Each lecture is packed with quilt history, storytelling, and humor—brought to life with a lively trunk show of antique and vintage quilts. Whether you’re a history buff, quilt lover, or simply curious, there's something for everyone.

Lecture Fee: 

$350 

​Travel fees & accommodations negotiable.
A confirmation contract and promotional content will be provided upon selection.

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🖥️ Lectures marked with an asterisk (*) are also available virtually.
Looking for workshops too? Visit my website or email me for a full list.

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Quilts Just Keep Stringin’ Me Along!

What is a string quilt, and why are they called that? This lecture digs into the history of string quilts with a lively trunk show of scrappy wonders from the past—perfect inspiration for your own string-filled creations.
Pairs beautifully with the String-pliqué® workshop.

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Star Light, Star Bright, Stars Upon My Bed Tonight*

Stars have shone brightly on quilts for over two centuries—appearing in quilting, piecing, and appliqué. This lecture takes you on a journey through time to see how star designs have evolved (or stayed surprisingly the same) across 200 years of quiltmaking.

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Quilts in Our Time – Stitching On Since 1976*

The 1970s marked the beginning of the quilt revival that continues to shape our quilting world today. Over the past five decades, we’ve seen incredible growth in tools, fabric choices, and the way quilters learn and share. But through all this evolution, have quilts themselves truly changed?

This lecture takes a thoughtful look at quilting since 1976—celebrating the resurgence, examining what’s shifted, and reflecting on what has remained wonderfully constant.

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Keeping a Remembrance

From friendship quilts to presentation pieces, quilts with names and inscriptions preserve heartfelt moments in time. This lecture explores quilts from the 1840s to today that carry stories, names, and sometimes mysteries.

Unknown But Not Anonymous*

Even when we don’t know the maker’s name, quilts speak. This program dives into the lives, messages, and mysteries embedded in anonymous quilts—and what they can still tell us today.

The Old Lady Who Swallowed the Fly Was a Quilter...*

Remember the nursery rhyme? This lighthearted lecture features quilts that make you ask “Why?”—from the wildly creative to the truly quirky. It’s a fun celebration of quiltmakers who colored outside the lines, broke the rules, or simply marched to their own thimble.

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Thanks Eli, Isaac, and Tom

Quiltmaking in the 19th century didn’t happen in a vacuum. This fast-paced trunk show explores how industrial innovations—from sewing tools to everyday household aids—shaped fabric, time, and the lives of quiltmakers in the 1800s. Featuring quilts from the early 1800s through the 1890s, this program highlights how changing technology transformed the home and the art of quilting alike.

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Orphan Quilts: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

(Subtitled: Bless Her Heart)
Some quilts sparkle… and some, well, miss the mark. This humorous lecture features a parade of puzzling, charming, and sometimes downright questionable quilts and tops from the past. Along the way, we’ll explore color, value, and design choices—learning how yesterday’s missteps can help inspire better quilts today.

 

Northern Lady or Southern Belle?*

There was more than just the Mason-Dixon Line that divided the North and South. This lecture compares and contrasts quilts from the 19th century in design, style and fabric to examine the regional differences of our quilting ancestors.

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Appliqué: Amazing, Awesome, and “A” for Effort

Take a journey through the changing world of appliqué across three centuries. This lecture explores how the technique evolved and what has remained timeless.

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Wandering Feet and Broken Needles: Superstitions of Quilting*

What’s the risk of starting a quilt on a Friday? Should you avoid certain patterns for your sweetheart? What does happen if you break a needle? This lighthearted lecture explores the curious superstitions and folklore in quilting’s long history.

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Wearing Grannie’s Panties

Feedsacks weren’t just fabric—they were survival tools, wardrobes, and quilt stashes. This trunk show of feedsacks and feedsack quilts is full of history, resourcefulness, and color.

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They Spoke With Their Needles*

Before women had platforms or the vote, they had quilts. This program highlights political and social statements stitched into fabric, revealing the voices of women who used quilts to speak their truths.
A perfect choice for Women’s History Month.

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Make Your Best Quilt!*

What does a judge look for when evaluating a quilt? This lecture takes you behind the scenes to explore the qualities that can make a quilt stand out in competition—and the small, simple things every quilter can do to elevate their work. Even if you never plan to enter a quilt show, this program offers practical tips and inspiration to help you make the best quilt you’re capable of—whether it's destined for a ribbon or a loved one.