Programs
September 16, 2026
Kristen Weiss
Wool Appliqué with Embroidery and Afternoon workshop.
I was born in Tarm, Denmark but immigrated to Canada when I was two. We lived in Huntsville, Ontario, Canada for four years and then immigrated to Racine, Wisconsin, where we lived among many other Danes.
My mother knit, crocheted, embroidered. needle pointed andsewed. I learned to do those crafts from her. At the age of 12, I took my first formal sewing class at school and then at our Singer store. My love of sewing began then. I made my own clothes, including designing and making my wedding dress, bridesmaids’ dresses, adding a train to my sister’s dress, making her veil and designing and making all her bridesmaids’ dresses. I also enjoyed many different crafts and trying new things.
Eventually, I decided to concentrate on my quilting. I felt that I wanted to improve my work and that meant concentrating on what was most important. I was introduced to my first quilt pattern, a cathedral window, by my cousin when I was around 20. In my early 20’s I took my first quilt class at a quilt shop, The Walrus, in Deerfield, IL. That ignited my passion for quilting.
I taught quilting to others and sold my work to individuals and at craft fairs. I also lectured to guilds.
However, my two sons began swimming competitively at the ages of 8 and 10, and my free time filled up with swim practices and swim meets. I chose to curtail most of my outside activities to make more time for my sons due to the fact that I had gone back to teaching full time. I have degrees in Elementary Education and Education of the Hearing Impaired.
Now that I am retired, I have found more time for my quilting, and to share my love of quilting with others. I never quit quilting, but I now have much more time for it. Both sons are now married and their wedding quilts made. I have nine grandchildren who need more than baby quilts, which I already made. I look forward to this new chapter in my life.
My favorite style of quilting is landscape quilting. I enjoy using photos my husband and I have taken on our travels and in our own area and turning them into quilts. However, I have worked in many styles and have enjoyed learning all sorts of techniques. I also discovered wool work. It is easy to take along on trips.
In this lecture I will share my first wool projects through to my current projects. The earliest work was simple blanket stitch and a small amount of other simple stitches. I started adding embellishments as I became more experienced. Then I discovered Sue Spargo and my work transformed!
In addition, I will share resources for necessary supplies as well as patterns. I will share various supplies that will aid your work.
I will end with answering any questions you might have.
I will have some supplies, patterns, and kits for sale, as well as supplies such as needles and wool.
Click here to see/print reminder card.
October 21, 2026
Linda Halpin
I was fortunate to grow up with a mom who did all kinds of needlework. I began sewing doll clothes when I was 6 years old, graduating later to making all of of my own clothing. By the time I discovered quilting, I had a healthy supply of scraps just waiting to become quilts. Combining that with my love of puzzles made quilting a natural.
2025 marks my 50th year of teaching quiltmaking. I have enjoyed being on the faculty of several distinguished conferences all across the nation (including the AQS show in Paducah), as well as working with guilds of memberships ranging from 25 to 400.
I am a graduate of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s Teacher Certification Program in Quiltmaking. The intensive two year examination program tests the candidates’ stitching skills as well as their knowledge of color and design, history of their chosen field, and classroom abilities. I am one of only a handful of instructors nationwide who have been certified by the Embroiderer’s Guild of America (EGA) as an Instructor in Quiltmaking.
In addition to teaching, I also enjoy writing. My seven quiltmaking books range from quilt history, three dimensional applique, and quilted clothing, to scrap quilts, and patterns inspired by the Little House on the Prairie books. I have also served as Chairman of both EGA’s National Master Craftsman Program for Quiltmaking and Teacher Certification Programs. I have curated numerous quilt exhibits, as well as been involved as a judge at regional exhibits, and participated in an Exhibit Judging Forum which established guidelines now used nationwide.
A native of upstate New York State, I currently live in southwest Wisconsin.
Her presentation:
Linda Halpin Retrospective: 50 years of Quiltmaking
As a certified quiltmaking instructor, I have experience in a broad range of quiltmaking techniques. Join me for a trunk show of my quilts, from Hand Quilted Applique Quilts to Scrap Quilts with a Bonus, from Reproduction Quilts to Little House on the Prairie Themed Quilts.
This trunk show of over 50 quilts will trace my journey into quiltmaking. It is a treasure trove of quilts you are sure to enjoy.
Format: Trunk show of over 50 quilts.
Trunk show 50 years of quilting
https://www.lindahalpin.com/
Afternoon Workshop
Pinwheel Victoriana
November 18, 2026
Vicki Spiering
Trunk show of Award Winning Quilts & Conversation
Vicki Spiering has been making quilts for over 30 years.
Vicki is a competitor and winner at state, national and international quilt shows. She will share her quilts, shares her techniques and inspirations behind some of her most interesting creations as well as judges critiques.
Her talk blends humor with heart felt emotions that will leave you inspired to take on your next quilting challenge.
December 9, 2026
Holiday Party
January 20, 2027
Member Round Robin
February 17, 2027
Cyndi McChesney – a quilt artist, author, long-arm quilter, teacher and lecturer who revels in finding simple solutions to complex questions about quilt making and quilt design.
I am the author of Fun with Panels and Playful Panel Quilts C&T Publishing, available now directly from me or at your local quilt shop!
Morning Lecture Panel Palooza Trunk Show
In this informative and entertaining trunk show I’ll show you how to take that panel you fell in love with and turn it into something truly unique. You’ll experience my good, bad and AH HA moments as I learned how to work with the different styles of panels and how adding interesting block treatments and borders and filling those pesky open spaces with patchwork or appliqué results in a truly special quilt.
