QA Teachers L - Z
Get to know our amazing Quilter's Affair teachers!
Allie McCathren is an artist with a background in marine biology. She lives in Houston, TX with her three sons. Her love of science and nature tends to find its way into her work, whether she intends it or not. Allie works primarily with fabric and thread, but is also a painter, working with acrylics and watercolors. She uses fabric as if it were paint, working with color arrangement and texture to create her art quilts. Allie is a modern quilter who uses a lot of improv techniques in her work. She teaches online classes on various techniques, including her Seaglass Quilting method.
Michele Muska has been hand stitching from a very young age and has appeared on various television shows to share the crafts she loves. She has worked as a professional in the craft industry for over 20 years and is currently the Director of Content and Community for Oliso irons.
Michele is a quilt book author and has been a columnist for several creative and business magazines. Her work has also been featured in many craft, quilting and knitting publications as well as a pie book!
Besides being a hand stitcher, she is also a quilter, teacher and avid gardener. Leslie and Michele have a weekly live chat on IG where they share their and others creative journeys.
Casey’s work stems from her love of the outdoors that began as a child growing up in a little house in the big woods on the edge of Napa. Through catching salamanders in the creek, climbing trees, and picking berries, she became a keen observer of the natural world. As an artist, Casey combines her background in forest ecology with her desire share the beauty of nature with others. As a lifelong knitter and sewist, she became interested in natural dyes as a way to connect her love of nature with her creative work. This interest and knowledge of plant-based dyes grew to incorporate botanical printing, natural dyeing and other nature-based arts. Her work is centered around Oregon flora and she draws inspiration through living and working at Cedar Dell Forest Farm, an educational property just outside of Portland, Oregon. There, in
addition to creating art and teaching natural dye workshops, she curates environmental education programs for children, grows more dye plants than food, and tends to a small flock of Shetland sheep.
Mary has thoroughly enjoyed fiber arts as long as she can remember. Learning to sew garments as a teenager was both a necessity and an opportunity to explore the design process. Her mother taught her to knit as a very young child and there were some pretty “suspect” sweaters knit as a youth! Now she can never get enough of knitting. Embroidery, cross-stitch and crewel work were always in the mix. Quilting came later when kids wanted their own special “blankies”.
It wasn’t until retirement that Mary came back to hand-stitching. What thrills her about Sashiko and other humble stitching techniques is the beauty and utility of the work. The possibilities for how simple stitches can be used as art or in useful items is endless and Mary finds joy in dreaming up new ways to apply these art forms.
Tonye Belinda Phillips is a fiber artist/quilter living and creating in Camp Sherman, Oregon. Her work covers several different styles from whimsical folk art to abstract. Bright, saturated colors are a key ingredient in her work, along with the use of multiple different fibers for added texture. She is the author of the book Hand Appliquéd Quilts -Beautiful Designs & Simple Techniques. Tonye’s true love is hand stitching of any kind.
Giuseppe Ribaudo (Giucy Giuce) grew up in Long Island, NY. His Sicilian-American family lived on the bottom floor of his grandparents’ house. His grandmother is a talented seamstress who taught him to sew at an early age. It wasn’t until college that he discovered quilting. After a decade of traveling, he moved back to New York to pursue a career in textiles. He was offered a marketing position at Andover Fabrics and was soon promoted to multimedia manager. In 2018, he turned his focus to fabric design and released his first collection, Quantum. His tenth collection, Nonna, is an homage to his grandmother and her home where he learned to sew. Recently he relocated to Portland, Maine where he continues to design fabric and patterns, and teach quilting classes.
Irene’s quilting activities are a mixture of discovery and elation. She has been an artist for most of her life and began quilting in 2016 when she retired. She loves making “functional” art. She considers her quilts paintings using fabric as the medium.
