Due to the hard work of our MPS Program Chairs, we have many fabulous workshops to offer in 2017:
In January, we are offering a workshop by Sam Hunter. She spoke to us in October and inspired us so much, we asked her to come back and lead a workshop. She’ll be teaching us how to make her Dingbat Quilt, and will have the pattern for each student at the workshop which is included in the fee! No need to purchase the pattern before class.
Sam holds an MFA in Fiber Arts and is a quilt pattern designer. Her mission statement tells us that she’s “a champion for helping our 
newest sewists, and our up-and-comers. I like to design patterns that can be made with beginners’ skills, but that are more interesting than the usual big block patterns that are offered to our newbies.”
The workshop will be held on Saturday, January 28th from 9:00am to 4:00pm. We don’t have many Saturday workshops, so this is a great opportunity for those whose schedules don’t allow for weekday workshops.
On March 1, Joyce Dean Gieszler will lead a workshop from her Grandma’s Surprise pattern. And in this class, you have four options and two sizes from which to choose! One of those options is a coloring page so you can design your own quilt. Check out the information sheet and supply list for more information.
Joyce has been teaching quilting for 15 years and designing patterns for 10. She loves to instill the joy of quilting into her students. She also 
greatly enjoys the challenge of turning a skeptical sewist into a successful one.
She will be speaking to us the night before this workshop (February 28th) on the topic of “Organizing your Stash and UFO’s”. This seems like the perfect topic to lead into a great workshop. Remember, guests are always welcome at our Guild meetings.
Then in April, Robin Long will teach a workshop on her own method of making a Mariner’s Compass. No paper piecing! She has developed two special rulers–one for creating a “skinny” compass and one for creating a “fat” compass. Both are beautiful.
She developed this method as she was trying to make a quilt for her husband who was a submarine officer at the time. In 2015, she launched her business, Robin Ruth Design. There, she sells her specialty rulers along with books and patterns.
Robin will be speaking to us at our April 25th Guild meeting, and I’m sure we’ll be delighted with everything she has to show us.
For the workshop, you will need to purchase one of her rulers. She will have them available at the workshop at a 10% discount; or if you can’t wait, you can find them in many quilt shops. Did I mention that these rulers will help you create slightly different compass blocks in 16 sizes? Such a deal!
Last but far from least, we have Colleen Wise coming to lead a workshop called “Boxes and Beyond”. The boxes appear to float in space. This is a variation on the familiar Baby Blocks block, but without the tedious piecing. You’ll enjoy learning her tricks for easy assembly.
Colleen says she likes geometry, but not necessarily symmetry. She likes to create quilts with the illusion of three-dimensions. Her quilts have a sense of depth while some elements seem to float on the surface. She also likes to create the illusion of shadows which in turn, creates light.
She will also be speaking to us the night before the workshop at our June 27th Guild meeting where we’ll see many wonderful quilts.
This workshop is for the advanced beginner to intermediate quilter.
Thank you, MPS Program Chairs, for your diligence in bringing us these great workshops! All of these workshops are open for registration today and can be found on the workshop page of our website. Click the Workshops button and have a look around. Sign up for just one, or go for it and sign up for multiple classes. Does someone need an idea for a gift for you? Send them to the website! Workshops
Speaking of gift ideas…check out this link for the perfect gift for your hostess or quilter friends.