Scrap User's System!  This  lecture takes you through my years of scrap quilting and how I have organized my scraps and leftovers to be easily ascessible and workable into my quilt making.  Also includes discussion of tools of the trade that I find helpful in my scrap using.  I am a scrap USER, not just a scrap saver! There is a difference....this lecture will inspire quilters to organize their scraps and start turning them into beautiful quilts.

Scraps & Shirttails!  This lecture focuses on the quilts from my book by the same name, released by Kansas City Star Quilts in September 2008. Not only do I show the quilts from the book, but others I've made with recycled fabrics and scraps as well! I include information about what to look for when recycling clothing into quilts, the best way to slice and dice your cotton clothing into useable sizes so it is ready for your quilt making, combining recycled fabrics with new yardage for the right look, etc.

Adventures With Leaders & Enders! This lecture focuses on quilts made between the lines of sewing other projects! A while back I found myself nearly paralyzed by my burgeoning stash and scraps after nearly 30 years of living by the credo: "She who dies with the most fabric wins!" It was then I turned to my love of antique scrap quilts for inspiration in putting the rewarding method of sewing Leaders & Enders to work.  The Lecture features quilts from my book by the same name, along with others from my personal collection--starting from very basic simple designs, to more complex ones,  inspiring you on your way to thinking outside the box when it comes to your methods of piecing and using what you have on hand to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind scrap quilts in between the lines of chain piecing other projects.  This is multitasking at its best!

Trunk shows last approximately one hour + Q&A and will be illustrated with loads of my quilts. I will need two volunteers to hold quilts, two volunteers to fold the quilts and a table to lay quilts on. If I am flying to your area, a quilt stand (and sometimes a power point projector) may be needed as I can't bring my own!  An Extra table (small is fine) to sit and sign books at is also helpful.

• Pics from Pax River Quilters in Maryland!
• Pics from Mountain Piecemakers in Burnsville, NC!
• Pics from Quilters Unlimited in Falls Church, VA!
  

Most requested workshops to date:

Basket Weave Strings
Students will bring scraps and strips to share with others in the class so that everyone has a variety of fabrics to play with. The objective in this workshop is for students to learn the basics, and the fun and freedom of string piecing!

• Basket Weave Strings Class Supply List
  

Crumb Piecing
Students will bring scraps and strips to share with others in the class so that everyone has a variety of fabrics to play with. I will demonstrate a variety of ways to piece crumb blocks including wonky log cabin, string, and free form. I'll bring my own Crumb quilts for inspiration.

• Crumbs Workshop Class Supply List
  

Star Struck
Students will bring pre-cut 2.5" strips ready to power sew into tesselating star struck blocks! This quilt goes so fast,everyone will have a pile of blocks in no time.  Students can also have fun swapping strips with each other for more variety in their quilts. Focus on USING YOUR STASH encouraged!

• Star Struck Class Supply List
  

Pineapple Blossom
Students will bring pre-cut 2" strips ready to power sew into courthouse step type blocks, and altering them into pineapple blossom blocks by adding on quick corners.  This method produces bonus corners and discussion includes various layouts for the blocks (with or without sashing) as well as alternate ideas for using the bonus corners!  Students can also have fun swapping strips with each other for more variety in their quilts.  Focus on USING YOUR STASH encouraged!

• Pineapple Blossom Class Supply List
  

Happy Scrappy Houses
Students will bring pre-cut 2" strips ready to construct a whole neighborhood of fun houses!  Students can have fun swapping strips with eachother for more variety in their houses. Focus on USING YOUR STASH encouraged!

• Happy Scrappy Houses Class Supply List
  

Scrappy Bargello
The original "Anything Goes" quilt!  Students will bring pre-cut 2.5" strips ready to piece easy and scrappy bargello panels.  Swapping strips is also a fun way to incorporate more variety in this quilt. Focus on USING YOUR STASH encouraged!

• Scrappy Bargello Class Supply List
  

Scrappy Mountain Majesties
A great quilt for using larger pieces of leftover fabrics!  Students will bring pre-cut 8.5" squares in pairs of light/dark.  Many layouts provide lots of options for this fun quilt!

• Scrappy Mountain Majesties Class Supply List

My Blue Heaven:
This is a two block quilt! A modified puss in the corner block, and an hour glass star block, both in 8" finished size. You can make this quilt as big or small as you would like depending on the number of blocks you make.  This quilt uses 45 star blocks and 45 puss blocks. The 90 blocks are set 9 across by 10 down. Of course you can make the quilt smaller depending on the number of blocks you make

This quilt is perfect to learn how to use the specialty rulers I love and use so much in my scrap quilting! This is an exceptionally good class for beginning quilters, as we cover basic units like half square triangles, flying geese and hour-glass.

• My Blue Heaven Class Supply List
  

String Spider Web: 
What a scrappy web we'll weave as we spend a day of string piecing on old-timey spider web blocks!  String piecing is fun and economical and a great way to make a dent in the scrap stash.

• String Spider Web Class Supply List
  

Sister's Choice:
Everyone loves star blocks! And this one is a favorite with it's 9 patch center and easy star points. This is also a great scrap buster as the whole quilt center is made from 2.5" strips! Great for Jelly Rolls too. Block size: 10".

• Sister's Choice Class Supply List
  

Boxy Stars:
 Quick 8 pointed stars are made from 2.5" scrap strips with no set in seams!  Blocks finish at 12" for a quick lap quilt all from scraps. This class also works great with Jelly Rolls.

