I was born and raised in Minnesota. Missouri has been my home for the last 20 years. I started working with color when I was very young. Growing up, I loved to do crafts of all kinds. I was teaching crocheting at 12 years old. My Grandma made quilts and I got to iron the fabric scraps for her.  I started sewing clothes when I was in junior high. The only quilts I knew how to make back then were very simple ones with 6″ blocks.

In 1993, I joined a quilt guild. A whole new world opened up for me. Oh my did I have a lot to learn. I took as many classes as I could and I have been learning ever since. One of those classes was with Catherine Erickson in Minnesota in 2010. I had paper pieced before but the Judy Niemeyer patterns looked so complicated and I figured if I took the class, it would be a whole lot easier. Catherine had a weekend retreat and I went up there to learn the Judy Niemeyer technique of paper piecing. I was so hooked! I love the organization and the step by step instructions. No guess work and everything fits! Paper piecing is my favorite quilting technique.

Since joining the guild in 1993, I have joined other guilds. I have taught classes at different guilds and at different quilt shops. I love to see people learn and I think all the different color combinations of quilt are amazing. I was even asked to be a judge for the quilt entries at a local fair.

Catherine told me about the certified instructor program for Judy Niemeyer. I thought to myself “Holy crap! That would be amazing!” So I signed up for a retreat out in Montana with Judy. I talked with Judy and she said that I should apply. So my mind was set! I applied to be a certified instructor but I thought I would not make it the first round. When I was actually picked…I was on cloud 9 for a long time. This was a major accomplishment for me. I look forward to sharing Judy’s techniques and methods.

Thank you Judy for this opportunity and thank you Catherine for showing me the Judy Niemeyer techniques.