Quilt Artist & Teacher
Teaching
Look here often to find out when and where Helen will be putting on events. Come and watch her lectures and demonstrations, or get some hands-on learning by joining a workshop.
If interested, please send an email to qtwduluth@gmail.com
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Lectures, Demos, & Workshops
Lecture/Trunk Show:
A Quiltmaker's Journey - 1979 to present
$350 + Expenses
In this one-hour PowerPoint lecture/trunk show, I share photos and stories about the 45+ quilts I have made since I started quilting in 1979. I will also bring many of these quilts to the lecture so participants can get a closer look.
Lecture/Trunk Show:
Personalizing Your Quilts with Embellishments
$350 + Expenses
After quiltmaking for a few years, I started experimenting with embellishments to add more of a personal touch to my quilts. In this one-hour PowerPoint lecture/trunk show, I will share over 20 quilts with embellishments added to make them even more special and to help tell their "story." I bring many of these quilts with me, so participants can see them up close and personally.
Quiltmaking for Beginners: Log Cabin
$675 (6 hrs.) + Expenses
In my opinion, every quilter should make a Log Cabin quilt! It is an old, traditional pattern with a rich history and several layout options. In this six-hour workshop, you'll learn all of the basics of quiltmaking, including: choosing fabrics, precise cutting, proper pressing, stitching a 1/4" seam, layout options, the assembly of blocks into rows, adding borders, stitch-in-the-ditch machine quilting, creating and adding binding, and the importance of a quilt label. This is a fun, busy workshop that can be presented as a full 6-hour class or split into two 3-hour sessions. Learn the basics with an experienced, enthusiastic teacher who loves teaching beginners!
Quiltmaking for Beginners: String Quilt
$425 (3 hrs.) + Expenses
String Quilts are a traditional scrap-busting technique in which fabric strips are sewn together using a “sew-and-flip” method. Originating in the 1880s, this practical style became especially popular during periods of economic hardship, particularly the Great Depression, when sewists transformed leftover fabrics into functional and beautiful quilts instead of discarding them. String quilts are fun to make, can be made in any size, and are a great way to use up your stash!
Quiltmaking for Beginners: Rail Fence
$675 (6 hrs.) + Expenses
The Rail Fence is an excellent quilt block for beginning quiltmakers. In this six-hour workshop, I will teach you all of the basics of quiltmaking as we construct a small quilt (approximately 30" x 30"). It's the perfect size for a baby quilt or a small lap quilt. Topics covered include: choosing fabrics, precise cutting, proper pressing, stitching a 1/4" seam, layout options, the assembly of blocks into rows, adding borders, stitch-in-the-ditch machine quilting, and creating and adding binding and a quilt label. This is a fun, busy workshop that can be presented as a full 6-hour class or split into two 3-hour sessions. Learn the basics with an experienced teacher who loves teaching beginners!
Quiltmaking for Beginners:
Paper-piecing
$425 ( 3 hrs.) + Expenses
Foundation Paper-piecing is a quilting technique that incorporates a paper pattern or template into the piecing of a block or section of a quilt design. In this three-hour workshop, you'll learn that the beauty of paper-piecing is accuracy. All you do is sew on the line as you create a beautiful quilt design. Complex quilt designs become easier to construct. You'll have perfect points! Later, tear the paper off. We will experiment with a few different patterns during class. (This Star block is a free pattern from the Bernina website.) After creating a couple of simple patterns, you'll be on your way to making lots of detailed designs using the paper-piecing technique.
Disappearing Nine-Patch Meets
Flying Geese!
$425 (3 hrs.) + Expenses
The Nine-patch is an excellent block for beginners, but we can make it much more interesting by cutting it up and changing it! In this three-hour workshop, you'll learn how to take two Nine-patch blocks, cut them up, and turn them into Flying Geese. We will also experiment with a few different pattern layouts during class. This block design is a great way to use up scraps and can be made in a variety of sizes ... from a table runner to a full-size quilt. A fun, creative project!