Member Spotlight

Meet Marsha Meeks 

I have been quilting for about 25 years, but nothing shook my world like attending my first meeting of the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild at the Half Price Book Store in 2011.  I actually had a visceral reaction - when you start salivating, you know you have stumbled into something good!  

What I love about the Dallas modern guild (having been a member of as many as four guilds at one time) is that the members are open to learning new things and considering anything.  They are not bound by rules, not haunted by thoughts of the Quilt Police, and they are almost universally encouraging and supportive of their fellow quilters.  I appreciate it that no one holds it against me that I am almost 100 years old (well almost).  I love Show & Tell and the activities, especially the Round Robins and swaps, plus the challenges.   I frequent the stores that support modern quilting, and the fabulous fabric they carry.  Cotton + Steel is my fave!

I do enter quilt shows, as much to give myself a challenge and a deadline as anything else.  I have won a ribbon or two, but don't consider myself a particularly good quilter, just an enthusiastic one.  I love to make quilts for gifts, especially.  Here is a photo of one I just finished for the retirement of a good friend, also a baby quilt in progress.  I also like to make quilts for charitable donations, which is a great outlet for the mountain of fabric from my "pre-modern" days.  I also love to make bags, wallets, purses and other small items for gifts.

At home, I sew in Sewing Room #1, looking out a big window, with a design wall and ironing board in this room.  I also keep most of my solids here, plus block swaps, kits, books and thread. Then, in Sewing Room #2 I store boxes, bags, bins, Elfa drawers and a closet full of fabrics, notions, tops, batting, etc. etc. etc.  Also patterns and my collection of squares and strips are in here.  Then, in my master bedroom, I keep the Fabric Overflow, which is the non-cottons and bins of other stuff that don't fit into Sewing Rooms #1 and #2.  I have an old Pfaff 1475 that is still my work horse, and I have a Baby Lock Quilter's Choice Professional, which has an 11" space between needle and motor for quilting larger projects.

I don't pretend to know the array of modern quilt super-stars, but I have definitely enjoyed the wonderful speakers and workshops that the Dallas Modern Guild has provided, especially Angela Walters, Jacquie Gering, and Carolyn Friedlander.

I have made friends by attending guild retreats, work days, and also the Tula Pink 2 group.  One of these days I am going to finish that Tula Pink quilt!

Marsha

friends retirement quilt

baby quilt in progress 

Member Spotlight

Meet Shannon Page

1) Introduce yourself to us, (i.e., how long have you been quilting, do you have a day job, do you enjoy other hobbies)

I have sewn almost my entire life and began quilting in 2011 as a way to cope with the death of my mother. I work at the Perot Museum organizing a robotics competition for 4^th – 8^th graders. I also bike, run, crochet, bake, run a book club, and like to learn new hobbies when I can.

2) How long have you been a member of DMQG, what/who inspired you join our group, are you a member of another guild as well?

 I’ve been a member since 2011 after searching for quilt guilds online. I’ve joined other guilds but feel like my quilting style is best represented in the DMQG.

3) Do you do social media? if so do you have an instagram handle, or would you welcome other members to follow you on Facebook?

 I’m @nerdcamp on Instagram.

4) Tell us about your favorite quilt/sewing project.

 I like making challenge-based quilts and was super proud of my text quilt made for the 2016 Dallas Show.

5) What inspires you to create? 

 My crafts are physical representations of my time – I enjoy making quilts but I also like to remember what was going on in my life while I was making them.

6) Are you a Fan girl/boy (i.e., is there a quilty person you love and enjoy stalking their work)? Tell us about them.

Lol no, not really. I use to follow other quilters but I now like to follow more design-based Instagrams for inspiration.  

7) Do you enter quilt shows? Have you received and ribbons? Tell us about them.

 Oh boy – I love to compete and have a multitude of ribbons. I take competition seriously! I love competing at the State Fair and the Dallas Show every year and try to make other competitions as well.

8) Have you made friendships through DMQG. Tell us who they are, we would love to know.

I have met many different people through the guild that I would otherwise have never known.

9) When you complete your quilts what becomes of them? Give away? Keep? Sell? Show?

