Prairie Quilt Guild of Wichita KS

I recently had the privilege of being invited by the Prairie Quilt Guild in Wichita, Kansas, for a two-part lecture series and a hands-on workshop.

The guild conducts both afternoon and evening meetings due to its large membership, and I was thrilled to speak at both. My workshop on the second day was centered on foundation paper piecing. But let’s start at the beginning.

Getting to Know the Guild

Before diving into the lectures, I had some time to mingle and observe the inner workings of this thriving guild. And let me tell you, it’s a well-oiled machine. Volunteers were everywhere, working on different projects, from arranging raffle tickets to welcoming newcomers with eye-catching badges.

One stand-out moment was my chat with Janice Bailey, a dedicated volunteer who helps manage their charity quilts. The guild not only pieces together quilts but also receives various forms of donations. Their community involvement and openness to new members were genuinely impressive.

The Beauty of Show and Share

After the formalities, the guild had a “show and share” segment. Members displayed their recently completed quilts, each one a testament to their skill and creativity.

I managed to capture some of these quilts on camera, and I wish I had taken even more pictures. The craftsmanship was simply top-notch.

Two Lectures in one Day

As I mentioned earlier, my visit involved delivering two distinct lectures to accommodate the guild’s sizable membership. The morning session drew in the majority, each member coming in eager and ready for a day steeped in quilting wisdom. As for the evening slot, it was filled by the rest of the members, who prefer to end their day with a dose of creative inspiration.

The fascinating part? Both groups had their unique atmosphere, but the enthusiasm for quilting was the common thread. Meeting both sets of members and sharing in their unified passion for quilting was an experience I won’t soon forget.

Walking Through My Creative Journey

During my lecture, I got to display my entire pattern collection—everything I’ve created since I ventured into pattern production in July 2022. We had volunteers on stage who held up the quilts as I went into detail about each one. I also brought multiple versions of each pattern to demonstrate how fabric choices can transform the look of a quilt entirely.

Challenging Foundations: The Workshop

For the workshop on day two, we tackled foundation paper piecing, focusing on an intermediate pattern: the Star Quilt Block pattern.  

This wasn’t a beginner’s stroll in the park; I aimed to challenge attendees, and they rose to the occasion magnificently.

The end results were both stunning and rewarding.

Let’s Connect: Book Me for Your Next Event

If this experience sounds like something your fabric shop or quilt guild might benefit from, I’d love to hear from you. I offer a range of lectures and workshops aimed at expanding your quilting knowledge. For more details, feel free to hop over to my Events Page.

There’s something special about connecting in person. While my online courses are great, nothing beats the mutual exchange of ideas and the camaraderie that come from real-life interactions. Looking forward to meeting more of you soon!