updated July 2009

Roberta Williams presents Malden Marketplace "where creative friends gather"

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Programs & Lectures

Trunk Show

I love sharing my quilts with groups. I do a trunk show lasting from 60 minutes to 90 minutes in which I show about 25 - 30 quilts. They range from traditional to very contemporary. I explain how the quilts were constructed and the techniques I used in crafting them. I have the names of the patterns I used and where the patterns are available.

Photo to Fabric

This is a 45-60 minute lecture on how to take a photo, draft a pattern from the photo and using fabric recreating the picture. I can do this as a lecture/demo with a question and answer session at the end of the demo. I also teach this as a 1 day workshop.

Free Motion Embroidery

I do a lecture/ demo on the art of free motion embroidery. This is a short program of about 45 minutes. I explain how to set up your sewing machine, how to prepare materials for embroidery and what threads to use. People at the lecture have the opportunity to try the technique on my sewing machine.

If you are interested in having me do a Trunk Show, Photo to Fabric, or Free Motion Embroidery lecture/demo for your guild please contact me.

Classes

1.) Birdwatchers Club

Our group started in January of 2009. We meet at Patched Works Quilt Shop in Elm Grove, Wisconsin. www.patchedworks.com Each month we are making a different set of birds and in November we will have a completed quilt, The Heidi Birds. Julie, owner of Patched Works, has done a splendid job of kitting the fabrics for the birds and as a member of the club you receive a kit each month. We are having a Birdwatchers evening at the shop when you will be able to pick out your background fabric with help from Julie and her knowledgeable staff, Laurie and Karen, who have finished their quilts, and me. It is a great group and I am sure you can catch up if you would like to join it now.

Some of the members of the Bird Watchers Club showing off their finished products

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Classes

2.) Photos to Fabric - All day Class

In this class each member starts with a picture they would like to create in fabric. Before the class via e-mail or snail mail, I help the students select their photo, start their pattern design and suggest fabric choices for the class. The day of the class we create the picture.

Mary F. and her beautiful sunflower quilt. Mary took the picture of the sunflower and then transformed it into this wonderful quilt. It was started in a class in New Glarus last fall. Mary beaded the center of the flower for added interest and quilted it to emphasis the veins in the leaves and petals. Wonderful job Mary! This is the 2nd quilt done from this class of very creative women. Watch for the rest to be posted.

Quilting-close up

Original picture and a beautiful finished quilt.Great job, Marlene!

This is Marlene's finished picture done from a photograph taken in her garden. Marlene started this quilt in a class I taught in New Glarus Wiscosnin. It is really beautiful and so well done. Great interpetation of the photo.

This is a photo of 'Immortality' taken in our garden. The pattern was created from the picture and the quilt made from the pattern.

Pattern Available

Original Photo

Finished Wall Hanging

Fabric Rendition

"Spring Iris" - quilted

Classes

3.) Hand Applique - Half day class

My first love! I love to applique and I love to teach hand applique. I was taught to applique by a friend, Kelli, who is left handed, so I applique backwards for a right handed person. The advantage to this is that I can teach both right and left handed people to applique! This is usually a half day class. The supply list is easy and I provide needles and a variety of threads to try in my class. Original pattern available or member can bring a pattern of their choice.

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Dorothy's rendition of the applique sampler! New Glarus Retreat

Tulip block, learn to do curves inside and out and overlapping applique

Classes

4.) Wool Applique - Half day Class

Wool applique is easier than needle turned applique because the edges are not turned under but finished with thread. I use wool thread, perle cotton and DMC embroidery floss for stitching. The class is usually a half day class and I provide the wool for the applique, thread to use in class and the needles. The class includes an original pattern for a wool bag or the Wooly Birds pattern is available for purchase. The patterns include instructions for the embroidery stitches.

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Wooly Birds

Original design

This is made from all wool materials including the embroidery. This is a 6 hour class which includes the patterns for the birds, background and embroidery. I also teach how to make the free motion embroidered leaves for the branches.

No machine necessary for this class. I bring my machine and teach each student individually to make the embroidered leaves.

Embroidered Borders with wool embroidery thread

Pattern Available

Classes

5.) Free Motion Embroidery - Half Day Class

In this class I teach members how to set up their machines to do free motion embroidery. How to prepare their embroidery sandwich and what threads to use. I provide the stabilizer and threads to use in class. Students need a small embroidery hoop and a sewing machine that is capable of dropping the feed-dogs. Original leaf pattern included.

The orange, light green and dark green leaves are done with free motion embroidery.

Classes

6.) Let's Fly Together

This original pattern is done with fusible webbing. The birds and flowers are fused on a teflon cloth and then transfered to the quilt background. The quilt is 30" x 25". The vine stem is done with a bias maker and machine appliquéd. Pattern is included in the class and some kits in similar colors would be available for purchase.

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Fabric background designed and made by Sarah Gail Luther

updated June 2009