Joanie considers each teaching event an opportunity to provide in-depth instruction on a technique and to encourage students to elevate standards in their work, leading them to realize their full potential. Her teaching style is friendly, knowledgeable, with confidence gained over many years of quilting. Each workshop is based on essential skills, innovative and timesaving techniques; providing a solid foundation to rely on for a lifetime.

Click on a category or scroll down the page to read the entire list.
  • Design Workshops (all quilting styles, any skill level, no machine)
  • Easy Machine Quilting (beginning level/sewing machine)
  • Heirloom Machine Quilting (intermediate skills/sewing machine)
  • Basic Quiltmaking Skills (all quilting styles, zigzag machine)
  • Recommendations

To view a larger photo, simply click on any photo to open a new page detailing each project.

Great quilts begin with a well thought out plan. Joanie brings a wealth of knowledge and many practical skills from 30 years of quilting, training in art and graphic design and her career as an interior decorator. Her design workshops include conceptualizing the quilts theme, working out details of the entire surface on graph paper, and creating full-size templates to fill it with meaningful imagery and background textures. Enjoy a relaxed, supportive atmosphere where each student is inspired to find the key to his or her own personal creative style. All experience levels, any quilting technique, no machines required.

Choosing and Adapting Quilting Designs,
Full-day, hands-on Workshop All quilters, any skill level

Plan for a day of fun and discovery creating your own quilting designs with Joanie’s easy paper template method! Using simple tools and skills from the art world, learn to manipulate almost any image, including stencils and paper patterns, to fill the quilt top with perfectly coordinating squares, triangles and multi-sized borders. Prior to class, each student constructs a small quilt top that is used to demonstrate how various spaces are divided and filled and to show a variety of marking procedures. After this class, you will never again be at a loss when your pattern suggests,“quilt as desired!”

Mill house Quilts
Waunakee, WI
November 11-12, 2011
www.millhousequilts.com

WI Quilt Expo
Madison, WI
September 2012
www.wpt.org/quiltexpo

Prairie Heritage Quilt Show
May 6, 7 and 8, 2012
www.sunprairiequiltshow

Sun Prairie Library
Oct. 19, 2011
www.scls.lib.wi.us/sun/

My Sentimental Journey,
One or Two-day Workshops

These workshops offer a truly creative look at filling the empty spaces a quilt by looking beyond the quilting world for sources of inspiration. Students are encouraged to let their quilts speak with an enthusiastic voice, expressing stories developed in an invigorating brainstorming session. They learn how images enhance their theme, the elements of good design, and how to use simple artist's tools for planning a design. Joanie shows how her own quilts maximize the effective use of color, thread illustration and quilted background textures. Come join the fun in this exciting and informative class for all quilters with a commitment to creating original designs.

Full-day theory class, Students observe many demonstrations of how a theme is conceived, developed and supported with construction decisions and processes.

Two-day hands-on Workshop, Students enjoy the atmosphere of a design studio creating a full-size paper layout for a wholecloth quilt that captures their personal expression.

All Design classes benefit from the Joanie’s Design Elements.

To view a larger photo, simply click on any photo to open a new page detailing each project.

Events Open to the Public

Fox Valley Tech
Oshkosh, WI
March 23 - 24, 2012

American Quilter
Society Show
Des Moines, IA
Sept. 28 - Oct. 1, 2011

Quiltique Quilt Shop
Henderson, NV
2012 Event TBA
www.quiltique.com

To book an event or
request fee information,
Contact Joanie

Stitcher Doodles; From Pencil Sketch to Stitching Line,
3 hr Drawing Workshop

Discover the fun of creating your own background fill patterns for free-motion quilting. This wonderfully creative presentation covers the structure of background fillers, the fundamentals of refined free-motion quilting and the importance of imprinting the driving plan in your brain before you stitch.

This is a drawing workshop, no machines. Examine many beautifully stitched examples gathered to unlock your creativity and then put pencil to paper to create fill patterns that fit your unique style.

All Design classes benefit from the Joanie’s Design Elements.

