|
|
Teachers Bios:  Sharon Schamber
Sharon Schamber and her husband Gene have lived in Payson for three years. Sharon was part of the Rim Country Quilt Roundup in Payson in 2005 and 2006. We are proud to welcome our own local artist back to teach during the 2008 show. She has won many national awards, most recently (Jan 10, 2008), she won the $100,000 Quilting Challenge Magazine contest for her quilt "Scarlet Serenede". We are very proud to announce that Sharon has been awarded the title of Master Quilter from The National Quilting Association. To find out more about the NQA and the Masters award you can visit www.nqaquilts.org.
"I started my quilting just like most of you - buying the wrong fabric, using the wrong batting, and using the wrong needles. With time, I learned to use what really works for me, even though the product might not be known as the "right" one. However, I do not, under any circumstances, compromise my standards.
I had to learn what a scant quarter and a fat quarter were. Translating all those unusual terms that we use, so casually, was the next step. The first year was just a spin of learning and creating a base for future quilts. For a novice, the learning curve is quite steep.
I remember my grandmother quilting back in the `60s, but everything was so different when compared to today. I hope that the quilt world will be just as different for my grandchildren.When I first began I had no idea that quilts were being machine quilted. I remember only that quilts were all hand-pieced and hand-quilted.
I remember my Grandma Larsen counting the stitches per inch and ranting about being inconsistent, so that is where I went. I set out to find how many stitches per inch I needed to make my quilts "right." I asked the wrong person, and she told me that it was just rude to ask. This was the first indication that I needed to be a teacher. " She loves seeing the light come on in her students' eyes.
Sharon has the honor of being the number one ranked longarm quilter in America. She has won AQS's Paducah show in both 2006 and 2007. She is the only quilter to ever win back to back AQS Paducah shows. She recently won the "Scarlet Serenade" won the Best of Show Gammill Longarm Machine Quilting Award at the 2006 International Quilt Festival and the That Patchwork Place Best of Show in the Innovative Appliqué Large category in the 2005 International Quilt Association annual judged show.
A few of Sharon's Awards:
"Scarlet Serenade" took Best of Show at the International Quilt Festival in 2005. It won the Gammill Longarm Quilting Award at the America Quilter's Society Quilt show in April 2006 and another of Schamber's masterpieces, "Sedona Rose," won Best of Show.
"Flower of Life," a representation of Sharon's life, won American Quilter Society's Best of Show in 2007. Take a look at this quilt... www.imqa.org/2007Winners.htm
Despite all her quilting accomplishments, Sharon will tell you she is a teacher first and a quilter second. She loves seeing the light come on in her students' eyes. Her inventive quilting techniques, such as Piec-liqué, have taken the art form to new heights. "Everything I do is different, even down to the binding," she said.
Visit Sharon's web site for books and tips: www.sharonschamber.com .
 Brenda Henning
Brenda is the author of numerous books and individual patterns available under the Bear Paw Productions label. "Hi. My name is Brenda and I quilt. I've been known to sneak fabric into my purse in case I need a fix while away from home. I take a calculator to bed with me to compute quilt yardage and block piecing in the middle of the night. I disguise fabric purchases in the checkbook register, titling the check as a grocery purchase. I even lift my favorite sewing machine into airline overhead storage bins rather than leave her home alone. I live in Anchorage, Alaska. Our winters are 6 months long, who really wants to go outside and get cold anyway? I am a quilter... and I am addicted! My husband considered an intervention to discuss my problem... But soon realized that if a group of my friends were to meet together, we would just QUILT!!"
Brenda Henning is a compulsive quiltmaker with a fondness for traditional design and a desire to incorporate today's speed-piecing techniques with yesterday's well-loved patterns. Brenda's machine sewing experience began at the early age of 10 on her grandmother's treadle sewing machine with the first quilt following at age 14. Brenda became a compulsive quilter in the mid-80s, and began teaching quiltmaking in 1989, after her third child turned one. Writing and self-publishing that work have been byproducts of teaching quilting. Stained glass quilts were first introduced to Brenda in a workshop. All steps of the process - basting, bias tape placement, quilting - were completed by hand. With three young children, and a busy schedule, Brenda knew that she could not complete a second stained glass quilt in the time available. She set out to devise a method to reduce the time necessary to make a stained glass quilt without compromising the results. The introduction of fusible bias tape has really streamlined her approach to stained glass quilts. Brenda lives in Anchorage, Alaska, with her husband, Richard, and their three children, Beth, Christi and Joshua. Two Rottweilers, Kaia and Jade, share copious quantities of black dog hair with every quilt that leaves the premises. The addition of a cleaning lady to her life has greatly reduced the stifling effect of housework! Brenda teaches regularly at The Quilt Tree in Anchorage as well as for other shops and guilds throughout Alaska and the United States.