I keep some of them for trunk shows, I use many of them at my house, and I like to give away most of my stuff. Selling them is too expensive but gratitude is priceless.

10) In what room of the house do you sew? Tell us about your sewing/quilting/ crafting space.

I have a dedicated crafting and sewing space with my scraps organized by color and stacks and stacks of fabric.

11) What is your current fabric obsession (color, line, style, etc.)?

 I like jewel tones and linen blends.

12) Why modern quilting? As a quilt artist, what more would you like the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild to do to encourage/inspire/educate quilters?

 Modern quilting is the style that best represents me. I think it is refreshing and fun to design original quilts that resonate with people today. I’d like the guild to have more modern quilting challenges with prizes to get the membership designing their own modern quilts to help people understand the movement.

Brandon & Shannon

Shannon & Little Face 

2nd place winner of Riley Blake Challenge 2014

"I'm Counting On You" quilt

Member Spotlight

Meet Lynn Tanksley

My name is Lynn Tanksley. I’ve been a member of DMQG since late 2012. I’ve been quilting since about 2009. Someone asked me since I could sew, could I make a quilt for a silent auction fund raiser for a group I was involved with. I said “Sure!” and then I started to panic. But I found some directions online and created a denim and red flannel rag quilt. It was a success and raised some money! I started buying fabric and creating other quilts. Fast forward to October, 2012. I was working on a traditional patchwork style quilt (also for an auction) when somehow I came across a picture of a modern quilt. I bought that last patchwork quilt back at the auction since I knew I was never making one like it again. Then I found out about QuiltCon and signed up immediately. My next thought was, “Hmm, wonder if there is a Modern Quilt Guild near me.” So that’s how I ended up here.

In my day job, I’m a software engineer. I work out of an office in Austin but I work from my home in Plano. I work on graphical user interfaces of network test equipment. My work desk with its four computers shares a chair with my sewing table. It does sometimes happen that in the middle of a work day, I’ll swivel my chair around and do some sewing. My sewing table is a standard desk covered with a 23x70 cutting mat. I have a smaller cutting mat I usually use, but for longer cuts, I just move my machine and have plenty of space. I can also see my design wall from my work desk. 

I don’t do a lot of social media, mainly just Facebook. I do keep a blog of my quilting work though. This is more a diary than a real blog. It’s a place I can talk about my quilts and remember them but it’s not interesting enough that other people will read it. http://tanksleyalves.com/quilts/.

Most of my quilts are gifts for people, although that includes the two other members of my family, so some of those end up staying in the house. I especially seem to make a lot of quilts for my daughter, Phoebe.

Michael, Phoebe, and Lynn 

Michael, Phoebe, and Lynn in Utah this Summer

The first denim/flannel rag quilt

The last fateful traditional quilt

One of my favorite quilts. This is an improv pattern by Modern Quilt Studio, one of my favorite design and fabric houses. I was scared of improv at first, but it turns out my favorite quilts (to make a look at) are improv, so I guess I’m over that.

Member Spotlight

Meet Sam Clark 

1) Introduce yourself to us, (i.e., how long have you been quilting, do you have a day job, do you enjoy other hobbies)

I’ve been sewing since I was about 10 years old – started with tank-tops, and went from there.  I was not usually very successful because I have a problem following patterns.  I would pick the wrong type of fabric, forget to mark the notches, be in a hurry and decide to do short-cuts, etc.  One of my best was in high school when I successfully made a pair of flowered overalls, with French seams.  I wore them a long time, even though they were much too tight.  I eventually settled for just making pillows & curtains, although I did some sewing for my little girls.

I am the Manager of Human Resources; Recruiting, Retention, and Relations at VNA – Visiting Nurse Association.  I adore my job and the company.  It’s different every day, and really challenges me.  I have 3 grown daughters – Chelsea – 27; Courtney – 25; and Cathleen – 23.  Cathleen is married, and we have one grandson – Braedon – who is 2.  She is having another baby in May.  The other two and engaged, but no dates set yet.  They all have good jobs, good men, and live in town.  We talk a lot, text, and everyone comes to dinner at our house Sunday evenings.  I’ve been married to my wonderful, romantic, house-cleaning husband Mitch for 35 years.  We have 2 dogs, and 2 grand-dogs who come to our house regularly for pet-sitting.

