Beaumont, TX - Karen began quiltmaking in 1986, teaching in 1990, and publishing in 1993. Electric Quilt published Karen K. Stone Quilts in 2004, now in multiple printings, and another is in the works. Her quilts have won numerous awards, including first prizes in international competitions, and quilts made from her patterns appear frequently in exhibition. Her Indian Orange Peel received the People’s Choice Award at Quilt National 1995, and her Clam Session quilt received the Master of Innovative Artistry at IQA in 2009. Karen holds degrees in Piano from Baylor and Indiana Universities, has two lovely daughters, a pseudo-son, many pets, and divides her time between Dallas and Beaumont, Texas.

Volcano, CA - Fiber artist, Anelie Belden has taken the traditional Dresden Quilt design and created a new updated Dresden Design which are featured in her new book titled “Thoroughly Modern Dresden” published by C&T Publishing. Not only are the designs modern but the construction is also updated to make the block sew together more successfully and with a variety of design options. Anelie has recorded a program on “The Quilt Show”, with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, Program #502, which appears on the internet. In 2001, Anelie’s original design, “Natures Gift”, was featured in Kathy Sandbach's book, “Show Me How to Create Quilting Designs”, published by C&T Publishing. She wrote a monthly “Block of the Month”, article which appeared in the local newspaper the Amador Ledger Dispatch. Anelie also appears monthly as a guest speaker on the local TSPN TV Station, “Amador Live”, demonstrating quilting techniques.

Her degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in San Francisco, led to positions with Gunne Sax, Jessica McClintock, and the Jeanne Marc clothing companies.

She currently lives in the Northern California foothills with her husband of 30 years, Kevin Belden. They have had three children together and two grandchildren.

North Little Rock, AR - Betty began quilting after the birth of her first son in 1983 and has progressed slowly with help and inspiration from others along the way. Betty is the mother of three boys; now in their twenties, grandmother to three grandsons and is blessed with many friends and a wonderful job. She feels indebted to each and every quilter who has freely given of their knowledge and inspiration with their show and tell.

 

Round Rock, TX - Inspired by her grandmother’s legacy of quilts, Debbie began quilting in 1974. Through the years she tried her hand at other crafts and arts but returned to quilting when her mother-in-law, Jean Chance, became part owner of The Wooden Spool quilt shop in Pensacola, Florida, in the early 1980’s. The rest is history! Today Debbie lives in Central Texas where she is a member of the Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild and a founding member of the Main Street Quilt Guild. Debbie continues to teach quilt workshops and lectures about her work whenever the bribe is sufficient to pry her from her studio.

Searcy, AR - Pat is a quilt maker/embroiderer from Searcy, Arkansas, who has spent many years teaching quilt making and designing her own quilts and embroidered pieces. She has quilts in The Historic Arkansas Museum, The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky, the office of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, UAMS School of Nursing and in private collections. Pat posts her work and happenings from her studio on her blog, Bird Nest of the Ground and sells some of her work in her tiny etsy.com shop. She is passionate about her work.

Morrilton, AR - Artist, quilt artist and teacher. Jim Gatling has been quilting for over 35 years. He taught public school art, stitchery, and quilting at Morrilton High School for 30 years. After retiring from public school teaching, Jim now teaches art part-time at the Sacred Heart Catholic Schools. Jim Gatling is the only quilting teacher sanctioned by the Arkansas State Department of Education. His quilts have been recognized in local, state, and international quilt shows. Billed as a Southern Quilt Humorist he is a highly sought after lecturer for his Southern family and quilt stories. His funny personality shows through with his heavily embellished quilts. He is an active member of Arkansas Quilters Guild (past president) and a member of the Central Arkansas Quilters in Conway.

Sherwood, AR - A second generation American, who grew up in the suburbs of Detroit. Always feeling like a “fish out of the water” (not liking the city, cold, the general disconnect), she struck out for Arkansas at the age of 23 and found a new and much better life; got married, had 2 kids, and had many adventures along the way. She discovered the wonderful world of quilts in the early 1980’s and with that, friends that she wouldn’t trade for anything. She has been quilting now for over 30 years, has been a member of the Arkansas Quilter’s Guild since 1984, is past President of the Central Arkansas Longarm Association, and a member of the International Machine Quilters Association. She is the owner of Jubilee Quilted Creations in Sherwood and has been making memory quilts of all kinds for her customers for the last nine years.