Brenda has recently developed a new technique for stained glass window called "Impressionist Stained Glass" which is being presented by major quilting stores. Brenda has recently been featured in an episode for QuiltersTV where she presented her Mariner's Compass techniques. Check out the TV free streaming videos of the episode, "Where The Quilting Stars Shine" ... www.quilterstv.com .
 Pam Bono
Pam Bono lives in beautiful Pagosa Springs, Colorado with her husband and partner, Robert and their two English Bulldogs: The Earl Of Brumley and The Incredible Hulk! The Bonos have two grown sons who are married, and a 2 year old granddaughter.
Pam was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, where she began her career as a graphic artist in the late 60's, working as production manager for advertising agencies. During her spare time, she began designing crafts. As the advertising agency world was not appealing, Pam began her career as a craft and quilt designer in 1978, opening her own business called "Flying Fingers." The kits and patterns produced by her company were in every major chain store in the U.S.A.
In 1981 her "Transportation Quilt" design made the cover of Better Homes & Gardens magazine, and over 200,000 patterns were sold. Pam continued to do exclusive designs for the magazine and Craft & Book Club for 17 years.
In 1984 the Bono family vacationed in Durango, Colorado. As Pam's ancestors were part of local history and development in the late 1800's, her ties to the small town were significant, although she had never seen it. The family fell in love with Durango and moved there in 1985, opening Pam Bono Designs. Pam had gained popularity as a quilt designer with her appliqué designs. In 1994 the companies first book was published by Oxmoor House/Leisure Arts. The quilts in the first book were entirely pieced, and it opened up an entire new world for the Bono's, as Pam's husband Robert designed the cover quilt with his wife. Because of the books success, a second book followed. Both books have recently been combined by Oxmoor House. The 50 project book is titled "The Big Book Of Rotary Cutter Quilts."
As the Bono's "quick piecing" techniques developed, Robert invented a tool called "The Angler™". It eliminates the need to draw or press diagonal seam guidelines, and is used by millions of quilters internationally. A third book and CD was produced in conjunction with The June Tailor Company, and a fourth with Husqvarna/Viking which integrated Pam's beautiful embroidery designs for Viking with the Bono's quilt designs.
With the knowledge that thousands of quilters had a desire to make Baltimore Album quilts, but did not have the time to do the tedious hand appliqué required, Pam designed two "quick pieced" Baltimore Album quilts as a Block-Of-The-Month project. The popularity of this imaginative pattern series was followed by another "quick pieced" pattern series shortly after 9/11 called "Out Of The Darkness, A New Beginning."
Pam Bono Designs has produced four books for Leisure Arts, adding a new way to quick piece an old technique in their new book titled "Rectrangles." With her graphic arts background, Pam produces all of the books, and the Bono's style their well known photography with photographer, Chris Marona.
With their business bursting at the seams, the Bono's moved to Pagosa Springs, Colorado in 2003, giving them the space required for their studio, offices and warehouse in one of the most picturesque settings in Colorado.
Pam offers workshops and lectures that are specifically designed to teach the Bono's innovative techniques, and sharpen machine piecing skills.  Nancy Bollard
Nancy Bollard is an award winning artist. She retired and moved to Strawberry, Arizona 10 years ago where she was introduced to the quilting world. She is an active member of the Threadplayers, Strawberry Patchers, and the Arizona Quilter's Guild. Her innovative and creative designs have provided members of the Rim Country with wonderful quilting inspirations using several fabric mediums. She became particularly interested in painting on fabric and has taken classes from Mickey Lawler, Velda Newman, Hollis Chatelain ,Kerr Grabowski and Laura Schultz. She has also taken classes from Ruth McDowell, Katie Pasquini Masopust, Libby Leiman, Harriett Hargraves and Jackie Robinson.