“Have courage
to be spectacular!
Nothing great happens
in you predictable safe
and certain box,
You have to risk
being very bad
in the hopes
of being very good.”

Unknown Author

These new classes simplify the free-motion technique with creative results. Come to class with a positive attitude and your best sewing machine in good working order and you may amaze yourself!.

Coffee Break
Half-day Easy Free-motion Workshop

Learn how simple and fun free-motion quilting can be. Joanie shares her successful techniques that will set your mind at ease and get you stitching without stress. Put these skills into action stitching this fast, fused and fun set of coffee mug coasters and matching coffee bean gift bag. Each step of the project is covered, right through the binding.

Come and enjoy many inspiring quilted examples of this concept. A kit including all appliqués, fabrics, batting and thread will be prepared for you.

Fabulous Filler Wholecloth Christmas Stocking
Full-day, Hands-on Background Filler Workshop

In this day long workshop, Joanie shares all of the information you will need to stitch this amazing Wholecloth Christmas Stocking. This original design features both unmarked freehand fillers, as well as more formal, marked background patterns. You will receive instruction to successfully complete each step of the process including; selecting and preparing appropriate supplies, stabilizing the fabric, marking the design, pin basting the layers and setting up the machine. Time is planned to practice essential free-motion basics including perfecting the tension of your machine to build your confidence and achieve meticulous results.

Many of Joanie’s quilted background fillers will be available for your enjoyment. A complete kit including the pattern, all fabrics, batting and silk thread will be prepared for you.

Background Bonanza
Full-day Hands-on Workshop

From the ripple stipple to simple grids, from headbands to lazy daisies, filling the quilt background with interesting patterns that create texture, depth and movement is not only possible with machine quilting, Joanie encourages it. Enjoy a full and creative day expanding your free-motion skills creating a wholecloth sampler of patterns used to anchor the entire top or just fill in around stitched motifs. Includes an impressive portfolio of stitched examples of the techniques.

Sassy Sewing Tool Caddy
Easy Free-motion Half-day Workshop

Learn to listen as the printed fabric indicates how it can be quilted without any marking! Joanie guides you through this easy process including her fundamentals of free-motion quilting while constructing this sassy sewing tool caddy. This is Joanie’s easiest free-motion class with fabric chosen to get you stitching leaves, curls, pebbles, spirals and headbands without any frustration. Many creative examples of how this technique can be used for your projects will be on display. A complete kit including the pattern, all fabrics, batting and cotton thread will be prepared for you.

The Secret Voice Hidden
in your Fabric Full-day Hands-on Workshop

Discover the outstanding dimension that can be achieved when fabrics are quilted as the manufacturer printed them. Learn how to listen as the fabric indicates how it can be quilted without any marking! Students will stitch a sampler of assorted patterns that demonstrate how your fabric choices can be the basis for inventive stitching that enhances fabrics to their full potential. Joanie guides you through this easy process, plus includes her fundamentals of free-motion quilting including the locking stitch and perfecting machine tension. Beginner and beyond experience level. A complete kit including the pattern, all fabrics and batting will be prepared for you.

If you have the desire to use your home sewing machine successfully for refined free-motion quilting, this class is for you! These hands-on workshops provide you with the information and confidence to complete quilts on the machine you already own and gain the satisfaction of turning a solid piece of fabric into a multi-dimensional object of art. Joanie offers her formula for success including the supplies and the basic techniques of heirloom machine quilting. You are ready for this class if you have had some previous machine quilting experience and have a strong desire to learn. Best machines required.

Ho-Ho-Ho Fancy Refined Free-Motion Fun,
Half-day, Hands-on Workshop

If you admire the elegance of wholecloth quilts with refined free-motion quilting and would like to give it a try, Joanie has the perfect workshop planned for you. This is a beginning level refined free-motion workshop where you will learn all of the information necessary to be successful when you drop those feed-dogs. Joanie shares her expertise in each step of the process including; selecting and preparing appropriate supplies, stabilizing the fabric, marking the design, pin basting the layers and setting up the machine. Time is planned to practicing essential free-motion basics including perfecting the tension of your machine. Be amazed at your results stitching this graceful Christmas Stocking with quilted holly cuff. A complete kit including pattern, fabrics for cuff, stocking and lining, batting and thread will be prepared for you.