My other hobbies (currently) are cross-stitching; collecting hearts and castles; and I read constantly – usually a book a night.

2) How long have you been a member of DMQG, what/who inspired you join our group, are you a member of another guild as well?

I have been a member of DMQG for a little over 3 years.  My mom & I used to meet every other Sunday to do crafts (card-making; wreaths; scrapbook; flower arranging).  When she was dying she made me promise that I would find a group to do things with, that would keep me connected to other creative friends.  I went to a fabric store, and noticed a crazy quilt block of the month club.  I joined that, and did that for about 6 months.  Someone mentioned the Garland Guild, so I went to a meeting.  It was not my thing at all – too crowded, too many rules, and too traditional.  I love modern architecture, furniture, crafts.  At the Garland meeting someone at my table told me about the Modern Guild.  I went online and went to the next meeting.  I parked next to Doris Kennedy, and it was her first time, too.  We sat together, and behind Robin, who was very friendly, and it grew from there.  I love it – this group really energizes me, helps me feel creative, and is a great support group.  I have no other memberships in anything.

3) Do you do social media? if so do you have an instagram handle, or would you welcome other members to follow you on Facebook?

I am on social media very little.  I follow my girls on facebook, and a few friends, but never post.


4) Tell us about your favorite quilt/sewing project. 

My favorite quilt(s) are ones I did that I used Jacqui Gering as inspiration.  I pay little attention to designers, fabric lines, etc.  but she just really touched my core when she came and talked.  I’ve been to two talks and one workshop with her, and those are my favorites.  I also love  Kristi Schroeder (Initial K Studio) and am working on one of hers.

5) What inspires you to create?

  I am inspired to create by things I see.  I do use pinterest for inspiration, as well as buildings, colors, and show and tell at the guild.  One daughter and I go twice a year to the Cottonwood Creek Art Festival, and I look for quilt inspirations.  I plan on doing a quilt based on the new Parkland Hospital building, but it’s just in the thinking phase.

6) Are you a Fan girl/boy (i.e., is there a quilty person you love and enjoy stalking their work)? Tell us about them.

 I am not a fan/girl, although I somewhat follow Jacqui Gering.

7) Do you enter quilt shows? Have you received and ribbons? Tell us about them.


I do not enter quilt shows.  I put one quilt in the Library show at Southwestern Medical (Laurie’s library) and had a very hard time with it.  I don’t like people critiquing my work, and since I do most of my quilts for my pleasure and my house I didn’t like having it gone.


8) Have you made friendships through DMQG. Tell us who they are, we would love to know.

  I have made fabulous friends at the guild.  Doris and I are very close, I invited MaryJane to join the guild (we go to lunch at least twice a week, and worked together for 7 years), and I am close to Charlotte, Robin and Kate Park.  I love the Monday Handwork, Saturday Sew, and am in a small group (bee) with the people I mentioned.

9) When you complete your quilts what becomes of them? Give away? Keep? Sell? Show?

   I keep all of my quilts unless I make them for a gift – which is rare.  I do make baby quilts, and have made quilts for all my girls, and 3 of my closest work friends.  Everything else is just for me.

10) In what room of the house do you sew? Tell us about your sewing/quilting/ crafting space.

 I have a dedicated quilting room at home.  It’s crowded, not big enough, but it’s all mine.  I’ve recently expanded into the guest room next door, and put all my papercraft supplies and desk in there.

11) What is your current fabric obsession (color, line, style, etc.)?

My current fabric obsession is solids.  I’m trying to build up a good solids stash.

12) Favorite quilting blogs?

I don’t follow any blogs.

