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

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When I was first approached 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!

In this one, I will exam quilts made over the last dozen years … sort of a chronology of my work.  

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.

This presentation generally runs about 50 to 60 minutes plus questions.

This presentation can be tailored to Queer groups, community groups , quilt guilds, etc. 

I will focus on my activism through quilt making ... 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.

In this presentation, I'll  look at some quilts, and explain my ‘Quilting the Progression of Queer Rights in Canada’ project and why it is so important.

This presentation can be adjusted even more specifically for Queer audiences who may not be as interested in a lot of quilt making information and background.

The focus remains on the quilts, their messages, and the issues that they address, so quilters consistently love this presentation!

This presentation is the one that I have been doing across the country as part of my “Quilting the Progression of Queer Rights in Canada’ tour during 2025. It is extremely well received by all audiences! It usually runs about one hour and a quarter before questions.

Words and stories are such an integral part of my work. 

And they are a large part of my social justice and activism.

In this presentation I will use a ‘BackPack Show’ to talk about the many techniques that I use to add words and story to my quilts … including: 

appliqué, 

reverse appliqué, 

pieced letters, 

improv letters, 

paper pieced letters, 

machine stitched letters, 

hand stitched letters, 

trapunto letters, 

braille, 

morse code, 

other codes, 

QR codes,  

You'll get to see many of these techniques in real quilts! I'll also offer some hints and tricks to simplfy techniques.

There is also a class that can only be presented when it is paired with this.

*** NEW FOR 2026 ***

In this workshop, we’ll construct a simple sampler style wall hanging.

There will be six letters created during the workshop, each using a different technique.. I’ll provide fabric (often precut) to speed us through this process. If you know that you are a faster worker, please bring additional fabric to make more letters with.

There will be a handout with internet links, reference material, techniques, etc.

I expect this one to be a really fun and popular class

This class in ONLY offered when paired with th ‘In My Own Voice’ BackPack Show!

HERE'S WHAT TO BRING

• all of the things that you will need to sew a quilt block (or two or three) -what you might bring for a normal 'Sew Say’
• a positive attitude and a co-operative outlook,

You don’t need to bring fabric, just a neutral thread. to save time as we try out word making techniques, I will provide all of the fabric, ready to use .