 Lynn Kough
A former high school teacher of English, Theatre, and Humanities, Lynn’s life-long “affair” with fabric resulted in a career of teaching, writing about, and creating quilts of all kinds. A traditionalist at heart, her current work is influenced by time-honored patterns that morph into contemporary manifestations. Known for her work in color and design, she is the author of Stretching Tradition: New Images for Traditional Quilts and Quiltmaking for Beginners: A Stitch-by-Stitch Guide to Hand and Machine Techniques. She has enjoyed teaching quiltmaking at major conventions, guilds, and shops throughout the United States and abroad for more than 20 years. In the last ten years, Lynn has served as Show Coordinator for the Arizona Quilters Guild ( www.arizonaquiltersguild.org ), President of The National Quilting Association, Inc. (www.nqaquilts.org), and NQA’s Annual Show Coordinator, and currently serves on the board of the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame ( www.arizonaquiltershalloffame.org), the board of the Sonoran Desert Chorale (with whom she enjoys singing in the alto section - www.sonorandesertchorale.org ), and the board of the Arizona Quilters Guild. Recently she has been bitten by the “bead bug” and has found creating custom jewelry most enjoyable – stitching everything by hand once again. Lynn lives in Chandler, AZ, where she is a library volunteer delivering books to several homebound ladies – who are quilters. She shares her life with her dear, patient and supportive husband, Al; her two terrific daughters, Anne and Katherine; many adorable elderly rescued canines; absolutely too many books and sewing machines; an inordinate amount of fabric and thread; and a vacuum cleaner on the verge of cardiac arrest! Check out Lynn's website for more information. www.lynnkough.com  Alyce Leach
Alyce started her quilting path after moving to Payson, Arizona, in 1993. She was immediately hooked after one class and started making quilts for everyone in the family. After “mass-producing” so many quilts for a couple of years, Alyce suddenly realized her accuracy was taking a back seat to her production. She decided it was time to start concentrating on her skills and making her pieces more qualitative than quantitative, thus enhancing the artistic caliber of her quilting.
Alyce has been quilting for nearly 14 years and teaching for over 10 years. She is a charter member and active in both the Shoofly Quilters and The Threadplayers.
In her traditional quilting classes, she stresses the importance of accuracy in the basics. “If you cut accurately and sew with a good ¼ inch seam, your piecing will flow and the results will be spectacular”. Once these techniques become habit, you can concentrate on the more creative joys of quilting.
Alyce has won many awards and is highly sought after for her teaching skills. She was also recently recognized as the featured quiltmaker in April on the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame website, www.arizonaquiltlershalloffame.org.
 Patty McKinney
Patty is an award winning quilter who moved to Payson, Arizona with her husband, two sons, and two Dachsunds in 2005 from Anchorage, Alaska where she taught at the Quilting Tree for many years. She readily shares her wide range of quilting experience gained over the past 15 years. A fun, delightful, and entertaining teacher...you always walk away with a smile and additional knowlege. Candace Norris
Candace was born and raised in Texas. Her love of the great state of Texas runs deep. She has recently moved to Cave Creek, Arizona. Arizona is another state rich with history and tradition of the West. She began quilting in her senior year of high school.
"My first quilt was a Bisquit Quilt and I used old panty hose as the stuffing. The quilt was part of a homemaking project. I was hooked from that point forward. Although my quilting was sparce for the next several years, I managed to accumulate many UFO's. In 1988, I had just finished law school and suddenly had time on my hands again and picked up quilting again. While quilting more frequently, it was not until 1999 that I became obsessed or possessed as my husband claims. Between 1988 and 1999, we had relocated to Canyon, Texas and I had the marvelous opportunity to become involved in various quilting groups including many on line quilting groups. Through the on line quilting groups I met Billie Lauder.
Billie Lauder and I met personally in 2001. She has been an inspiration and role model for me since that date. In addition to teaching me a great deal about quilting, she encouraged me to pursue my dreams of making quilting my business. I thoroughly enjoyed the practice of law but wanted to have more fun. I have her and Beth Nelson to thank for expanding my horizons and encouraging me to explore the possibilities. Beth Nelson encouraged me to add the skills of longarm quilting to my portfolio. While I adore hand piecing, hand applique, and hand quilting, the use of the machine has also given me freedom to complete more projects and try more skills. I have two more major areas to tackle in this arena, one is to become a traveling instructor. I would love to travel the United States and the world teaching quilting classes. The second is to learn to date quilts and be able to give quilt appraisals. Hopefully by the end of 2006 these will be a reality. I would be remiss if I did not mention my wonderful husband David and lovely daughter Andrea, who continue to act as my cheering section by encouraging me in anything I attempt to tackle. I now have a new son-in-law, Chris, who also seems to think that quilting is pretty cool. My mother who has made some quilts herself has decided my goal in life is to provide everyone in Texas and now Arizona with a quilt. Not a bad idea. All that fabric to fondle.
