I am available for one hour GUILD PROGRAMS (see topics below) and for 3 hour and 6 hour WORKSHOPS (class list available upon request and also partially represented at my web site). My fees for Workshops & Programs are for 2006.

I have been making quilt samples for QUILT MAGAZINE for twelve years, so I have a LOT of quilts to demonstrate in my programs!

One Hour Programs

Shortcuts From a Short Woman - This is a trunk show bursting with tips, tricks, shortcuts and a variety of innovations that will satisfy any quilter. I demonstrate traditional blocks made with non-traditional methods. With at least 20 quilts I show quick ways to create Drunkard's Path, Winding Ways, LeMoyne Stars and Carpenter's Wheel sewn without set-in seams, Dresden Plates, Folded Flowers from Hexagons. I introduce Coffee Filter Quilting, my own methods for Raw Edge Appliqué, quick paper piecing with Ultra Suede.

Breaking All The Rules - Are you operating under a set of weights that threaten to squash your creative life? Do the Quilt Police hover at your sewing room door? Debby shares her "break out" story using a wide variety of quilts - both pieced and applique. She debunks the ghosts of Tradition, Preconceived Notions, and other spooky shadows without going over the edge! She includes a lot of tips and tricks to demonstrate that today's quilter can indeed have fun and make a quilt at the same time. And she WILL expand your own vision of where to go for your next quilt inspiration. - and inspire you with many of her own quilts!

Quilts My Grandmothers Should Have Made - If they had quilted, they would have chosen THESE quilts from the 1930s. A trunk show filled with between 15 and 20 quilts, both pieced and appliqué, demonstrating a variety of series patterns and Kansas City Star patterns (Memory Bouquet, Laurel Wreath, Garden Bouquet, The Toy Quilt, etc). Feedsacks, reproduction prints, contemporary versions of traditional quilts - all pay homage to the 1920s and 1930s.

Tessellations: Interlocking Designs For The Rest of Us - In short, a tessellation is any repeating pattern of interlocking shapes. With 10-15 quilts and tops demonstrating my own geometric patterns I show tessellating designs from the most basic (Postage Stamp) to complex (Interlocking Leaves, Twinkling Stars, Streak of Lightning). I introduce a little history and then explain the design process, fabric and color choices, and quick ways to piece difficult looking blocks. There is a lot of visual stimulation, clever tricks, and I will include a free pattern for one of the blocks that I show.

Black By Popular Demand - Trunk show from my AQS book Bold, Black & Beautiful Quilts. With 16 wonderful quilt, there are a lot of eye-popping visuals! Many of the quilts use special techniques (quick, of course) and all use the element of black as a backdrop for bright, happy fabrics. I sprinkle in several other newer works using black as my newest "neutral."

Tips & Tricks With Tools & Templates - As the Queen of Tools and Templates, I rule my sewing room with my magic scepter. I have a trick to just about any difficult block, to make it bend to my command. I have tools for making Dresden Plate blades, Eight Pointed Stars (without any hand work or set in seams), Fake Prairie Points, Circle templates from your mailbox (can anyone say "AOL CDs"?). I use Coffee Filters for paper piecing, fold one shape to create another, and streamline even the most cantankerous of fussy quilt units. This is a trunk show filled with quilts, blocks, samples and fun tips that even the most experienced quilter will learn something new

Small Wonders - Making a small quilt can be even more fun than making a large one. They are not only finished quicker, but they are easier to display in your home or office. Debby brings all sorts of patterns - pieced, appliqué and paper pieced - together into her small quilts demonstration. She has had several occasions to display many in a public arena (libraries, clubs, schools). These span the years with traditional blocks made with authentic feed sacks, traditional blocks using quick techniques, innovative appliqué, Asian inspired quilts from the books of Kumiko Sudo, paper pieced blocks of her own design. Besides bringing at least 20 quilts (and probably more), she shares her quick tips for speeding up the process of more complicated blocks. She includes a handout and pattern from one of the quilts for each guild member.

One Block Wonders - This is the basis of a new series. I came into 50-60 appliqué blocks through a friend who held a contest for local quilters. Since most couldn't be used together into a larger quilt, I began to brainstorm about making each one unique as a quilt. I pulled out 10 years worth of quilt articles and created a menu of border selections to help me make quilts of these blocks. I give tips on working with problem blocks, odd-sized blocks, use of color, setting a block on point and getting the side triangles to fit (I love formulas!). I talk a lot about triangles: half-square, quarter square, dogtooth, sawtooth, and 60 degree. I use folded squares, fake appliqué, and share what I've learned from my mistakes. I bring a LOT of blocks and quilts (since they're small) and will bring a handout of menu selections to give members something to inspire them when they go back to their own sewing room.

I am happy to supply more details on any of the above to interested guilds or shops.

Kits and handouts are dependent on the number of guild members you anticipate attending the program. Guilds over 50 members may require hosting guild to make photocopies of handouts for me ahead of time. Some lectures require a slide show for large guilds. I am flexible and willing to work with host guild to make my program enjoyable for all.