decided to make just one quilt.
My background - life before quilts - was in science. I am moving towards a melding of my fine art work and my textile work. I am interested in the way pattern comes into many parts of our lives and often include some geometrical piecing in my work as I think it keeps me technically on my toes and provides a key for traditional quilters to link to my work.
I have four children and a very supportive husband who worked as a diplomat for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. While following him I lived a total of fifteen years in Arab and Islamic countries. This might seem irrelevant to quilting, but has influenced my subject matter and much of my work reflects my love of the Middle East. I have lived in Syria, Western Samoa, Malaysia, Jordan, Jerusalem and Egypt."
Interview with Jenny Bowker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=relM4E-P_F8
Check out Jenny's amazing quilt: After the Last Sky www.jennybowker.com/postcards/2018/6/18/after-the-last-sky.html
Book: The Magic of Quiltmaking: A Beginners Guide Paperback – July 1, 2004 by Margaret Rolfe and Jenny Bowker
7. Victoria Findlay Wolfe's Fabrics
"Me? I had fine art training and am a painter at heart who has sculpted, still does photography and basically isn't happy unless I am making something. I've always known I'd become some kind of artist but to my surprise QUILTS became my greatest passion...
I grew up in Minnesota. My father is a farmer with an upholstery business and my mother sews and is generally a creative person. Her mother, my grandmother, was an avid QUILT maker and her QUILTS have inspired me all my life. To be a little girl buried under her warm quilts during the Minnesota winters was wonderfully comforting. As I grew I was transported into the world of color by the color in her crazy QUILTS and as I got older I used my sewing abilities in my art, which was frowned upon at the College of Visuals Arts in St. Paul for being "too crafty"."
Victoria has a blog: https://vfwquilts.com/blogs/vfw
She has published books:
Modern Quilt Magic: 5 Parlor Tricks to Expand Your Piecing Skills - 17 Captivating Projects
15 minutes of Play -- Improvisational Quilts: Made-Fabric Piecing - Traditional Blocks - Scrap Challenge
Victoria Findlay Wolfe’s Playing with Purpose: A Quilt Retrospective
Double Wedding Ring Quilts - Traditions Made Modern: Full-Circle Sketches from Life
Modern Baby: Easy, Fresh, and Fun Quilt Designs
8. Kelly Panacci
Kelly is an artist and designer https://www.kellypanacci.com/
- illustrator whose classic signature style is recognized for it’s beautiful imagery entwined with layers of color and texture
Kelly has a blog: https://www.kellypanacci.com/blogs/news
To partner with Riley Blake Designs - an innovative fabric manufacturer
9. Kathy Doughty: https://www.materialobsession.com.au/
Kathy Doughty began making quilts over 20 years ago after a move to Australia. She opened a patchwork shop in 2003, and eventually developed the popular Material Obsession shop with her husband/site photographer, John. Kathy lives in Sydney, Australia, with her family.
Bill spoke to issue that colour in fabric is influenced by nation and environment and quilts made from his travels and memories of Australia needed to have colours that are reflective of the nations environment.
Recent Book: Organic Appliqué: Creative Hand-Stitching Ideas and Techniques Paperback – Apr 7 2019
by Kathy Doughty
Material Obsession
Book by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke, 2008
Material Obsession: Modern Quilts with Traditional Roots, Book by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke, 2009
Making Quilts with Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession: 21 Authentic ...
Book by Kathy Doughty, 2013
Adding Layers—Color, Design & Imagination: 15 Original Quilt Projects from Book by Kathy Doughty, 2014
Ikat Diamonds Quilt Pattern: Finished Quilt: 65 Inch X 70 Inch ‑ Simple Diamond ...
Book by Kathy Doughty, 2015
Mixing Quilt Elements: A Modern Look at Color, Style & Design
Book by Kathy Doughty, 2016
10. Joyce O’Connell is a national and international award winning quilt artist who has a broad knowledge of both traditional and innovative quilting designs and techniques. She has been juried into many competitions and shows, and her work has been exhibited in Canada, the United States and England. She had a solo exhibition of her work “Bargello Inspirations” at the Waterloo Quilt Gallery in St. Jacobs, Ontario, where she exhibited many of her original bargello designs.
c) Special Exhibits
11. The Sacred Threads
About Sacred Threads
In 1999 a small group of women gathered together with a vision of a "new" type of quilt exhibit. At that time topics such as spirituality and inspiration were not always understood or welcomed at traditional quilt shows, and all-medium liturgical art exhibits generally featured few if any quilts. There was no "safe" or welcoming venue for quilters who saw their works as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their own spiritual journey. Often the meaning behind these works was missed or misunderstood because the artist did not have the opportunity to share their sources of inspiration with the viewer.
Founder Vikki Pignatelli and the other committee members wanted to create a dignified exhibit of artwork that would touch all those who viewed it on both spiritual and personal levels. We wanted to share the experiences of quilters whose stories would be a source of healing and strength for others by allowing the artist to submit a statement which would be exhibited with the artwork that described the meaning or inspiration for the piece.
In a hectic era when people are searching for meaning and spirituality in their busy lives, we felt this concept would be accepted and welcomed. Our hopes have been fully realized and each of the Sacred Threads Exhibits (in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017) has been well received. The show does not emphasize any particular religion or theology but conveys the spirituality, healing and inspirational messages that transcend all people.
For the exhibit, quilts are divided into categories based on theme. These are Expressions of Joy, Spirituality, Inspiration, Grief, Healing and Peace/Brotherhood. The artwork themes provide thought-provoking insights, encouragement, inspiration and healing responses to grief and human hardships. It has attracted a wide array of visitors and has proved appropriate for all ages from young teens to seniors. The exhibit is a positive influence on the human spirit, giving joy as well as addressing concerns of the soul and mind.
12. MQX- Machine Quilt Festival
founders: Janet-Lee Santeusanio and Mary Schilke
List of teachers for MQX 2020 are found here: https://www.mqxshow.com/Classes/2020Faculty/
-Quilting has become my passion. I have made over 200 more quilts since then, and have never looked back