Lectures & Workshops
Lectures
First delivered at QuiltCon 2024
This lecture will focus on the intersection of the Art and Quilt worlds, and what quilters, who want to grow and explore what it means to be considered Artists, need to think about.
While motivations for taking the title of 'Artist' depend completely on the individual, there are ways in which makers can gain confidence in calling themselves an Artist. Focusing on three key areas of Craftsmanship, Critique, and Courage, this lecture will discuss ways to nurture an artistic practice.
By challenging and encouraging quilters to start thinking of themselves as Artists, and giving concrete ideas for fostering that identity, quilters can experience the joy that comes with the title of Artist.
Commissioned by the Houston MQG 2025
Other than being a rather confusing quilt category at QuiltCon, Negative Space is one of the trickier Elements of Art to succinctly define. In this lecture, we’ll dig deeper into how to define and identify Negative Space, as well as understand how it interacts with the other Elements of Art in a design. We will look at examples of Negative Space in both the design and art world, as well as in the Modern Quilt sphere, to help gain confidence in being able to identify and articulate its unique properties in influencing design. Understanding what is and what isn’t Negative Space will allow you to gain confidence in using this powerful Element of Art in your own quilt designs. Finally, we’ll explore ways of incorporating this Element into your own quilts, strategies for becoming more comfortable in utilizing Negative Space, and tips for keeping a critical and objective eye as you evaluate your success in using this often misunderstood Element of Art!
I love teaching. Being able to connect with people, share my excitement and love of quilting, and encourage quilters to explore who they are as artists, is something that is just so invigorating!
Below, are my lectures and workshops that I offer.
Lectures are available as either live Zoom sessions, or in person sessions, depending on your guild or group’s preference.
If any of these strike your interest, reach out to me! I’d love to connect with you and discuss possibilities!
First delivered at QuiltCon 2025
This lecture is an exploration of the elements of art, and the principles of design, specifically in how they relate to modern quilting. Participants will be able to identify the elements of art and how they are used in the principles of design in modern quilt examples pulled from Contemporary quilters.
This lecture is intended to elevate quilter’s vocabularies as they work towards thinking of themselves as artists, and by utilizing the elements and principles, participants will be able to identify these elements in their own work which will allow them think critically about their work, creating work that can be refined and further developed.
First delivered at QuiltCon 2026
As artists, what we make often comes from a very personal perspective, which can lead to challenges in our artistic development.
In order to continue to improve our abilities to communicate through our art, we have to be able to evaluate our work and discuss its strengths and weaknesses with objective eyes.
Often, we need outside eyes to help us see our work that we’re too close to because of our investment of time and energy.
This lecture will discuss why critique is an important tool for the artist and explore how critiquing our own and others work can lead to productive conversations about improving the work we are making. Instead of focusing on likes and dislikes, we will work to understand the process and outcome of good critique, and the shared vocabulary we need to know to have these conversations.
In addition to the discussion, we will walk through a real world critique as a model to understand how to have better, more useful, and kinder critique.
First delivered at QuiltCon 2025
An exploration of influences in quilting that should be welcomed, explored further & incorporated more broadly into the modern quilting movement. Ideas including incorporating reused materials, non traditional fabrics, narrative quilts, activist quilts, and incorporating different mediums (ie. paint, print making, and other non-traditional quilt materials) will be explored.
This Discussion is important if Modern Quilting wants to remain relevant as a quilting movement in the quilt world and expand its influence in the art world.
Discussion explores influences, techniques and quilters who are working in these categories - looking at quilts that challenge what modern quilting is.
Participants will be encouraged to experiment with these different techniques in their own work, and seek out ways to explore and expand their own definitions of quilting in general, and the Modern Quilt movement in particular.
First delivered at QuiltCon 2024
As people who create quilts in the visual world, writing about our work can be very challenging. Often, we've spent years honing our skills in communicating with fabric but putting that meaning into words is not always as developed. But there are ways to overcome this challenge!
This lecture will be a discussion of the purpose of artist statements, their ability to inform viewers on the work being presented, and why a good artist statement can make the difference in the understanding of a work of art.
Discussion will include what should be included in a thorough statement, what to avoid, and how to utilize an artist statement to connect with a wide audience. At the end of the day, if we're able to better connect with our audience, then our work has succeeded!
First delivered at QuiltCon 2026
Quilters on their creative journey occasionally hit a wall in developing work that is unique to them. While other professionals might call it ‘writer’s block’ or ‘creative paralysis’ the idea is the same - for some reason ideas seem to dry up or progress on a quilt stops, and it can be a challenge to know how to move forward in creating quilts that are works of art.
In this lecture we’ll explore ways to avoid such creative blocks in our quilting through developing regular practices that center around curiosity, sketching and understanding artistic design.
Not only have these three skills have helped generations of artists, but they are present in the lives of artists who are great models for our own artistic practice.
By exploring and developing our own artistic practices centered on these 3 skills, we can find ways to avoid times where our creativity seems to dry up, and continue to elevate our art making through consistent practice.
Featured:
Presented to:
Inland Empire MQG
Central Washington MQG
Grand Rapids Modern Quilt Guild
Houston Modern Quilt Guild
Portland MQG
Charlotte MQG
Inland Empire MQG Central Washington MQG Grand Rapids Modern Quilt Guild Houston Modern Quilt Guild Portland MQG Charlotte MQG
Workshops & Tours
First presented at QuiltCon 2026
Have you wanted to discuss and evaluate your quilts from an artistic perspective? Do you want to understand how to discover what makes your quilts successful or not as strong? Do you want your quilts to better tell the stories you are trying to tell? Then this workshop is for you!
Critique is an incredibly powerful tool for artists, but it can be intimidating to take on. In a safe, kind, and encouraging class setting, we will discover what makes critique successful, the proper way to approach a critique situation, and how to apply critique to future artworks.
Students will learn the steps of a successful critique and participate in a practice critique session. After practicing critique on a neutral work, students will then share one of their own finished quilts for small group critique.
Students will come away with tools and techniques for formal critique as well as the experience of learning about how to see and evaluate a work of art.
Behind the Scenes: Modern Design Tour - First Led at QuiltCon 2026
Every artist and aficionado needs real world practice understanding design. This interactive walk through the 2026 QuiltCon show will be focused on helping participants not only identify the Elements of Art and Principles of Design in selected quilts of the show, but also practice how to talk about the quilts to better articulate design concepts. Participants will engage with the quilts in a safe environment, and will be encouraged to challenge themselves in how they talk about quilts in the show!
After this time, participants will come away with the ability to discuss quilt design, identify what makes a quilt design unique and impactful, and hopefully apply these skills to their own work to elevate their own design skills.