Farmington Valley Quilters
Meeting Programs and Workshops
Unless otherwise noted, we meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm at Eno Memorial Hall in Simsbury, CT
Please contact Kathi Maglia (kmmaglia@comcast.net) or Joanne Farrell (jsanrafael@aol.com) with any questions about these programs or suggestions for future speakers.
September 20, 2023
Ruth McWilliams – Barn Quilting
Ruth McWilliams is a leader in the barn quilt movement and passionate about sharing this art form. She is President of the Board of Directors of TAUNY, a non-profit organization in upstate New York which explores, honors, and celebrates the diverse cultures, skills, and crafts of everyday life in New York’s North Country.
Over the past several years, hundreds of Barn Quilts; colorful painted squares, inspired by traditional quilt patterns, have popped up on barns, homes, town halls, and other creative locations around St. Lawrence County, NY and beyond. Ranging dramatically in size, patterns, and imagery, they are the creations of local artists and community members taking part in a grassroots arts and economic development movement. Often, making barn quilts is a way to celebrate local heritage, identity, and community. They are also often part of organized community efforts to draw tourism to small towns around the region.
There are two extensive, well-established Barn Quilt Trails in St. Lawrence County in Colton and Hammond, NY.
September 21, 2023
Whirlwind Workshop - Barn Quilting Basics in One Day
Avon Congregational Church, Avon, CT - 9:30—5:30
The overall goal is to introduce participants to barn quilting through hands-on activities and build their confidence to paint more barn quilts for themselves and/or others. All participants will create mini-barn quilts measuring 12x12 inches, selecting a design from a limited number of popular traditional quilt patterns that can be completed in a day (e.g., Whirlwind, Pine Tree, Maple Leaf, Friendship Star, etc.). Unlike in a standard workshop with 24 hours of class time, participants will start with a sanded and primed board.
Under Ruth McWilliams’s direction, workshop participants will learn to: draw their selected design on their piece of board; tape their design for painting; paint using brushes, rollers, and exterior paint; and touch up their designs. The materials provided by the presenter will include: a primed Medium Density Overlay (MDO) board; Frog Tape; Benjamin Moore Aura Waterborne Exterior Paints (Low Lustre) from the Affinity Colors palette in her paint pool; and all other supplies needed. Participants also will receive handouts covering supplies needed and steps to painting barn quilts.
October 18, 2023
Ann Brauer - Modern Quilts: Technique, Inspiration & Trunk Show
Ann Brauer has been a Fiber Artist for the past 40 years. She has always loved working with color and fabric. Ann is a self-taught quilt maker who creates abstract landscapes by piecing and sewing thin strips of cotton fabric through the cotton batting onto the back. Her work is in numerous museums, institutions and private collections including the American Museum of Art + Design, the Lodge at Turning Stone in Verona, NY, the Federal District Courthouse in Springfield, MA and Pat Metheny (the jazz guitarist).
Each work is a unique expression of a time and place. She does all the work herself in her studio in Shelburne Falls, MA. Ann will share how she gets inspiration and demonstrate her unique techniques in making modern quilts.
November 15, 2023
Sue Reich- Quilts and Christmas - The Perfect Blend - Trunk Show
Sue Reich is a quiltmaker, author, speaker, independent quilt researcher and appraiser. She began her study of quilt history with the Connecticut Quilt Search Project in 1991 and has served on the board since its beginning. A quiltmaker since childhood, she lectures widely on many aspects of quilt history, and is a certified AQS quilt appraiser and author of nine Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. quilt books. Sue Reich - Quilt History: Layer by Layer (coveringquilthistory.com)
Christmas Quilts Trunk Show- Quilts and Christmas are the perfect blend. Jump into the holiday mood with a trunk show from Sue. You might be interested in her book available on Amazon: The Quilter's Night Before Christmas: A Treasury of Tradition
March 20, 2024
The Art of Janice and David Jones
The husband-and-wife team of Janice and David Jones share a passion for creating art and enjoy presenting lectures, trunk shows and workshops.
Janice has been quilting since she was a child. From seamstress work to art quilting, this creative passion has always been part of her life.
David’s passion was Indian ink and brush drawings for the six years he lived in Paris before moving to Massachusetts in 1980. The transition to oil started in 2007. David has exhibited his oil paintings and has won many awards at juried shows, including “Best in Show”. His work has been published in many modern art books. He is the President of the Arts Institute Group of the Merrimack Valley and belongs to many artists guilds.
March 21, 2024
Workshop: Seeing the Everyday in and Abstract Way
This workshop, led by Janice and David Jones will focus on taking fabric, paint (or any medium) spread on a surface, which the artist then reviews and studies to see the abstract shape that will become the driving idea for the finished art quilt, painting, or drawing. The goal will be to compose an art quilt or artwork using this technique during the session and elicit peer ideas and input during the process. Students will be astonished and excited by the end product! Simple step-by-step techniques to create abstract work will also be demonstrated.
April 17, 2024 - Presenter - To Be Announced
May 15, 2024
Christa Nee - Joint Protection and Body Mechanics for the Quilter
Christa is an Occupational Therapist, Yoga Instructor and Quilter.
We’ve all sat at our machines for hours on end…only to ache afterwards. Protect those Joints! Learn the benefits of and ways to improve posture, body mechanics, joint protection and stretching to improve your quilting experience for years to come.