Home for the Holidays
6 HR Refined Free-motion Workshop

Join Joanie for a hands-on workshop to prepare your home decor for the holidays. Our day begins with a PowerPoint tour of Thanksgiving and Christmas themed displays for the different rooms of your home. Next, learn the fundamentals of Refined Free-motion Quilting and put those skills into action stitching several beginning level Christmas projects. You will receive instruction to successfully complete each step including stabilizing the fabric, marking the design, pin basting the layers, setting up the machine and practicing the essential free-motion basics. Choose fabrics to match your décor to use for this beginner level table mat with matching wine bag and coasters. Optional Kit available, includes sateen fabric, backing, batting and silk thread.

Ivy Wreath
16" Heirloom Machine Quilted Wholecloth

In the tradition of the great wholecloth quilts, transform a solid piece of fabric into a work of beauty using the graceful Ivy Wreath design created especially for this class. Focus on refined free-motion techniques using the basic elements of Heirloom Machine Quilting: curvilinear motifs, grids, and stippling. Class includes information on essential supplies, machine set-up, marking, basting, navigating the design, plus time to begin stitching this beautiful project.

Two Day Ivy Wreath
Refined Free-motion Workshop

Students build refined free-motion skills using the basic elements of Heirloom Machine Quilting: curvilinear motifs, grids, and stippling in a supportive atmosphere. A two-day format provides students with additional time to absorb the technique, learn how essential supplies affect the process, machine set-up, marking, basting, and navigating the design, plus many helpful exercises and tips to take the fear out of refined free-motion and even more time to stitch the graceful Ivy Wreath project.

Holly Square 15" Heirloom Machine Quilted Wholecloth
Full-day, Level One, Refined free-motion hands-on workshop

Learn to transform a solid piece of fabric into a work of beauty using the original Holly Square design created for this class. Focus on refined free-motion techniques using the basic elements of Heirloom Machine Quilting: curvilinear motifs, grids, and stippling. Class includes information on essential supplies, machine set-up, marking, basting, navigating the design, plus time to begin stitching this beautiful holiday project. Alternate size runner instructions are included in the pattern.

*Students will benefit from reading Joanie’s Quilting Elements prior to class.

Joanie is committed to teaching precision techniques to those who want to construct top quality work and do it right on the first try. Workshops cover basic skills including the importance of stabilization of the fabric, accurate rotary cutting and precision piecing. Appliqué classes offer a great “turned edge” preparation process with numerous finishing techniques. Learn tips and expertise to rely on for a lifetime while creating projects designed to instruct the basic skills of each technique. A complete kit will be prepared for you.

Birdie in a Garden Wreath
Invisible Machine Appliqué, Full-day Workshop

Learn invisible appliqué by machine using this original pattern (or kit) based on traditional Folk Art shapes. First, discover a hassle-free preparation method for turned edge appliqué using heat resistant template plastic. (No messy glue or paper to remove!) Next, learn to attach the shapes with invisible appliqué by machine. This preparation method can be used for traditional hand appliqué or decorative edge finishing techniques by hand or machine, all will be demonstrated. A kit with pattern and all fabrics for one block will be prepared for you.

Christmas Tweet
Invisible Machine Appliqué, Full-day Workshop

Learn invisible appliqué by machine using Joanie's original pattern with a Christmas theme. Discover a hassle-free preparation method for turned-edge appliqué using heat resistant template plastic and spray starch (no messy glue or paper to remove!). Then be trained in attaching the shapes with invisible appliqué by machine. This preparation method can also be used for traditional hand appliqué or decorative edge finishing techniques by hand or machine.This is the same technique as the above workshop, the pattern has fewer pieces and can be completed in less time. A kit with pattern and all fabrics for one block will be prepared for you.

Order Joanie's original patterns from the Products page.

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