Sam with one of her quilts at DMQG Show and Tell

Chelsey, Kate, Sam, Doris, Laurie, and Cathy at a DMQG hand sew Monday event

Sam and Lee at DMQG Retreat wearing Sam's favorite designer (Robin Williamson) t-shirts 

Member Spotlight

Meet Laurie Thompson

1) Introduce yourself to us, (i.e., how long have you been quilting, do you have a day job, do you enjoy other hobbies)

I’ve been sewing since I was 10 and quilting for the last 17 or 18 years. I started with a quilt for my daughter, with the intention of learning how to quilt my grandmother’s hand-pieced quilt tops. I didn’t know anything and made every mistake you can think of, but I was hooked. I even hand-quilted that quilt. I’ve never hand-quilted since – although I’ve hand-pieced – and my grandmother’s tops are still unquilted.

I retired in November 2013 from UT Southwestern Medical Center where I was Asst. VP for Library Services. I worked in medical libraries for 35 years and went through the entire electronic revolution. In my first job I learned how to search the first online medical database, MEDLINE, using command line searches over a 1200 baud dial-up modem. The PC hadn’t even come on the scene yet. At the end of my career, I oversaw the conversion of the UTSW library into electronic only. 

It will probably come as no surprise that my other hobby is reading. I combine reading and quilting by listening to audiobooks while I quilt.

2) How long have you been a member of DMQG, what/who inspired you join our group, are you a member of another guild as well?

I was inspired to join a guild from a conversation with an LQS employee, who encouraged me to stop being a solo quilter. I joined the Quilt Guild of Dallas and attended several meetings. Then I saw a FaceBook posting from a (now former) DMQG member and was intrigued by the concept of modern quilting. My first DMQG meeting was a potluck that was held on the guild’s first anniversary in 2012. 

3) Do you do social media?  if so do you have an instagram handle, or would you welcome other members to follow you on Facebook?

I spend way too much time on social media! I’m Laurie Lightner Thompson on FaceBook and Laly_quilts on Instagram.

4) Tell us about your favorite quilt/sewing project.

I have several favorites, including a string quilt I’m currently obsessed with finishing. I have several tops that will likely be favorites once I quilt them. Of my finished quilts, one favorite was a wedding gift for my niece Sarah, who also quilts. She wanted something scrappy and wonky, so that’s what I did. I’ve included a picture below. Another one was from a pattern I found on Moda Bake Shop called Simply Woven. It used two jelly rolls and background fabric. What I learned when I started it on a DMQG retreat at the Compass Center is that not all jelly rolls have 42 strips. I rescued it with some additional fabric from the onsite store, but some of you may remember me cursing that quilt for that entire retreat. It has become one of my most favorite quilts.

5) What inspires you to create?

I’ve always been inspired by pictures. I love looking at quilts of all kinds – modern, traditional, art – and getting inspiration from them. I’m also inspired by everyday photos and have made several quilts that interpret those images. A friend who lives in New York City recently posted an architectural picture to Instagram that I really want to make into a quilt!

6) Are you a Fan girl/boy (i.e., is there a quilty person you love and enjoy stalking their work)?  Tell us about them. 

I love both fabric and patterns created by Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic. Her designs are clean and simple. I also like Lotte Jansdotter’s quirky fabric designs, which can also be found on other home goods. As a longarm quilter, I also love the work of Angela Walters and Natalia Bonner.  

7) Do you enter quilt shows?  Have you received any ribbons?  Tell us about them. 

I’ve entered the Dallas quilt show twice. My first entry won an honorable mention. It started as a practice piece to learn English paper piecing. I never even intended to finish it – it was practice, after all – but it ended up fitting the food theme of the show that year. I spent many hours in the hotel at the first QuiltCon in Austin trying to finish piecing that quilt.

8) Have you made friendships through DMQG.  Tell us who they are, we would love to know.

SO many friendships and I am thankful for them all. One of the first people I met was Lovetta Ferrante when I joined her new community service committee. We bonded over the task of sorting bags of donated fabric and cutting kits. We just took a 16-day cruise and tour of Europe together this summer. Through her I met Chris Thiede. I don’t remember how I met Charlotte Cronkhite, but we sew together frequently and manage online swaps through her FaceBook group (2500 1.5” squares, anyone?). I’ve gotten to know Doris Kennedy at Handwork Mondays. So many wonderful friendships!

9) When you complete your quilts what becomes of them?  Give away? Keep? Sell? Show?

