Heirloom Quilting Designs-Career Highlights

For me, just having a career in the quilting community is a dream come true. I love to draw, write and teach; all of that comes easily. Making elegant quilts to send off to shows, earning awards and having the opportunity to talk to you about them, is just so much fun! Hearing students say that I have influenced their lives is awesome.

However, if I had to choose one thing topping the list of all the recognition I have received, it would be gaining the esteem of Harriet Hargrave, the woman who originated the art form around which I now build my life. In her book, Heirloom Machine Quilting, 4th edition, (p.141 and 142, C&T, 2004) Harriet mentions how she was inspired to push herself in her own work after studying my quilt, Treasurers of Julia's Life. Let that be a lesson to you, never underestimate the connections we might make through our words, actions and our quilts!

Out of the Depths

Winter 2008, while receiving a record-breaking 100 inches of snow, I finally began using the embroidery equipment for my sewing machine. It was a completely new experience. I still have much to learn about the stabilizers and hoops, etc… I used new embroidery software, Creative DRAWings, which translates my Adobe Illustrator drawings into stitches that the machine embroiders. And, it won 2nd Place for Computer Aided Machine Embroidery at the International Quilt Festival!

15 Seconds of Fame

On March 16, 2008, CBS Sunday Morning featured a segment on quilting. Here is a link to the segment if you missed the show. Go to http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/sunday/main3445.shtml and type in Quilts for Sale in the search box. You will see Ricky, Alex, and Karey, and guess who they showed as the quintessential quilt fabric shopper? I have to say I was proud to represent each and every one of you; digging deep in my pocketbook to do my part for this $4,000,000,000.00 industry!

Award at 2007 International Quilt Festival

Here I am on stage at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, 2007, accepting the second place, Merit, Machine Quilting Award for my quilt, “Fais de beaux réves” from Jennifer Gigas of Bernina of America.

Two Best of Show Awards

“Fais de beaux réves” was also awarded Best of Show at both the Pacific International Quilt Festival 2006 and at the Road to California Show in 2006!

“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.”

Wayne Gretzky

Lea’s Choice is an award winner!

Lea’s Choice, (82" x 82" 2007) is my newest large quilt, is hand appliquéd with original quilting designs that were machine quilted using my home sewing machine. It has earned Best of Show and Viewers Choice awards at the Appleseed Quilt Show, Best Machine Quilting at The Lowell Quilt Festival, the Excellence in Machine Quilting Award at the 2008 Road to California Show, Best Machine Quilting, Traditional Quilt, at 2007 Pacific International Quilt Festival and 2nd Place Appliqué at AQS Paducah, 2008! Read the complete story and take a closer look in the gallery.

Robert Kaufman announces Joanie as “Radiance” Spokeswoman

Radiance. a new fabric line introduced by Robert Kaufman is a silk/cotton blend available in 27 rich, solid colors. They have asked me to be the spokeswoman and use Radiance in my work. Kyle Sanchez, Director of Promotions at Kaufman, recognized the possibilities of blending my elegant quilting designs with this luxurious new lfabric, stating,, “The union is a marriage made in Heaven!” www.robertkaufman.com.

Golden Girl

Golden Threads, the company that offers quilting design solutions that make every quilt a work of art, and I have joined forces! My original designs are available for hand, home machine, frame, and longarm machine quilting projects. Check out my Elements Stencil Packets and my Options Interchangeable Stencils on the Joanie’s Products page and purchase these designs from the Golden threads website www.goldenthreads.com.

Bernina National Teacher

It was such an honor to be chosen one of 20 teachers from the U.S. as a National Teacher by Bernina of America in 2005. The group representing every aspect of sewing gathers once a year to discuss how the sewing machine is used in various avenues of the industry.

Bernina Teacher Reunion, Steckborn, Switzerland

It was an absolute delight to be included in a group 85 quilting and textile industry educators from the U.S. attending a conference at the Bernina factory in Switzerland, in Dec. 2006. Events included research and development, interaction with quilters from Germany and Switzerland, textile museum, thread factory and folk museum tours, sightseeing the beautiful landscape and enjoying the camaraderie with this delightful group, as well as a launching the celebration for Bernina’s 75th Anniversary.

Harriet Hargrave Machine Quilting Celebration

The beautiful Rocky Mountains were the backdrop for the classes at the Harriet Hargrave Machine Quilting Celebration where I taught in 2005 and 2006. I offered design workshops to students for planning quilts with an emphasis on using imagery to express their personal stories. This conference is devoted solely to the home sewing machine quilter with workshops offered by some of the best instructors in traditional machine quilting arts

group of quilters at Harriet's celebration

Elegant Machine Quilting Review

Imagine my delight while taking a quick break on the sun deck at the IQA show in Houston, I was chatting with a gal I had never met before when she asked about my faculty ribbon. The she said, “Oh, I read a review about your book in Quilter’s Newsletter on the way here.” It was news to me! Read the very positive review written by editor, Irene Berry in December 2005 issue of Quilters Newsletter.

Quilt Expo Madison, WI

September is a beautiful month in Wisconsin. The shore of one of Madison’s two midtown lakes is the setting for Quilt Expo. In just three short years, this show has grown to be one of the Midwest’s finest quilt venues. You will find me there everyday, lecturing, presenting a stage show, signing books and proclaiming myself as the official Madison Ambassador, welcoming quilters to my hometown.

Quilters News Network and QNNtv.com

Keeping up with Quilting News on the web is fun and easy on Quilters News Network. Many updates from the quilting world and events are broadcast 24/7. You might even see a taped segment featuring me at Spring Quilt Market and Quilt Expo at: http://www.QNNtv.com

Taping for America Sews

What fun I had taping an episode for America Sews with Sue Hausmann for PBS. The 30-minute program features a demonstration of the Autumn Leaf Table Runner from my book, Elegant Machine Quilting. Check your local PBS for the 2100 series. A book containing projects from this series is available through America Sews. For more information go to: http://www.americasews.com

International Quilt Festival, Houston

I was among the faculty at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, 2005, lecturing on Heirloom Machine Quilting and offering hands-on workshops for the Hearts Desire Quilted Pillow. For information on upcoming shows go to: http://www.quilts.com

American Quilter Magazine

After having my quilt, Treasures of Julia’s Life, on display at their show, the American Quilter’s Society asked me to write an article for their magazine highlighting the story behind the quilt and explaining the intricate details that are quilted into the piece. It was published in the in the Winter, 2003 issue of American Quilter Magazine.

Designs used for Products

Joanie designed images used in the production of the hand-quilting aid, Stick-N-Stitch, produced by Pieces of the Past. The product was chosen by Quilter’s Newsletter to be included in their Tools Review for 2001.

Joanie’s Quilts in Print

You can imagine Joanie’s delight to have her first heirloom machine quilted wall quilt, Ode to Diane, featured in the AQS publication, “Machine Quilting” by Diane Gaudynski? Three of her quilts are also featured in Harriet Hargrave’s Heirloom Machine Quilting, 4th edition.