A Little Chat with a Quilting Teacher!

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Welcome to Day 15 of How to Earn $ From Sewing and Quilting! We are looking at Teaching Others How to Sew and Quilt this week, and today we are going to have a little chat with a quilting teacher!

This quilting teacher I am going to introduce you to today is a very special lady…. Her name is Evelyn, and I met her 12 1/2 years ago… when she taught me how to quilt – properly 🙂 It was actually the first class she taught, and she did an awesome job –  I mean look at me! I am still putting into practice what she taught me all these years later!!

I asked Evelyn if I could interview her for this series and she kindly agreed. The questions I am asking her today are all related to teaching, but she also finishes quilts for others, runs a little Bernina shop from her home, and sell the quilts she makes. So she is involved in a lot of the arms of a quilting business that we are discussing this month.

She has also been involved in the local quilt guild for years and years and years.. and has been President who knows how many times…! One year she got this lovely gift for all her work in the guild:

I’ll post more photos of her quilts later, but for now, on with the little chat! (You’ll notice I’ve added some little comments in italics 🙂 )

How long have you been sewing and quilting?

Been sewing since the very young age of 7 with my mom, she was a seamstress.  Quilting for 22 years and teaching for hummmmm 10???

(Joy ~ Actually it’s been 12 1/2 🙂 I looked it up! Time flies when you’re having fun!!)

What made you decide to start teaching others?

I felt it was time, as many quilting teachers had left the area, and it was an art that I wanted to keep alive in Riyadh.

(Joy ~ I’m so glad she did!!)

What kind of classes do you teach?

Beginners, anything and everything that I feel I have enough knowledge and experience to teach others.

What is the most challenging part about teaching classes?

Preparation – it is very time consuming. Preparing for the class, replying to emails, phone messages etc.

What do you enjoy most about teaching others?

I enjoy teaching others for many reasons…

• Giving them the opportunity to learn a new skill,
• Watching them grow from a beginner to advanced,
• Some continue on and become teachers (Joy ~ oh that’s me! LOL!)
• Seeing the big smile and happiness when they finish a project
• Mostly knowing I am sharing what I know

Have you ever had someone you COULDN’T teach how to quilt?!

No, I take extra steps with those that want to quit or give up. I give them encouragement to keep going, and tell them it gets easier the more you do. Do not compare yourself to others, we all started off the same.

I also offer private lessons, some do better one on one.

Some quick fun questions:

Favorite color: 

Blue

Food you can’t resist:

Seafood

All time favorite movie or tv show:

Sorry, do not watch tv

(Joy ~ I know… she’s too busy quilting!!)

If you could be an animal, what would you be?

I would be a bird so I could fly high in the sky

What is your favorite quilt block?

Oh my, so many, no way to choose

What is your advice for those who would like to start teaching others?

• You need a lot of time and supplies
• Work on your time and do not over book yourself
• Set days and working hours
• It is ok to say sorry, NO!

Thanks Evelyn for answering these questions and giving us some great advice!

I’ll finish up this post with some of Evelyn’s amazing quilts….

One of the many color wash hearts she has made… won 1st place traditional in 2014 local quilt show…

Check out the quilting on the back…

This next one is called Nana’s Rainbow:

and this one received honorable mention at the quilt show in 2016 (I was one of the judges for that show):

Lately Evelyn has been doing vintage quilting… she went to a class with Kelly Cline and made this gorgeous piece of art:

So you can see that Evelyn is a very talented lady, with experience in a wide variety of types and styles of quilting. I still enjoy going to her classes and learning from her… and I am forever grateful that I was able to go to that first class she taught!

I hope you have enjoyed this little chat and the photos of the beautiful quilts… come back tomorrow for the next topic in our series How to Earn $ From Sewing and Quilting– Quilting for Others

PS Please remember I am answering your comments in the comment section below and not via email like I usually do. Sorry for the hassle, but I am hoping this month we can share ideas!

PPS The main page of this series is here along with links to each post for this series.

PPPS You can download the FREE EBOOK of last year’s series, 31 Days of Quilting UFOs HERE!