Currently, she works from home teaching Zoom workshops and presenting Zoom lectures/trunk shows, as well as travelling all over the world teaching in-person workshops. Irene’s is the author of "Dancing with the Wall" and her work is exhibited throughout the United States and is included in private museum collections. A recipient of many awards, she is a juror for Quilt National 2023, and one of two jurors for Schweinfurth Arts Center 2023.
Jenny and Helen are sisters that have many shared passions which include buying shoes, making good food, loving licorice flavored treats, raising and loving 11 children between them, and making beautiful quilts! We grew up watching our mom, grandma and granny always creating something beautiful and we are continuing that passion with Sew Kind of Wonderful! We have been sewing curves since 2010 and we are still going strong with over 100 patterns!
We love combining curved piecing with straight line piecing to give variety and beauty to every project. We always use an easy piecing technique that makes sewing with the bias quick and easy, and the square-up step ensures blocks are consistent for piecing at the next step.
One Ruler-Multiple Patterns -Endless Possibilities
Sujata Shah’s work is inspired by the imperfections and irregularities of handmade crafts from India and around the world. While incorporating them as design elements, she explores abstract interpretations of traditional quilt blocks in design and compositions. Her instinctive ability to work with colors and textures, combined with education in graphic design, has helped her develop a unique style as a designer. Her quilts originate from emotions, memories of events or places she travels to. She finds hand stitching therapeutic and nourishing to the soul, ultimately helping her document personal stories of time spent with family and friends.
Brooke is the designer and maker behind Eudaimonia Studio, which she founded to join her passions for philosophy and modern quilting.
Each design she sketches is inspired by her search to answer the ancient question of what it means to live well and make the most of life. Brooke crafts simple, meaningful designs that are imbued with centuries of wisdom for purpose and human flourishing.
Brooke lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with her partner, Pat, and spunky dog, Ace, where they enjoy all the outdoor activities the mountains have to offer. Having studied Economics, Philosophy and Social Enterprise, Brooke aspires to make an impact through art that focuses on common humanity, mindfulness and well-being.
Kelly is a leadership and personal coach who works with high achievers who are feeling that “there’s got to be something else.” They may have checked all the boxes but want to experience a fulfilled, meaningful, and more creative life. She works with individuals and organizations, runs international retreats with Valori Wells, and co-hosts online groups to enhance wellbeing and creativity.
Sheila Sinclair Snyder of License to Quilt is well-known and loved throughout the Pacific Northwest. She is an author, speaker, designer and talented teacher of a variety of quilting arts. Most popular among her classes recently is Barn Quilt Painting, a project that can be completed in class.
Southern Africa had a considerable influence on my life and creativity. I was born in Zambia and educated in South Africa, where I also trained to be a nurse. I soon moved to England. This shift between two very different environments and cultures has inspired many of my designs. The stark contrasts between the arid beige and browns of the African bushveld and the lush greens of the rolling hills of Southern England have continued to be a rich source of ideas. I am influenced especially by the energy and color of traditional African designs. All of these early experiences combined to stir my love of “primitive” arts and crafts and grew into my focus on contemporary folk-art. Throughout my early life, the United States beckoned and in 1989 that dream was fulfilled when I moved to Connecticut and subsequently to Tennessee, Utah and finally settling in Ohio. Each new State presented sharp contrasts and stirred new ideas. With each move I met many new and wonderful quilt enthusiasts and through them added abundantly
to my knowledge and creativity. Quilt makers are special people and I thank them for their
warmth and companionship.
A quilter since 1986, Karen’s inspiration manifests equally of innovation and tradition. Her quilts have won numerous awards, including first prizes in international competitions, and her designs appear frequently in exhibition. Her Clam Session quilt received the Master of Innovative Artistry award at IQF in 2009, and her Indian Orange Peel Quilt was People’s Choice at Quilt National ’95, and is now part of the QN collection at the International Quilt Museum. Her Sacred quilt was Best of Show in Dallas in 2020. Her pieces have juried into Quilts=Art=Quilts 2022, and won awards in QuiltCon 2022 & 2023. Her Las Almas Rotas won a judges award at Quilt National ’23, and she judged for the Houston International Quilt Festival in 2023. Having enjoyed success in design, publication and teaching, she continues to teach,and reinvent herself in new work. Karen holds degrees in Piano from Baylor and Indiana Universities, has two beautiful daughters, three exemplary cats, and rides her bike from historic Deep Ellum in Dallas, TX.
