As 2014 draws to a close, we are excited about the workshops that will be available in 2015. Joining the DMAQG will be an assortment of teachers. We're confident the scheduled teachers will inspire you as well as expand your quilting skills. The workshops are varied and offer something to match everyone's interests.

With January come New Year's resolutions. Frequently these resolutions include commitments to finish projects, better organize our sewing spaces, and to maximize our quilting time and efficiency. The January workshops will consist of two half-day workshops, each to include 2 organizational items for your quilting activities. The organizational items in the morning workshop will be different than the organizational items in the afternoon workshop. Examples of the organizational items will be available at the December Tea.

Registration for 2015 workshops will begin at our December Tea and Annual Meeting on December 6.  Click here to download a registration form.

January - Kathy Russi & Martha Henrichs

Each session will include 2 organizational projects designed to help you organize your quilting materials or space. The projects in Session A will be different than the projects in Session B.  Examples of the organizational projects will be available at the December Tea. The sessions will be taught by DMAQG Program Chairs Kathy Russi and Martha Henrichs.

Wednesday, February 25, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  

ROUND THE BEND

Cost: $50 + $5 kit fee

Learn the tricks of curved piecing by machine while working on a wonderful old block pattern. Finished quilt has great secondary designs and circle illusions. Make it traditional or contemporary, large or small, it's your choice. 

Thursday, February 26, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

TWO BLOCK TWO STEP

Cost: $50 + $ 5 kit fee

Make it scrappy or make it simple, this two block combo creates wonderful stars in a traditional old design. Your friends will wonder how you put it all together by machine! This unique setting technique can be used on other traditional blocks to make your quilt a one-of-a-kind design.

Wednesday, March 25, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SENSUOUS LINES AND CURVES

Cost: $50

Do you love the look of those really skinny lines and curves, but don't know how to make them? Now is your chance to learn. Carol shares the secrets of piecing them and you can make those practice blocks into a lovely wall quilt ( 41" x 36") full of those 'sensuous lines and curves'.  You will start with piecing simple lines that are cut improvisationally on small pieces of fabric that will turn out to be 7.5" blocks. The middle section is made by couching. All this is done with no pinning and a minimal amount of measuring to free you up and allow you to think outside the box. You'll also learn how to finish your quilts with facings instead of bindings.

Thursday, March 26, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Arc-i-Textures

Cost: $50

Create a small (15 x 15) unique quilt of your very own and learn something about composition, textures, and circular quilting.  This is a chance to use some of those fancy and unusual fabrics that you've been attracted to, but didn't know how to use. We will tame them by fusing, and learn to mix them with other textured looking fabrics. And you won't need much of any one fabric...even scraps will do.You'll learn about fusing and how to finish your quilts with facings as opposed to bindings. And Carol will also teach you how to quilt and couch those "perfect" circles that have almost become a trademark on her quilts. You'll be thrilled with the resulting small quilt, which you can do in many different color schemes, and hang in your own home or give as a gift.

April - Jody Sanders, Editor, Quilts and More 

Wednesday, April 29, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

ENGLISH PAPER PIECING TECHNIQUES

Cost: $20 plus pillowcase donation

Jody will provide a technique-based workshop on English Paper Piecing/hand-stitching. She will discuss glue basting vs. thread basting, paper vs. plastic templates, etc.  Jody will provide a pattern for participants to make a project, probably a small pincushion, but the class will focus on showing different ways to English paper piece and giving students time to try them out, determining their favorite method. Jody will have a number of  samples to inspire the class. She will also bring a variety of fabrics, paper pieces, templates, and free patterns for students to use. Jody has asked in lieu of her teaching fee, that we each donate a pillowcase for the One Million Pillowcase Challenge.

Wednesday, May 27, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FLOWER BOXES

Cost: $50 plus $10 supply fee

In this workshop students will create this project using a basic log cabin style pattern while incorporating the window box theme. This pattern was created by Lenore's mother, Myra Moore, and is a unique design using floral prints as the flowers for the window box. The pattern will be made by the students creating as many window boxes as desired and sewn together by machine in class for the finished art quilt.  They can be configured by threes in a row or column, four in a square, etc.  Lenore will supply most of the floral prints.

Thursday, May 28, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FUSING AND FABRIC PAINTNG TO CREATE REALISTIC FABRIC ART 

Cost: $50 plus $15 supply fee.

In this workshop designing a small, fused project will begin using one of Lenore's patterns: Yellow Poppies, Yellow Cone Flower, Cone Flower, or Rose. The design will be outlined on freezer paper and then transferred to a background fabric on which the design will be fused. No sewing will be done during the workshop, only the designing and fusing. You will learn how to make your own patterns from your own photos, too. Lenore will also demonstrate how to add fabric painting to your design to add detail and depth. Students will select their fabric before class for the pattern they choose for the class.

June - David Taylor  (www.davidtaylorquilts.com)

Wednesday, June 24, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FLORAL APPLIQUE

Cost: $50 plus $10 pattern fee

This workshop demonstrates David's hand-applique technique with simple appliqué shapes, using freezer paper templates and liquid starch. The class will also cover how David builds his pictorial wall quilts and how to get beautiful details from simple shapes by letting the fabric choices do all the hard work.

Thursday, June 25,  9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

MACHINE APPLIQUE

Cost: $50 plus $30 kit fee

This workshop demonstrates David's machine-applique technique with simple appliqué shapes, using freezer paper and liquid starch. Students need to have a sewing machine with a 'blind hem stitch' capability. The class will also cover how David builds his pictorial wall quilts. This workshop emphasizes skill building rather than a finished quilt project, though the kit project can be used in a quilt when finished.

Wednesday, July 29, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

INTRODUCTION TO PICTURE PIECING

Cost: $50

If you have always wanted to try picture piecing but didn't know where to start, this workshop will introduce you to the process in a fun and easy way using a prepared pattern and freezer paper templates. The workshop will utilize Ruth's Coneflowers pattern.

Thursday, July 30, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

PAPER PIECING

Cost $ 50

Using Ruth's New Leaves or Third Weekend pattern, students will begin constructing these popular designs. They are partially paper pieced and the resulting quilts are spectacular. They contain lots of pieces but are not difficult and even a beginner who enjoys a challenge can make these designs.

August - Charity Auction

Tuesday, August 26

No speakers or workshops are scheduled for August. 

September - Tim Latimer 

Wednesday, October 28, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

SLICE AND INSERT IMPROVISATION

Cost: $50

Join Jacquie or a full day workshop focusing on the improvisational Slice and Insert piecing technique from the book Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts. Learn the basic technique and a new adaptation, a foolproof strategy for matching inserts, simple techniques for adding complexity to a design as well as how to work with even width and wedge shaped inserts. Combine simple sewing with a new skill and create your own linear design. Jacquie will share quilts from the book as well as new designs to inspire you.

Thursday, October 29: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

LOG CABIN - MODERN MAKEOVER

Cost: $50

Learn how to take the traditional log cabin block and give it a modern twist through improvisation. Choose to make one of the inspiration quilts or take the technique where you want to go and make your own version of a modern log cabin quilt. Seven variations of the log cabin block will be shared in class.

December - December Tea & Annual Meeting

Saturday, December 5, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.