Being a Texan by birth and at heart, I love my Lone Star State. The official quilt of Texas is the Lone Star Quilt. Having made several Lone Star Quilts, I wanted to put a twist on the tradition. I have designed twenty patterns using the Texas Lone Star and putting a twist on the traditional diamond. Five of the designs are available as individual patterns. The remaining 15 are featured in a book entitled "The Texas Lone Star - A Twist on Tradition".
I also have a family history that includes a great-great grandmother that was a Native American. As a tribute to that part of my past and because of my deep love of the Native American textiles, I have studied many pieces and designed twenty quilts centered around the designs I found in the Native American textiles. As with the Texas Lone Stars, five of the designs are available as individual patterns. The remaining 15 are found in "A Native American Legacy".
Many of my patterns are designed to be used as teaching packets. They are designed to get the new quilter going and developing skills necessary to tackle more difficult patterns. I have also designed a series of Wall Quilts or Table Runners for quick and fun results. While the Wall quilts are designed as fusible applique they could easily be made by using needle turn techniques to complete." Candy has recently written two new books, "Simply Charming" and "100 Things To Do With Fat Quarters".
 Leslie Peacock
Leslie Peacock is an award winning wearable artist and teacher. Originally from California, Leslie moved to Payson, Arizona three years ago with her husband, Steve. Prior to moving to Arizona, Leslie owned and operated a china painting studio in California, as well as working full time in the field of law enforcement. When Leslie retired 10 years ago, a friend suggested they take a quilt class together to have something "to do in retirement". After one class, Leslie decided that she preferred to "wear her quilts". Leslie has sewn garments for over 40 years, learning to sew at her mother's side when she was a child. By designing and making the majority of her clothing all through high school, college and then in the work force, the transition to wearable artist just came naturally for her. She has created a line of patterns called, I'm Wearing My Quilt©. These patterns utilize quilting techniques to teach quilters to make garments. Leslie soon discovered when she began teaching that many quilters want to make garments, but had never sewn anything but quilts. So using her sewing skills she has created a unique
way of teaching wearables. Leslie has won awards at the Pacific International Quilt Festival; Glendale Quilt Show in Glendale, California; the MQXQuilt Show; Road to California; Northern Gila County Fair; Strawberry Patcher's Quilt Show; Quilt and Stitch Expo; and the Rim Country Quilt Round-Up. Many of her garments
have won Best of Show awards in local and national quilt shows. Her garments consistently travel with the Hoffman Challenge Show and her garments have· been shown on the runways of the RAGS Show in Washington State and at the Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Her garments have also appearedin Belle Armoire magazine. Leslie continues to take classes to keep up with the ever growing field of wearables. She taken classes with Stephanie Kimura, Louisa Smith, Judy Murrah; Rachel Clark; Sharon Schamber; Ellen Anne Eddy; and Anita luvern Mayer to namea few. Leslie belongs to the International Quilt Association; the American Quilter's Society; Arizona Quilters Guild; Strawberry Patchers Chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild; the Wearable Art Connection; the Surface Design Association; and the Frill Seekers Fiber Art Group. Leslie has taught classes in both Arizona and California and willingly shares information to further this art form.
 Gina Perkes
Gina Perkes is a young talented long arm quilter and mother of three from Payson, Arizona. Check out Gina's latest quilting success, named "Silken Defiance"... www.azquiltersguild.org/quiltshowwinners08.htm This stunning quilt won "Best of Show" as well as first in the "Medium Quilt-Appliqued, Professionally Machine Quilted" category. Gina not only quilted this beautiful quilt, she designed and pieced it as well. Gina does her quilting on a non-stitch regulated Gammill Classic quilting machine. Gina created the "Silken Defiance" quilt by machine using some new techniques she wanted to try and experiment with, such as redwork along the ultra suede appliqué pieces. Her class will demonstrate this new technique...so come join in the fun and learn to use fabrics such as silk and ultra suede! Although a young quilt artist, she has already won many national quilting awards. "Masquerade" is the quilt, Perkes said, she has shown the most. It won her the first best of show she ever received from the Arizona Quilter's Guild a few years ago and was honored with a best of contest for Artwork at the Quilter's Society's Nashville 2005 show. It also won third place in a Machine Quilter's Showcase. Gina has also been featured on “The Quilt Show” with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims where she demonstrated her quilting talents as a spokesperson for Gammill Quilting Machines. Many of you may recognize Gina, as she graces the inside covers of many quilting magazines in this role.
When Sharon Schamber moved to Payson, Gina and she became fast friends. "Gina does a good job bridging both worlds," Schamber said referring to Gina's quilting and mother roles.
|
|