Karen McTavish

July 22: 6-9 PM ~ demo/lecture on Mastering the Art of McTavishing (demo on an APQS machine)
July 23: Wholecloth Design class all day
July 24: Wholecloth Design class all day
July 24: 6-9 PM ~ demo/lecture on Mastering the Art of McTavishing (demo on an APQS machine)

Karen will also be available at the APQS booth during the quilt show. For more information or to register visit the website: www.quilts.com

September 14, 2009 - Forest Lake, MN

The Silver Lane Machine Quilter's Club is hosting Karen McTavish for their monthly meeting. Meeting begins at 7PM. Location: Silver Lane Quilting, Inc. / Spring Brooke Plaza / 4869 - 208th Street North, Suite 104 / Forest Lake, MN 55025. For more information contact Elaine Leko at elaine@silverlanequilting.com or call 651-639-8800. Club Membership required for attendance.

September 18-20, 2009 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The "Picking Up the Pieces" quilt show put on by the East Iowa Heirloom Quilters of Cedar Rapids/Marion (almost 400 members), Iowa will feature internationally award winning quilter Karen McTavish, a silent auction with all proceeds going to the Cedar Rapids library which was devastated by the floods of 2008, over 400 beautiful quilts in a judged show, featured quilters, raffle quilt, two challenges, vendors, demonstrations, quilt turning and boutique. Concession area available with ample free parking. Location: Hawkeye Downs / 4400 6th Street SW / Cedar Rapids, Iowa. General admission price $5.00.
Karen will be teaching three classes and giving her very entertaining lecture with a trunk show of her beautiful quilts:

Wholecloth Class ~ Fri. Sept. 18, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
$100.00 per student (22 student limit)
Open to All Quilters - for Hand Quilting or Machine Quilting

Mastering the Art of McTavishing ~ Sat. Sept. 19, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
$50.00 per student
Demo Class for Machine Quilting

Lecture/Trunk Show ~ Sat. Sept. 19, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Free with quilt show entry ticket
Book signing follows lecture

Victorian Feathers ~ Sat. Sept. 19, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
$50.00 per student
Demo Class for Machine Quilting

For more information visit us at: www.eihq.org/QuiltShow.aspx or e-mail Deb with "quilt show" in the subject box.

September 24-26, 2009 - Portland, Oregon

Karen McTavish will be teaching a variety of classes at the Northwest Quilting Expo (NWQE) in Portland at the Portland Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive in North Portland, just south of the Washington state border and the Columbia River. For registration or questions go to the website: www.nwquiltingexpo.com.

October 15-18, 2009 - Houston, Texas

Karen will be teaching at the International Quilt Festival/Houston this year. The festival will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center / Houston, TX. For more information call: 713-781-6864 or fax: 713-781-8182 or visit the website: www.quilts.com.

October 22-24, 2009 - Aurora, Ohio

Karen will be teaching at Quilting with Machines - A Learning Experience in Aurora, OH. The event will be held at the Bertram Inn Hotel & Conference Center. For more information on classes, events, and vendors please visit: www.quiltingwithmachines.com

November 7, 2009 - Hudson, Wisconsin

The Hudson Heritage Quilters are hosting Karen McTavish at the HHQ Quilt Show in 2009. She will be offering her lecture, "Wholecloth-Trapunto Trunkshow" at 11 AM and 2 PM. The show will be held at: Hudson Middle School / 1300 Carmichael Rd. / Hudson WI. For more information contact Rhonda at 715-749-3851 or via email at rgpolen@att.net or visit the website at Hudson Heritage Quilters.

TEACHING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE FOR 2010 - Workshop descriptions listed below.

January 14 - 17, 2010 - Road to California: Karen McTavish will be teaching at the Road to California Quilt Show in 2010. Details to be determined. Check back for more information.
January 18, 2010 - San Diego, California: The Canyon Quilters will be hosting Karen McTavish for a fun and informal one-hour lecture event at 7pm at the Al Bahr Shrine Auditorium, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road, in San Diego, CA. For information about the lecture or if you have any other questions please go to www.canyonquilters.com
August 4-5, 2010 - Peconic, New York: The Eastern Long Island Quilters Guild will be hosting Karen McTavish for a Wholecloth Class and Wholecloth / Trapunto Lecture and Trunk Show! For registration and class sign up - please contact Sandra Curry at elkumara@optonline.net or at (631) 886-1354. Visit the website for more information about this event: www.eliqg.org The guild conducts regular monthly meetings at the Southold Recreation Center, 970 Peconic Lane, Peconic, NY.

TEACHING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE FOR 2011 - Workshop descriptions listed below.