Conway, AR - A teacher, author and former quilt shop owner has won several awards for her work, which has been featured in numerous books and national quilting magazines. Jaynette started quilting in 1994. She takes great pleasure in all aspects of the process. She sold her quilt store in 2001 to write, teach and quilt. Her most recent book “Stash Magic” was released in November 2009 by Martingale & Com., That Patchwork Place.

 

Jacksonville, AR - Needlework & handwork have always been a part of Geannine’s life. She attended college at Indiana Univ. of PA and graduated with a BA in Art Education from Minot St. Univ. As part of a textiles class she made her first quilt, a contemporary machine appliquéd quilt using super-suede with no edges to turn. Geannine’s mother-in-law is also a quilter and helped get her hooked. Appliqué had always been a problem– she would buy books and took a few classes; but as she says “they all ended up in bags in the back of the closet after being thrown across the room too many times”. This was until she discovered heat resistant template plastic and school glue. Using these tools and several techniques she has perfected her appliqué skills – and now when picking out patterns or designing her own will include piecing and appliqué together. Geannine teaches her “Appliqué My Way” approach to share these techniques & tips with other quilters. Geannine’s quilts have been recognized in local, state and national quilt shows. Her quilt, Pineapple Friendship, designed by Jan Patek, received a 1st place in the “duet” category at the 2009 National Quilt Association show in Columbus. The quilt has been accepted into the special exhibit “In the American Tradition” at the International Quilt Festival, Houston 2010, and will travel to the Cincinnati and Long Beach IQA shows. Her family moved to the Little Rock area via a military move with her husband Joe. They live in Jacksonville, with a college age son Sean, and at any given time a cat & an Irish Wolfhound or two.

Mountain View, AR - Rene’ is the owner of Ritsy Rags Quilt Shop in Mountain View, Arkansas where she resides with her husband Ray and cat Pumkin.  Rene’ began her quilting experience in 1994 after the passing of her quilting grandmother and sister.  Always having enjoyed sewing, the call to continue the legacy was heard and she sought out a monthly quilting group.  This is where her story begins.  After many years of working and teaching in various quilt shops, she decided to open her own shop in October 2007.  Her love of teaching and inspiring others to share the passion of “creating” has perpetuated her quilting experience.  She has lectured and instructed across the state and now teaches a variety of classes including needle felting, button jewelry, rope wrapped bowls and bags, and a array of piecing and quiltmaking from her shop.  Her goal for her quilting business is to continue to spread the joy that quilting has brought to her life and lighten the burdens of daily life just a little by allowing customers an outlet to express their own creativity and “just have fun”.

Modesto, CA - Becky has been sewing and creating handmade things since she was 6 years old.  With both her grandmothers and mother as mentors they fueled her passion for sewing by teaching her handwork and later to use their Singer Slant-O-Matic sewing machines.  Having a box of fabric scraps, buttons and a needle and thread would keep Becky entertained for hours on end.  Over the years she has designed tote bags, pillow patterns and home decorating items for her home and for selling on ETSY.  She resides in the Central Valley of California with her husband, son and two Scottie dogs and calico cat.

North Little Rock, AR - Judy is a self taught fiber artist who loves to explore the “possibilities” and the “what ifs”.  Her repertoire of unusual techniques have allowed her to be accepted in many prestigious juried venues including Quilt Vision/Quilt  San Diego, Fiber of Coronado (California), Art Quilts at the Sedgwick, (Philadelphia, PA) and Quilters Newsletter special exhibit in Houston, Texas.  Recently, she was chosen as one of the major artists for the Donald Reynolds Grant in Warren, Arkansas’ YMCA Renovation and Decoration Project.  Her work has won many awards and traveled across the U.S. and Japan.  She is currently an associated artist at the Cox Creative Gallery in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Judy is a Professional Member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), Quilt Visions/Quilt San Diego and the American Craft Council.  Her quilts have been purchased for many personal and corporate collections.

Rogers, AR - Mary Elizabeth Schopp has jumped in with both feet to the quilting world!  After a career in corporate accounting, in 2007 she and her mother, Clarice Moore, purchased The Rabbit’s Lair in Rogers, Arkansas.  She has been helping quilters and stitchers satisfy their passion ever since.  She loves to get to know her customers and help them find just the right project.  Although her fabric and fiber interests are widespread, her main love is working with wool and embroidery.  She manages to jiggle many balls, including her love of God and her family.  Mary lives in Rogers with her daughter Elizabeth, age 9, and her husband, Bill.