A wonderful thing happened about five years ago.  I discovered a fabulous software program that has changed my life and took me in surprising and fun directions.  Electric Quilt was a computer software program to design quilts.  It was perfect.

Me at age 11

Let’s take a step back.  I decided to retire early in 2012 and do something with all my creative energy.  I had been a sewist since age 11 and had sewn clothing, home decor, halloween costumes and most recently quilts and small quilty gifts.  I was designing with pencil and graph paper.  I wanted to design more quilts and had an idea to submit to quilt magazines.  I needed something more efficient.  I found Electric Quilt 7 quilt design software.

I bought the software, I tried to use it, it was a comprehensive program.  I was squeaking out a few things when I discovered what turned out to be the first EQ Academy in Ohio.  I lived in Michigan, not a bad drive from where I lived so I invested in myself and attended classes.  So truth be told, it was a perfect match.  I started my career as a computer programmer and ended up as a Director of Information Technology in the Automotive industry.  Mixing my technical background with my love for quilting made Electric Quilt the perfect choice.

I was off and running after those first classes, I was designing my own original patterns.  I made beautiful quilts for friends and family.  I submitted designs from EQ8 to magazines with success and started my own independent pattern business.

I loved it so much, I started to teach the software to others.  I started out teaching my husband, he is so supportive and was my first student.  I began to teach at a local quilt shop and to teach at local quilt events.

I had a wonderful opportunity come up a few years ago to teach for Electric Quilt at one of their EQ Academies.  I really enjoyed it.  I especially enjoy teaching beginners, it is so rewarding to see the light bulbs come on and to have them get excited about designing that perfect quilt they have been thinking about.

It is rewarding to help others be able to design and be creative using this unique, comprehensive software.

I continue to build my knowledge and teach others.  This year I will be teaching a lot of new users, maybe you will be one of my students and learn the joys of designing in EQ8.

Here is my current EQ8 2020 Teaching Schedule:

Postponed to a future date  March 26-28    Decorative Stitch Quilt Shop, Shelby Township, MI

CANCELLED  See you in the Fall  April 2-5    Sprng EQ Academy, Perrysburg, OH

Sep 17-19        Decorative Stitch Quilt Shop, Shelby Township, MI

Oct 1-3             Fall EQ Academy, Perrysburg, OH

I hope you can join me for one of those dates.  Invest in yourself and take a class, you will learn so much.

I also travel to teach at shows, guilds and shops.  Check out my Classes page for my current offerings.

Happy Designing!