Book a BackPack Show or a Workshop (or both)!

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When I was first approach to do a Trunk Show I was so new to quilt making that I couldn't even imagine my quilts in a trunk, or that I'd ever have enough to fill a trunk, so I called my trunk show ... a BackPack Show.  And the name stuck!

While I really like to be face to face with folks for a live, in-person presentation, I understand about budget limitations and the incredible costs associated with travel for in-person presentations.

I have had great reaction to my Zoom presentations.

But check with me.  I will be traveling a lot in 2025 and I might already be visiting in your area!

In this one, I will exam quilts made over the last ten years.  Using Power Point and lots and lots of quilts, I'll tell my unique story. I'll talk about life events that have changed my life, the issues that I care about, and what motivates my quilt making. And I'll explain the importance of starting conversations about difficult topics and my plan to change the world.

We still hear comments like this when we observe some folks looking at more activist or statement-type quilts. Their discomfort is obvious! This 'trend' is anything but new. In this presentation we'll look at historical quilts that were much more than pretty. We'll also look at some well known contemporary quilts that pack a punch, by some well known and successful quilters. We'll look at some recent quilt show winners that were far more than pretty. and we'll end with a hands-on look at about 20 of my quilts that are designed to start conversations and to facilitate change.

Words and stories are such an integral part of my work. In this presentation I will talk about the many techniques that I use to add words and story to my quilts. You'll get to see the techniques as they are used in real quilts, and you'll take home a handout demonstrating some of them! This one is new and still developing!

In this presentation I will focus on my activism through quilt making ... my Quiltivism! 

While depression, childhood sexual abuse, Black Lives Matter, and a variety of other social justice issues have always influenced my work, I am obsessed with advocating for Queer rights and starting conversations about issues affecting Queer folk. We'll look at a lot of my quilts, and a few slides of other quilt makers' work. This presentation is especially well suited for Queer audiences who are not interested in a lot of quilt making information and background. The focus will be on the quilts, the messages that they tell, and the issues that they address!

We will work through some of the patterns available from the CQA 'True Colours Quilt Along' with your group.  I'll bring some rainbow coloured fabric for folks to use, but I also encourage folks to raid their scrap bins for more to bring. This quilt along is open to everyone so anyone can use the patterns.  In a four hour workshop, a Guild should be well on the way to completing a quilt for donation in support of 2SLQBTQI+ folks!