February 23, 2011 - Downers Grove, IL: Faithful Circle Quilt Guild is sponsoring Karen McTavish for a 1-hour lecture/trunk show on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00 pm. Location: First Presbyterian Church, 339 Fourth St., Downers Grove, IL. Contact Joan Bratton @ 630 305 6143 or joan@bratton.com for more information.
February 26, 2011 - Downers Grove, IL: Faithful Circle Quilt Guild is sponsoring Karen McTavish to teach her workshop Mastering the Art of McTavishing will be February 26th from 9-4. Location: First Presbyterian Church, 339 Fourth St., Downers Grove, IL. Contact Joan Bratton @ 630 305 6143 or joan@bratton.com for more information.
March 14-19, 2011 - Morris, Illinois: Pieces From The Heart Quilt Show (PFTHQS) is pleased to announce that Karen McTavish will be teaching and doing demos with lectures and classes at PFTHQS. Classes are March 14-19, 2011. Quilt Show March 18 & 19, 2011. Quilt Show Location: Morris, Illinois. Please check back, more detailed info to come. Questions? Contact Alice Sokolinski at: Sokolinski@sbcglobal.net or visit the website at: www.PiecesFromTheHeartQuiltGuild.com

Private Workshop Descriptions

Private classes held at my studio in Duluth, MN (see below for pictures) will accomodate 1 to 3 students at a time. For your personal private class reservation, email me at kmctavish@designerquilts.com or give me a call at 218-391-8218.

Here's some links for Hotels or Bed & Breakfast info in Duluth:

Stay where Whitework Quilting was shot - The Mathew S Burrows Bed and Breakfast (8 blocks from Karen's Studio-within walking distance). Discount is available - mention you are a Karen McTavish quilting student. Check them out at: www.1890inn.com
Another historic establishment close to my studio is called "Fitger's Inn" - www.fitgers.com. They have guaranteed their lowest corporate rate for my students who take classes during the week.
Look for other Bed & Breakfast's in Duluth at www.duluthbandb.com
Other hotels in the Duluth Area (not within walking distance): www.allstays.com/us-minnesota-hotels/duluth-hotels.htm

Private Workshop 1: Custom Heirloom Classes - 1 day (1-3 students): Custom Heirloom One Day Classes in my Duluth, Minnesota studio. Beginner to Advanced, based on students needs. Topics include instruction in traditional quilting, using heavy quilting, trapunto, stencils and full traditional feathering. Includes a trunk show of wholecloth/trapunto quilts, demonstration and instruction in designing traditional quilting for show or customer quilts, hands-on instruction in "McTavishing," contemporary traditional background quilting, and how to achieve "non-stop" cross-hatching and other very traditional background fillers. Discussion of shadow trapunto, use of stencils, quilting designs, color batting methods of trapunto, marking tools and feathering techniques for hand-quilted effects, as well as discussion of useful products and the business of longarm quilting. The class is geared toward the student's needs (beginner to advanced). A small trapunto wall hanging will be started in this class, then completed at home. This project could be hung in students' studios to display, or be shown in a wall hanging category for competition. Private, 1-day class fee is $300.00 per student. Couple this workshop with a mini-vacation along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior!
Private Workshop 2: Wholecloth/Trapunto Extravaganza - 2 day (2 student maximum): Wholecloth Trapunto Extravaganza Two Day Classes. This is a smaller, more intimate class in my store front studio (Duluth, Minnesota). Topics for the workshop are: History of wholecloth and trapunto, a trunk show of wholecloth/trapunto quilts, demonstration and hands-on instruction in designing wholecloth/trapunto quilts, demos of background quilting, "Mctavishing," shadow trapunto, faux appliqué reverse trapunto, ways to use your longarm quilting machine to do wholecloth and trapunto quilting, use of stencils, helpful techniques for hand-quilted effects for feathering, discussion of useful products, business topics to increase incomes and many question and answer opportunities. The class is geared toward the intermediate to advanced longarm quilter -- although others are welcome. This is an "in-process" wholecloth class - meaning that finishing your wholecloth project may have to be continued at home after workshop. This class brings the student into designing a personal wholecloth which can shown in Quilt Shows for judging or be used for personal use - the goal of this class is to design an award-winning masterpiece. Many past students have received multiple awards after completion of their projects. Your wholecloth will be designed and the trapunto process started by the end of class. Private, 2-day class fee is $400.00 per student. Couple this workshop with a mini-vacation along the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior!
Private Workshop 3: Mastering the Art of McTavishing Certification Class - 1/2 day (2 student maximum): Mastering the Art of McTavishing Certifcation Class is for instructors or those who would like to teach this class. This class will help you master, understand and quilt the popular background filler called McTavishing. This background filler is all the rage!! Quilts become award winning from appliqué to wholecloth! Become a certified trainer in this quilting style - you will then be able to teach this technique to others at local quilt shops and/or offer this class if you are already teaching quilting techniques. Private, 1/2 day class in my studio is $175 per student.
Private Workshop 4: Victorian Feathers - 1/2 day (2 student maximum): This class is all about Victorian Feathers - how to place the feathers in a quilt without marking and how to make them look hand-quilted. It’s a very fast way to achieve today’s heirloom style without the time commitment of marking the quilt. This is a great class for those who are in a rut and need something new! Bring your favorite quilt tops to this class!! Private, 1/2 day class in my studio is $175 per student.
Private Workshop 5: Mastering McTavishing Certification + Victorian Feathers Combo - 1 day (2 student maximum): Mastering McTavishing Certification + Victorian Feathers Combo is great way to take advantage of my Private Workshops number 3 and 4. Take them together for a full day of instruction and save money at the same time! Private, 1-day class fee is $300.00 per student.