Lawry made her first quilt–Storm at Sea–after moving to Sisters and discovering this “cute little quilt shop” in Sisters Hotel (now the bar of Sisters Saloon). This led to filling in at Stitchin’ Post, then teaching quilting classes, and now teaching mystery and beginning quilt classes as well. Traditional style and teaching basic techniques are her forté. At the Stitchin’ Post, Lawry does all of the registration for Quilter’s Affair.
Laura Wasilowski is a textile artist creating free-form hand embroideries and improvised art quilts. Working with her hand-dyed fabrics and threads, her pictorial artwork is narrative in nature and whimsical in style expressing her joy and love of making art. Laura’s art is collected and exhibited internationally and has appeared in multiple publications since her career began in 1992. She is also the author of 5 books on creating textile art and an online instructor with Creative Spark. Living in Elgin, Illinois, she tends her garden, cares for her family, and creates small ceramic sculptures when not stitching her colorful fabrics.
Recurring themes in my textile art have to do with natural configurations: rocks, trees, grasses, flowers, and the land. I am fascinated with line, pattern, shape, color, and texture, and how to design with these elements capturing the essence of what I see and feel. My favorite quotation is from Emerson, "Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."
As co-owner of Stitchin’ Post with my daughter Valori in Sisters, Oregon for 49 years, I have been involved in the quilting industry as an author, workshop/lecture presenter, and founder of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.
I received the Business of the Year and Citizen of the Year award in Sisters, and was the first independent retailer to be inducted into Primedia’s Independent Retailer Hall of Fame. In 2010 I was inducted into the Quilter's Hall of Fame in Marion, Indiana. I received the Michael Kile Award of Achievement honoring commitment to creativity and excellence in the quilting industry. The Stitchin’ Post was one of the first stores to be included in the American Patchwork and Quilting top ten quilt shop issue. I am the author of 30 books, the most current ones being “Intuitive Color and Design,” 2nd edition, and “Journey to Inspired Art Quilting.” In 2020 I was awarded the Ben Westlund Memorial Award by the Deschutes Cultural Coalition of the Oregon Cultural Trust. I have participated in many gallery shows, won numerous honors with my quilts, as well as been featured as a quilt artist in Japan, England, and France. My most recent award is a Judge’s Choice award at the Houston Quilt Festival. My love of sharing ideas and techniques
in the classroom is what drives my creativity whether online or in the classroom.
Michelle Wilkie is a self-taught textile artist of modern quilts. She sees quilting as a means of storytelling, capturing her experiences and connection to community like the women who have come before her. Community connection is a key driver for her art practice, a foundation from amazing experiences growing up in South Auckland, New Zealand. She experiments with a variety of modern techniques and aesthetics, though embraces Improvisation and Minimalist styles.
Michelle is an artist in residence at Durham Art Guild and completed Penland School of Craft Winter Residency(2023).She has exhibited many place and her work is featured in multiple in magazines.
Michelle enjoys teaching and has taught quilting and sewing classes since 2015.
Z Glass Act was formed in 1998 in Eugene, Oregon by Susie Zeitner. Her career spans 37 years as a Graphic Designer and Commercial Photo Director and 15 years as an Art Glass Interior Design Specialist.
Founding her own business has been a great success. Her clients include many commercial developers, interior designers, large hotels, as well as private commissions and national hospitality and restaurant projects.
Each piece Susie creates is entirely handmade. Her designs are fabricated in her studio down to the most intricate detail and then fused at 1500 degrees in custom fabricated kilns. The studio for Z Glass Art is located in Sisters, Oregon.
