Spring is in the air with fun fabrics and It's a Spring Thing, by Kris Holderness, quilt pattern.

Meander, by Shereece Nicole, could be made with just two colors instead of the three colors shown which affords the quilter some opportunity to play with color.

Joan Bassett (issue 5/2023)

Joan lives in Oregon where she loves designing and creating quilts. Over the last 30 years, she’s designed and marketed nineteen quilt patterns. For free patterns and more, visit her blog at quiltersfun-joan.blogspot.com.

RaeLyn Booth (issue 2/2023)

RaeLyn Boothe (known as RB online) was raised by a quilter who was raised by a quilter who was raised by a quilter. However, she didn't embrace quilting until she was about to become a grandmother for the first time. Five years and six grandchildren later, quilting has become a passion she enjoys every day.

RaeLyn lives in the beautiful mountains of Utah with her very supportive husband Bryan, two old cats, a big, silly golden-doodle puppy, and a couple of goldfish. In addition to grandkids, quilting, and blogging, she enjoys board games and puzzles of all kinds. She believes there isn't much wrong that a nap and a Diet Pepsi can't fix.

She developed a piecing technique she calls "seamless piecing" and recently started a blog by the same name. She offers a free pattern every month as well as skill-building tutorials and a little bit of zaniness.

www.seamlesspiecing.com

Anna Branch (issue 7/2023)

Anna Branch is an avid quilter who, with her husband and little dog, is enjoying the benefits of country living. She has been a writer for many years and is currently being published in the Almaguin News and in Quilter's Connection Magazine. You can read more about her life in the maple bush on her blog. Anna also has a web site where you can see her patterns, get tutorials, and enter her contests.

http://arkangelcreations.blogspot.com
www.arkangelcreations.org

Barbara Gavlick Hartnett (issue 7/2023)

Ever since I was a child, I sewed, crocheted, embroidered, and made my own clothes. That’s when I found my love of textiles. As an art major, I added batik and weaving to my interests.

My career was spent designing embroidery, lace, and emblems for manufacturers and for over 30 years designing and constructing costumes in my own business Costumes by Barbara (which I retired from in March 2018).

Creating quilt designs are fun for me. I have been working on my designs for almost 40 years. My grandmother, my mother, and my aunts were all hand quilters. (I like to think I inherited that gene.) Although I learned to quilt by hand, I found myself more interested in the design, color, and construction of the quilt tops.

I enjoy seeing my designs come to life and I am always humbled when others appreciate my work. After decades of practice, I still feel like a novice.

Reeze L. Hanson (issue 4/2023)

Reeze Hanson is a prolific designer, entertaining speaker, and an award-winning teacher whose company, Morning Glory Designs, features an eclectic variety of whimsical florals and bold geometrics. Reeze teaches and lectures widely on one-patch quilt techniques that offer both traditional and modern methods geared toward the busy/working quilter. Her floral appliqué work features machine applique shortcuts and tips to make beautiful quilts in less time without sacrificing accuracy. She also teaches all levels of EQ8 quilt design software. A sewer, quilter, and custom dressmaker for more than 50 years and now a retired college professor, Reeze has lots of experience, wisdom, and humor to share.

www.morningglorydesigns.com

Kris Holderness (issue 1/2023)

Born and raised in Eastern Utah and Western Colorado, Kris grew up enjoying hiking, camping, horses, dogs, cats, and all kinds of arts and crafts, including drawing and painting. Later in life, she picked up photography and of course—quilting!

Kris started writing patterns several years ago after getting excited about creating something unique and different. Today, she loves designing new patterns with fun shapes and beautiful fabrics to share with the rest of the quilting world.

Connie Kaufman (issue 1/2023)

Connie is a quilter/designer/author living in Nappanee, Indiana. She has a love of color and design and enjoys creating a wide variety of projects. Many of her patterns appear in books and magazines. She has published 6 books: Piecefully Amish, 24 Kids Quilt Blocks, 24 Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam Quilt Blocks, The Scrap Savers Solution Book, Put Some Charm in Your Quilts, and Little Gems.

Visit her website and blog at:
www.conniekauffman.com
www.kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com

Jaci Lawson (issue 9/2022)

When I was 9 , I saw a knitted bikini in a magazine. I thought, “I can do that!” I've been creating ever since, and my projects tend to ensnare husband, family, and unsuspecting friends.

An art quilter from Dover, NH, I made my first quilt in 2009. My quilts have since been shown in local art exhibits, local and regional quilt shows, and a local craftsman outlet. I have also designed other craft projects, including a luggage tag design published in Quilts and More, Summer 2011, and have given demonstrations on art quilting techniques, fabric collage, and other art techniques, including a 3-D challenge at the Cocheco Quilt Guild Art Bee, of which I am a founding member. I am currently working with a partner to create Zentangle®-style embroidery designs.

