This summer has been action packed—just one major family and friend event after another. On Sunday, I married my niece and her partner on the Root Glacier! How is that for high drama? 

I am happy for all the time that I have spent with my family and friends this summer in Alaska and in Kansas City, but I am ready for the big hunker down of 2023. I have not had a hunker down in years it seems. I suppose the last one was involuntarily imposed in 2020.

What is a hunker down? Well, that is my term for an extended period of time dedicated to doing things that need to be done. This hunker down is focused on three things.

A new website! Yes. Please. This is long overdue. Expect new quilts and better organization of information. What? I know. I can’t wait for this task to be in the rearview mirror.

Writing a book. It has been a very long time since I wrote my first book called Improv Patchwork—Dynamic Quilts made with Line and Shape. It is still in print and you can order it here. This next book is NOT about linear units, and this is all I will say for now. 

United States of Uterus is the quilting project for the summer. I have been trying very hard to move this quilt up in the queue, and now is the time. United States of Uterus features 50 quilt blocks made by 50 quilt artists (and the District of Columbia!) expressing their beliefs and concerns about reproductive rights.

Here are some teaching details for you folks. FYI—Riffing on Tradition starts on Thursday!

RIFFING ON TRADITION—Exploring Design Elements with Quilt Blocks

Virtual Workshop

In this workshop, we combine the basic design elements of art with the traditional quilt block to create interesting, new, and dynamic quilt units. The workshop begins with a presentation of design elements—line, shape, pattern, composition, motion, and color. We will look at a variety of quilts from all traditions of quilt making to see how individual makers use design elements to create original quilt compositions. From there, students will begin to stitch their own quilt blocks based on design elements.

Thursdays 7AM—10AM Alaska Time (AKDT) 11AM-2PM Eastern Time

August 3, 10, 17, 24, 2023

You can sign up HERE.

PERFECTLY POINTLESS—IMPROV TRIANGLES

Virtual Weekend Intensive Workshop
The triangle is an elegant shape that can be used to create dynamic quilts. This workshop covers all manner of triangles and ways to improvisation-ally cut and piece them into patchwork art. There is a special focus on working stripes and other prints to create triangles as well as an in-depth exploration of how different angles create different final units.

Saturday & Sunday 8AM—12NOON Alaska Time (AKDT) Noon-4PM Eastern Time

August 12 & 13, 2023

You can Sign Up HERE.

I will be back on the road teaching in late September and early October. Here are the details for that trip.

Madeline Island School of the Arts

Madeline Island, Wisconsin 

September 25-29, 2023

Piecing Perspectives—Composing with Units 

MEGA workshop with Sarah Bond, Cindy Grisdela, and myself. 

Full details and how to sign up can be found HERE. 

While prepping for this workshop, Cindy Grisdela, Sarah Bond, and I have enjoyed doing several LIVE Instagram chats where we talk all things quilt. We have each taken turns being the host. Those session where recorded and live on our individual Instagram pages. Here are the links to those three talks.

Talk #1@slbphilly 

Talk #2 @cindygridelaquilts 

Talk #3 @mariashellquilts 

Pacific International Quiltfest

Santa Clara, California

October 12-15, 2023

Full Details are HERE. 

So, I am finally out in McCarthy, Alaska for the rest of the summer! I hope you are all in your happy places getting it done. Until next time.

Maria