Tennessee in March

Two years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to teach at Shakerag Workshops in Sewanee, TN. This place is a dream in reality. The Cumberland Plateau, the food, the folks — It’s one of my favorite places. The class, At Play in the Garden of Stitch, was a blast. We stitched with abandon, ridding ourselves of inhibitions and self doubt. The room was filled with laughter. We learned that there are no mistakes, just new ways of looking.

At Play in the Garden of Stitch - March 6-9, 2026

Do you love to be with creative folks? Do you want to feel more comfortable with free-motion quilting? Are you an artist who wants to experiment with cloth and thread? This workshop brings all of that together.

On March 6-9 I will be leading a weekend workshop at St. Mary’s Sewanee Retreat Center located on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau (a little more an hour from Nashville or Chattanooga, TN). It’s a quiet lovely space that brings contemplation and peace to those who travel there.

I’m dreaming of the Spring in Sewanee. I’d love to see you there.

Sign up now, the class should fill up soon.

Alegre

I spent a week at the Alegre Retreat teaching a very talented bunch of stitchers this month. And, what a place! The Gateway Canyons resort is nestled into deep canyons in Colorado near the Utah border. Watching sunrises and sunsets was like witnessing a movie as the sun crawled up and down the canyon walls. I woke to the moon setting one morning, it sank below the rock wall as if hiding itself. I felt like I was part of a postcard.

This is the way I walked to the classroom each morning. Each day was different. Gateway Canyons, Colorado

We had a light snow one day. Frosting on the cake.

We stitched for 5 days. And, after a little hesitation the artists went full steam ahead. Sixteen fearless stitchers. Here are some of the results. I can’t wait to see what they create with these new ideas.

Teaching brings me great pleasure. I love it when a student expresses excitement about a new technique. I love it when they make it their own. I love to be with people who have the same passion as mine. Traveling fills my mind with new inspirations, new vistas, new ideas.

And, now, I will settle down to stitch some of what I felt and saw, and smelled, and touched and tasted.

each one teach one

I love teaching. Especially teaching people who are ready to experiment. I learn something from each person in the class. I love to see the variations that people come up with. We have so much fun comparing notes, trying new things and letting ourselves travel unknown pathways. My Miami class had some really skilled and creative folks in it. They were a joy to watch.

The At Play in the Garden of Stitch workshop presented by Partners for Art + Design in Miami

The Miami workshop organized by Abbey Chase of Partners for Art + Design was in an exquisite historic church. The light was fantastic, the stitchers enthusiastic.

Here are some of the things I learned from my students.

When filling a square with stitch, play with different patterns that repeat. Let your imagination go wild.

Let your stress be released. Nancy called this her divorce.

If your tension isn’t working right, go with it. We all loved this bearded back.

Consider fringe. Use fabric that already has texture.

If your pig needs wings, find some and add them to your composition.

Celebrate color and pattern. Let your edges be active.

Your work does not need to fit into a rectangle. It doesn’t even have to be a rectangle.

You can tell a story in four squares.

A beach can become a vase. (Turn this one 90 degrees clockwise and you can see what I mean.)

I am thankful for all the time I spend with my students. Each session brings delight and discovery.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. May your turkey be moist and your potatoes buttery.

Stitching inspiration

I love teaching. Meeting new people who are interested in stitching as much as I am is a gift. Last week I spent time with 19 stitchers at Quilting by the Lake sponsored by the Schweinfurth Art Museum in Auburn, NY. They specialize in bringing teachers and students together to stitch, print, piece and contemplate quilted art together. I was lucky enough to get only the best stitchers—those with courage to take some chances, curiosity to see what might happen and stamina to do it all day long for five days. Many were beginners, some seasoned stitchers but everyone approached the work with beginner minds. The best kind.

So I decided to post some of their work here. These samples were some of the first exercises—just the beginning of a gallery of experimentation, representation and above all else, stitching. I can’t wait to see how they bring some of these techniques to their work.

Spending time together In a room devoted to an art form is like a shot of adrenaline for me. There is inspiration, frustration, and concentration for all. I recommend Quilting by the Lake, its track record in bringing inspiring teachers and devoted students together is proven by their loyal and eager student base. I was honored to be invited and energized by the experience.