My greatest achievement is living happily with the same husband for over 30 years, despite dragging him into every home and garden project I could dream up. He lives in fear of 5 words: “Honey, I have an idea!” We have 3 extraordinary daughters and 3 exceptional grandchildren. Truly, the Lord has been good to us and blessed our home.

Isobel Meekins (issue 7/2023)

I have enjoyed sewing and doing other crafts since childhood. In 1993, I caught the quilting bug and have been addicted ever since. After over ten years as a middle school special education teacher, I moved on to teaching quilting classes for local and state quilt guilds, numerous quilt shops, and the Department of Parks and Recreation in Newport News, Virginia.

In addition to teaching, I write simple-to-follow quilt patterns, organize quilting events and trips, including annual quilt retreats in Capon Springs, West Virginia, work for various quilt vendors and pattern designers, and work part-time at Sunshine Quilt Corner in Newport News, Virginia. Several of my patterns can be found at www.blockpartystudios.com and www.quiltpatternmagazine.com.

My motto is, "Quilting should be fun and relaxing!"

Shereece Nicole (issue 1/2023)

HELLO, I'm Shereece! My quilting and crocheting journey began in 2010 out of boredom. I was living in a new, small town and I was looking to meet new people. Thanks to a local program, I started to learn to crochet. Then I was reintroduced to quilting (the "correct" way). My travels and everyday life began to inspire patterns I wanted to create. And now, I'm sharing those designs with you and teaching others skills I've learned along the way.

Renette Opperman (issue 9/2022)

My name is Renette Opperman, and I am an Afrikaans-speaking South African. My husband, Danie, and I live and work on our cattle ranch in the northern rural part of South Africa near the small holiday town of Bela Bela. We have two adult children.

I have been a creative person since I can remember. Through the years, I have tried my hand at painting, sketching, crocheting, cross-stitch, blackwork, patchwork, and quilting. I really love the latter! I love all things vintage and quilting is the perfect way to create something with an air of yesteryear. My favourite techniques are appliqué and paper piecing. As a retired dentist, mirror images are no problem for me!

My quilting means a lot to me. It gives me a sense of achievement and something to look forward to every day. I have read somewhere that "a creative adult is a child that survived". I guess I am still a child who loves to create beautiful things to cherish.

Bonny Peters (issue 6/2023)

Bonny started sewing almost 50 years ago but did not start quilting until 2012. On a whim, she decided to try her hand and quickly became addicted to the myriad of fabrics available. Santa brought her Electric Quilt 7 that year and she has been designing quilts ever since. Since retiring in June 2013, Bonny has devoted many hours to designing and quilting. December 2015 began a new adventure for her with the launch of Cat Den Mountain Quilts. Her goal is to sell enough patterns to supplement her fabric budget.

Bonny lives with her husband of 30-plus years in the woods of southwestern New Hampshire. They retired from the Tampa Bay area of Florida. They have many pets, although none indoors. Their outdoor pets include many mammals, birds, and amphibians. Notable among these are a bobcat, scarlet tanagers, and spotted newts.

www.CatDenMountainQuilts.com

Nancy Scott (issue 11/2022)

Nancy Scott is the creative spirit behind Masterpiece Quilting and The Schoolhouse on Shackley.

She's an author, quilt pattern designer and teacher who loves being crafty. Growing up in a family of "makers", she's a proud DIY enthusiast. Her current favorites include sewing and quilting, refinishing antiques, chalk painting, and photography.

In 2006, she changed careers from the academia/corporate world and started Masterpiece Quilting LLC. In 2012, she submitted her first design to a magazine for publication. It was accepted, and her calling was found that day!

Since then, she has sold over 150 designs to publications and fabric companies in addition to publishing under her Masterpiece Quilting brand. Her patterns can be seen regularly in Quilter's World Magazine, The Quilt Pattern Magazine, Annie's quilting and craft books, Fons & Porter's Quick & Easy Quilts, McCall's Quilting, The Love of Quilting, and Exclusively Annie's.

She keeps busy designing modern-traditional quilts, writing books, teaching online classes for quilting and business, and honing her skills as a surface pattern designer.

Donna Westerkamp (issue 6/2023)

Hello, my name is Donna Westerkamp and I am the mother of one daughter and five sons. I live in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.

My career began with making cloth dolls for craft shows. I was also published on the cover of several major magazines for my original designs. Then, I freelanced my sewing and craft ideas with a team of designers for Ben Franklin Crafts magazine and Leewards Creative Craft stores (now Michaels).

As life got busy at home, I found quilting by hand was all I could do in doctor’s offices and on sports fields. I taught myself how to use the computer and became proficient in EQ.

I have been designing quilts for local quilt shops and Internet stores ever since. In 2008, I started my longarm quilting business and learned the art of free-motion quilting. I am a member of the Faithful Circle Quilt Guild and past President of Northern Illinois Longarm Guild.

Thank you for reading my story. Please visit my website for more information.

www.DonnaWesterkamp.com