• Boxy Stars Class Supply List

Virginia Bound:  (Book Required)
Virginia Bound is the flagship quilt from my book "Scraps & Shirttails". Based on the traditional Rocky Road to Kansas block, I have revamped it for foundation piecing! Even the setting diamonds are string pieced. :c)  A wonderful border surrounds the quilt. I made this quilt using all the 'strings' and small parts left from cutting up recycled shirts to use in quilt making. It's a FUN class, no matter what fabrics the students choose. Simply go all scrappy, by separating lights from darks, or choose a two color scheme such as blues/yellows, or reds/greens for a gorgeous christmas quilt.

• Virginia Bound Class Supply List

Shirttails!:  (Book Required)
Three traditional blocks combine in this top to challenge any quilter! We will be making 1/2 square triangles in 3 different sizes, and combining blocks of different sizes to make a scrap quilt with a primitive feel. *Note* Though the pattern in the book is written with regular rotary cutting instructions, I love to use my easy angle ruler for half square triangles, and the companion angle combined with the easy angle ruler for flying geese units.  I will be demonstrating these rulers during class, so if you have always wanted to know how these work, bring them with you!

• Shirttails Class Supply List
  

Hidden Spools:
Get the look of string piecing without foundations, using quick piecing techniques and 2" scrap strips!  The lap size quilt is 46"X55".  This quilt requires the use of the Companion Angle Ruler. This class can be given as a full day or half day workshop.

Strip Twist:
Perfect for Jelly Rolls, Fat Quarters and/or scraps, Strip Twist has a mesmerizing design that may remind you of parquet floor tiles. Construction is easy, and you will get through that stack of scraps in no time! This class can be given as a full day or half day workshop.

• Strip Twist Class Supply List

Jared Takes A Wife!
A great beginners class and fun for advanced piecers too!  This entire top with the exception of borders is made from 2" strips and squares. Students will come to class with precut units ready to power sew into beautiful double-star blocks that require no inset y seams. Great stashbuster!

• Jared Takes A Wife! Class Supply List

Cathedral Stars!
Another great beginners class, and also fun for advanced quilters who want instruction on using the EZ angle Ruler and the Tri Recs Rulers and a way to dig into the scrap stash. Quilt is made from 2" and 3.5" strips, and is easier than it looks!

• Cathedral Stars Class Supply List

Oklahoma Backroads!
Do you have lots of SMALL scraps around? This quilt is completely made with 2.5" squares and 2.5" X 4.5" bricks! You can choose  a color scheme, or play completely scrappy. In this class you can even TRADE lights and darks with other class mates for more variety. Oklahoma Backroads is a VERY fun quilt that also provides "bonus" 1/2 square triangles that can be used in futire projects, or as an additional border.

• Oklahoma Backroads Class Supply List

9 Patch Split!
Based on a split 9 patch design, these blocks can be placed in numerous designs as with any log cabin block! The ideas are endless! We will be focusing on use of the Easy Angle for 1/2 square triangle units, piecing the blocks with rectangles, squares, and 1/2 square triangles, and learning how to do the cornerstone braid borders!

• 9 Patch Split Class Supply List
  

Fees for Lectures and Workshops:

All lectures and trunk shows within 500 miles of Winston-Salem, NC are illustrated with actual quilts, not slides. I am able to drive to locations within 500 miles of Winston-Salem, NC. (approximately up to 8 hours driving time)

If I have to fly to your location, lectures and trunk shows will be illustrated with as many quilts as I can carry in two large duffel bags, and the remainder will be a power-point presentation. The guild will be responsible for obtaining the projector for the presentation.  I'll bring as many real quilts as I can! In certain circumstances, the trunk show may  need to be fedex shipped to your location ahead of time. The guild is responsible for all shipping charges to and from your guild location back to me in Winston Salem NC.

Fees for workshops are based on 24 students.  Larger classes are welcomed provided there is ample work space for each student with the additional fee of $35.00 per student over 24.

• Trunkshow/Lecture fee: $400 plus travel/lodging and expenses.
  Trunk shows last approximately one hour + Q&A and will be illustrated with loads of my quilts.
  I will need two volunteers to hold quilts and 2 tables to lay quilts on.
  

• Workshop fee: 1 day: (6 hours plus lunch) $600 plus Travel/lodging and expenses.
  

• 1/2 day or evening workshop fee: (4 hours) $500 plus travel/lodging and expenses.
  

Expenses will include any printing of instruction handouts for the class. A receipt and invoice will be provided to the guild for such.
(Half day classes are restricted to easier patterns, and focus mostly on constructing one block unit, getting techniques down, so students can finish their quilts on their own at home. Please contact me for a list of patterns that work for half day workshops.) In most cases, the students will be responsible for printing their own instructions from my website.  Classes taught on quilts from my books will require the student having the book. No xerox copies will be allowed when teaching quilts from the book due to copyright restrictions by my publisher.

Lectures and Workshops can be combined for consecutive days. Please contact Bonnie for details.  Mileage and expenses may be shared with another guild in your area for "piggy backed" lectures, trunkshows & workshops! Contact other guilds near you to see if they would be interested in sharing expenses. It benefits everyone!

If your guild or shop is within 60 miles of Winston-Salem, NC, no lodging will be required, except in the event of bad weather,  but round-trip mileage is required at the current federal rate.

Locations farther than 60 miles from Winston-Salem, NC will require lodging and round-trip mileage at the current federal rate.
This includes travel to/trom the airport if I am flying to your guild location, and also requires reimbursement of expenditures such as airport long term parking, taxi or rental car if required, shipping of quilts to/from your location and any baggage check expenses.

I am also available to come teach workshops and give trunk shows at guild retreats!

Quiltville's Calendar! Where I'll Be!

Please contact Bonnie to set preliminary dates and to reserve your spot in Bonnie's schedule. However, her schedule may change without notice until a contract is received.  A signed contract also locks in your workshop/lecture fee in the event of a price change.