Yep, all the above. When I was working, I made quilts for any of my staff who retired, and I’ve continued that since I retired – for a total of 18 quilts. Every family member has a quilt, and some more than one (although not my husband – I need to rectify that). I’ve sold some, given some to charity, and keep the ones that mean the most to me.

10) In what room of the house do you sew? Tell us about your sewing/quilting/crafting space.

I’ve completely filled a spare bedroom with my longarm, fabric, projects, books, sewing machines, and assorted other stuff. I have 3 Olfa 5-drawer units stuffed with fat quarters and other pieces, sorted by color and style. There are several shelves of yardage on bolts or comic boards. Tubs of scraps. Stacks of project boxes. One end of my longarm is against the wall and I barely have room to move. There is overflow in another closet (that’s really an unused wet bar). When we redo the flooring, I want to move into the larger guest room. (The thought of trying to move all that stuff just makes me shudder.)

11) What is your current fabric obsession (color, line, style, etc.)?

Don’t laugh (or choke), but I’m trying real hard not to buy more fabric right now. I just don’t have anywhere to put it. But I love grunge. And Zen Chic and Lotte Jansdotter. I like the new Rifle Paper Co. lines put out by Cotton & Steel. Oh heck, I’ll always find room for more.

12)Favorite quilting blogs?

Don’t really read them regularly.

13) Please share photos of you and some of your favorite projects, friends, family or pets.  

Dale, Emily and Laurie 

Paint Cans 

Simply Woven 

Sarah

Polka Dots for Annabelle 

Laurie's first English paper piecing project, and winning quilt at QGD

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Meet Angie D'Amore

1)  Introduce yourself to us, (i.e., how long have you been quilting, do you have a day job, do you enjoy other hobbies)

My name is Angie D’Amore.  I have been married to Tom for the last twenty-28 years.  We have a daughter, Kelsey, who is a Child Play Therapist in Frisco, Texas and a son, Anthony, who is in his first year of law school at Oklahoma City.  We have two awful/wonderful dogs, Link and Copper.   I have been a practicing attorney for thirty years but am now on a hiatus.  I started quilting in 2010 and joined the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild in July 2010.  I had a brief foray into knitting before quilting and I love embroidery and crewel work.

2)  How long have you been a member of DMQG, what/who inspired you join our group, are you a member of another guild as well?

I joined the DMQG in July 2010.  I was following so many creative quilters on Flickr and found the DMQG there.

3)  Do you do social media?  if so do you have an instagram handle, or would you welcome other members to follow you on Facebook?

I love instagram (Retromama61) and Facebook (Angela D’Amore)

4) Tell us about your favorite quilt/sewing project.

My favorite quilt project was my Farmers Wife Quilt I started in June 2011 and took me four years to complete.  It taught me a lot about block construction and scale of fabric.

5) What inspires you to create?

Music and Nature plus spending time with my quilty friends.

6) Are you a Fan girl/boy (i.e., is there a quilty person you love and enjoy stalking their work)?  Tell us about them. 

I love  JEN KINGWELL…Denise Schmidt and Anna Maria Horner are also favorites.

7) Do you enter quilt shows?  Have you received and ribbons?  Tell us about them. 

My Farmer’s Wife quilt received a 2nd place ribbon in the My First Quilt category at the Dallas Quilt Show 2015.  I haven’t entered any others at this point.

8) Have you made friendships through DMQG.  Tell us who they are, we would love to know.

Of course…quilty friends are the best!  I have a small group of friends I met in 2010  that continue to retreat together.  

9) When you complete your quilts what becomes of them?  Give away? Keep? Sell? Show?

Keep, donate and give as gifts

10) In what room of the house do you sew? Tell us about your sewing/quilting/crafting space.

In 2014, I was able to redo my sewing space with a nice quilting/sewing table and much needed storage space.

11) What is your current fabric obsession (color, line, style, etc.)?

I am waiting on the new Diving Board line from Alison Glass.  I love Japanese fabric and 30s and vintage fabric.

12) Favorite quilting blogs?