March 17, 2027
Angelica Sanchez Mora
Cultural Cloth
Past Programs 2026-27
August 19, 2026
Mary Reilly Kliss
Botanical Dying
Mary Reilly-Kliss is a retired reading/language arts teacher, bee keeper, and coordinator of the Washington County Community Garden in West Bend. She creates botanical eco print apparel, gift items and dyed and printed fabric for others to use for their own creations. She has been an exhibitor at the Art in the Burg Art Fair in Cedarburg, WI.
Morning Lecture
Botanical Dying Original Art from Mother Nature.
Mary will give an overview of the botanical eco dying process including preparing fabric, dye choices, and bundling and unbundling projects.
Afternoon Workshop
Foliage and Flowers on Fabric
Use flower pounding to create your own art on fabric. After a demo, participants will be provided with prepared fabric to make their own original art on fabric. Click here to see/print reminder card.
July 15, 2026
Judy Zoelzer Levine
Lecture- Sewing Room Solutions
A look at how quilters have solved workspace, storage, and organizational problems. This lecture covers from neatnik to slob and is a must for anyone who when ready to work hates spending most of the time looking for scissors!
Afternoon Workshop
Silks, Satins, and Other Fun Stuff- Taking the Fear Out of Handling the “Other” Fabrics
You’ve been lured by those wonderful lustrous fabrics all your life but know they are difficult to work with. This is an in depth look at assorted “fun” fabrics, how to make them work for quilting and a look at the supplies that make them easier to use.
Website: https://www.judylevine.com
Supply list
Supplies
Pattern required–$8.00
| A fat quarter background fabric to co-ordinate with silk. |
| Assortment of silks, satins, taffeta, sheers, netting, lace, and velvet. Bring your own special interest fabrics. Small pieces OK. We will discuss all of the above. (Please, no lamés.) |
| Iron |
| Ironing surface |
| Press cloth |
| ½ yd fusible feather weight woven or sheer interfacing |
| Sewing machine (optional for hand sewers) |
| Basic sewing kit |
| Fabric scissors and paper scissors |
| Rotary cutter, mat, ruler (optional) |
I understand that these supplies may not be readily available. I therefore offer kits that include an assortment of “fun” fabrics. Kits range in price from $10.00 to $25.00. Sampler interfacing packs are available for $3.00.
I learned to sew at age 10 and I have had a very close relationship with my sewing machine ever since. At 13 I started needle working, including knitting, cross-stitch, needlepoint and tatting. In 1983 my Godmother gave me a quilt top she had made before her marriage in 1945. My aunt encouraged me to design a quilting pattern that reflected the embroidered top. I was hooked. I knew this was going to be my creative outlet. My first quilts were very traditional. I saw immediately room to experiment and play. Because of my sewing experience, I have always enjoyed beautiful fabrics. It seems only natural that I include these fabrics in my quilts. I now specialize in quilts that incorporate special fabrics such as silk, lame’ and lace.
Quilting to me is a personal expression. My quilts are now abstract original designs that evoke a personal response in each viewer. Each quilt develops intuitively allowing me the artistic freedom to create. I start with an idea , then allow the quilt to evolve as the texture of each new fabric is added. I produce my quilts by machine using a variety of techniques and fabrics. This sense of freedom in both uses of fabric and construction makes every quilt both a challenge and an adventure. I enjoy creating my quilts and look forward to each new experience.
June 17, 2026
Phyllis Fay Motivate Me to Use My Stash
Phyllis Fay’s website: https://www.pfayquilts.com.
She will be presenting to us on “Motivate Me to Use My Stash” on June 17, 2026.
May 20, 2026 – All Day Love and Comfort Sewing!
Our next meeting is 9:00 am – 3:00 pm May 20, 2026 (note the time change) come and join in the fun! Bring your machine if you are able to quilt. Also needed, people to iron, cut, pin, turn quilts or prep quilts for stitching! Many hands make light work, and lots of fun! Bring your lunch, stay as long as you can!
May 2, 2026
Coach Bus Trip to Rockford Sinnissippi Quilts Show Bus trip includes entrance fee, bus and tip
https://sinnissippiquilters.org/2024-quilt-show
April 15, 2026
Rhonda Pierce SCHMETZ Needles
Title: SCHMETZ: What Needle Should I Use?
Presenter: Rhonda Pierce, Spokesperson, SCHMETZ needles
Confused about what needle to use? What do all those numbers mean on the needle package? Is changing the needle really important before it breaks? What needle should I use? Successful sewing is often about paying attention to the little things – like the needle in your sewing machine. Get the low-down about how this little pieceof steel can solve some very BIG problems, including broken threads, skipped stitches and puckered fabrics. Your sewing machine is an investment and protection begins by using the very best needle.
Bio: Rhonda Pierce has a dream job … teaching sewing enthusiasts about the hardest working 2” piece of steel in the sewing machine – the SCHMETZ needle. She lives in the Chicago area. Whether presenting SCHMETZ virtually or in-person, she averages 100+ presentations annually, and happily provides SCHMETZ facts to make your stitching easier. Rhonda created and published 100 issues of SCHMETZ Inspired to SEW ezine. She publishes the “must read” Schmitz needles monthly newsletter. Her quilt, Color Splash, hung at three International Quilt Festivals.
Rhonda’s personal website is www.SewMoreStitches.com.
Archive of Past Programs
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
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