Public Workshop Descriptions

Public class/lecture size, price and location will be set by my host. Check my teaching schedule above for dates and availability.

Review of my lecture/workshop below.

Workshop 1: Wholecloth/Trapunto Extravaganza (2 days): Topics for the "Wholecloth/Trapunto Extravaganza" workshop include: History of wholecloth and trapunto, a trunk show of wholecloth/trapunto quilts, demonstration and hands-on instruction in designing wholecloth/trapunto quilts, demos of background quilting, "Mctavishing", shadow trapunto, faux appliqué reverse trapunto, ways to use your longarm quilting machine to do wholecloth and trapunto quilting, use of stencils, hand-quilted effects for feathering and helpful techniques, discussion of useful products, business topics to increase incomes and many question and answer opportunities. This is an "in-process" wholecloth class - meaning that you will need to finish quilting your project at home after the workshop. Design and Trapunto will be completed. The class is geared toward the intermediate to advanced quilter - although others are welcome. Experience helpful on a longarm but it's not critical. This class brings the student into designing a personal wholecloth which can be then shown in Quilt Shows for judging or used for personal use - the goal of this class is to design an award-winning masterpiece. Many past students have received multiple awards after completion of their projects.
Workshop 2: Custom Heirloom Quilting (1 day): "Custom Heirloom Workshop" topics include instruction in traditional quilting, using heavy quilting, trapunto, stencils and full traditional feathering. Includes a trunk show of wholecloth/trapunto quilts, demonstration and instruction in designing traditional quilting for show or customer quilts. Hands-on instruction in "Mctavishing", contemporary traditional background quilting, and in how to achieve "non-stop" cross-hatching and other very traditional background fillers. Discussion of shadow trapunto, use of stencils, color batting methods of trapunto, marking tools and feathering techniques for hand-quilted effects, as well as discussion of useful products and the business of longarm quilting. There are many question and answer opportunities. The class is geared toward the intermediate to advanced quilter although others are welcome. Experience helpful on a longarm but it's not critical. A small trapunto, shadow trapunto, or color trapunto wall hanging will be started in this class, then completed at home. This project could be hung in students studios to display or be shown in a wall hanging category for competition.
Workshop 3: Wholecloth Design Class (1 day): "Wholecloth Design Class" is an all day event, where no quilting machines are needed. This is a class which results in a large wholecloth, which is entirely marked by the student and is ready for trapunto, hand-quilting, or machine quilting by the end of class. This one day class is for anyone who would like to design an original wholecloth from scratch. Table space will be provided for each student. Instructor will also have many wholecloth quilts in the truck show as well as a small lecture on the history of wholecloth.
Workshop 4: One Hour Lecture + Trunk Show: This 1 hour lecture is for Quilting Guilds, Quilt Shops and other organizations who would like to host the speaker at their location. Instructor will provide a lecture on her history of quilting, including wholecloth and trapunto, and her techniques including "McTavishing." Karen brings her unique and humorous style to her lecture - it's a "laugh out loud" event. Lecture includes stories about her quilts but also covers techniques using a machine instead of hand-quilting and information about competition quilting. She comes with her award winning trunk show and book signing opportunities. Fees are based on distance to travel and expenses. Please contact instructor for details.
Workshop 5: Mastering the Art of McTavishing Certification Class - 1/2 day: Mastering the Art of McTavishing Certifcation Class is for instructors or those who would like to teach this class. This class will help you master, understand and quilt the popular background filler called McTavishing. This background filler is all the rage! Quilts become award winning from appliqué to wholecloth. Become a certified trainer in this quilting style - you will then be able to teach this technique to others at local quilt shops and/or offer this class if you are already teaching quilting techniques.
Workshop 6: Victorian Feathers - 1/2 day: This class is all about Victorian Feathers - how to place the feathers in a quilt without marking and how to make them look hand-quilted. It’s a very fast way to achieve today’s heirloom style without the time commitment of marking the quilt. This is a great class for those who are in a rut and need something new! Bring your favorite quilt tops to this class!!
Workshop 7: Mastering McTavishing Certification + Victorian Feathers Combo - 1 day: Mastering McTavishing Certification + Victorian Feathers Combo is great way to take advantage of my Public Workshops number 5 and 6. Take them together for a full day of instruction.; Judy Kriehn, Quilter’s Guild of Dallas, Texas

Here's my studio!

Karen's new studio

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