Sunny Day Supply

13) Why modern quilting? As a quilt artist, what more would you like the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild to do to encourage/inspire/educate quilters?

I think the Guild does a great job in all of these areas!

14) Please share photo’s of you and some of your favorite projects, friends, family or pets.  

Tom & Angie

Kelsey & Anthony

Farmers Wife Quilt 

Angie Texas Quilt

Officer Spotlight

Meet Lovetta Ferrante

1)  Introduce yourself to us, (i.e., how long have you been quilting, do you have a day job, do you enjoy other hobbies)

• My college major was Home Economics at Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth.  We studied tailoring, flat-pattern design, as well as advanced nutrition.  I promised myself I would never complain about the cost of a coat after I finished a white-wool car coat.  There were so many tiny stitches in the shoulders of that thing! (Guess that is why I machine stitch my bindings.)  And, oh yes, we went directly to Jack in the Box after nutrition class!
• I have made clothing since 12 years of age.
• Working career was at Deloitte, an international-accounting firm.  My last role was overseeing three offices.  Downtown, North Dallas and Las Colinas.  When I announce my retirement after 26 years, one of my property manager, Gina Weems, invited me to join her to attending a meeting at DMQG.  It is all her fault!!!
• I am a happy quilter.  

2)  How long have you been a member of DMQG, what/who inspired you join our group, are you a member of another guild as well?

• I joined DMQG June or July of 2010.  

3) What is your current board position?  What other roles have you had with DMQG? 

• Quilt Show Chair
• Charitable Initiative
• Secretary
• Membership

4)  Do you do social media?  if so do you have an instagram handle, or would you welcome other members to follow you on Facebook?

• No Instagram
• Yes, I would welcome members to follow me on Facebook

5) Tell us about your favorite quilt/sewing project.

• I have not shown it yet, but Amy Ellis’ Quill.  Made completely of Grunge fabric and stitched with variegated thread in 1” horizontal increments.

6) What inspires you to create?

• Color

7) Are you a Fan girl/boy (i.e., is there a quilty person you love and enjoy stalking their work)?  Tell us about them. 

• Sorry, none.

8) Do you enter quilt shows?  Have you received and ribbons?  Tell us about them. 

• Nope  😊

9) Have you made friendships through DMQG.  Tell us who they are, we would love to know.

• YES!  Oh my goodness, I never dreamed of making such good friends.  Truly a blessing.
• Charlotte Cronkhite, Carol Dennis, Laurie Thompson, Chris Thiede
• Lee Jenkins, Jamie Moilanen, Mary Margaret Thompson, Marsha Meeks
• Many, many more

10) When you complete your quilts what becomes of them?  Give away? Keep? Sell? Show?

• Gifted and sold

11) In what room of the house do you sew? Tell us about your sewing/quilting/crafting space.

• Nice size L-shaped room
• Large enough to accommodate a 54” dual-sides sewing table, Tiara 16 inch, 48x96 cutting tabled purchased from Hancocks when they closed
• Has built-in design wall (with purple felt!)
• Double windows and an exterior entrance for clients
• New 42” wall-mount tv and new tract lighting above the cutting table
• Walk in closet with shelving – accommodates fabric bolts and sewing notions

12) What is your current fabric obsession (color, line, style, etc.)?

• Grunge
• Bright colors, especially purples and greens

13) Favorite quilting blogs?

• No blog, but when I need to laugh I watch Midnight Quilt Show.  

14) Why modern quilting? As a quilt artist, what more would you like the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild to do to encourage/inspire/educate quilters?

• Modern, because of the fabric designs and colors.
• Start a beginners’ class for “brand-new” quilters.  Yes, they can take a class somewhere, but having a fellow member creates a friendship, bond.

15) Please share photo’s of you and some of your favorite projects, friends, family or pets.  

Lovetta and Chris 

Ella Bella and Maverick

Ella Bella 

Zorro and Maverick

Tango

Chris with Tango, Zorro, and Maverick

Laurie and Lovetta on their recent European trip

Squirrel!!!!!

Lovetta and Beth volunteering at Festival of Ideas

#Quiltsforpeace distributing quilts to the injured at DART PD