Past workshop information is listed below.
Sue Fox and Julia McCleod
Sunday, August 11
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Basics of Working with Silks
Silk may be one of the most beautiful materials, but it can also be one of the most challenging to work with! They say that “knowledge is power” and for the quilt-maker who wants to work with silk, knowledge is also the key that opens the door to freedom and creativity.
Over the years, through the trial and error of making dozens of silk quilts, Sue Fox and Julia McCleod have learned many systems and strategies—these are tips, tricks and techniques that will enable you to enjoy the process and to succeed in using silks. They always bring lots of samples and examples for you to study, and they will share simple exercises that will give you confidence to continue working on your own.
The day will start with an overview of tactics they use for incorporating silks in their own quilts, demonstrate some reliable construction techniques, and include time to discuss the best way to exploit your own personal stash of silks.
Working with your stash, you’ll construct “art parts” that can be incorporated into either small and larger projects. The goal is to send you home with a game plan for how you will develop your lovely art parts into a full blown quilt.
Demonstrations will include: The fiber ID burn test; How to deconstruct a necktie; and 3 Methods for stabilizing silk.
Click here for the supply list for this workshop.
Workshop location:
Beth-El Jewish Community Center
3055 Porter Gulch Rd at Soquel Dr
Aptos, California
Learn more about Sue and Julia.
Dory Cary
Sunday, June 9, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Make It Modern
Create a modern quilt inspired by traditional patterns. Choose one of the four patterns listed below for the class. This class is fun, fast paced and informative. Fast and different piecing techniques, plus layout and design tips are part of the class.
The patterns to choose from are:
- Motherboard – inspired by the traditional Log Cabin block (top left in the composite photo)
- Patch Nine – inspired by the traditional Nine Patch block (top right)
- On the Plus Side – inspired by the traditional Nine Patch block (bottom left)
- Split Pinwheels – inspired by the traditional Pinwheel block (bottom right)
All patterns work great with precuts. The first three patterns are Jelly Roll friendly, while Split Pinwheels is Layer Cake and Charm Pack friendly. Kits for each of these patterns will be available for purchase in class, if anyone needs one.
Mel Beach
Saturday, May 18, 2019 &
Sunday, May 19, 2020
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
A Slice of Improv
Let’s explore improvisational piecing one slice at a time! We’ll warm up with the basic Slice and Insert technique and then introduce simple variations that lead to exciting design opportunities. Bring your scraps and get ready for some improvisational fun!!
You can see more beautiful quilts using these techniques at melbeachquilts.com/gallery#/slice-of-improv/
To register for the workshop, contact the Ellen McCarthy at secondvp@pvqa.org . Ellen will email you to confirm there are openings and request your payment for the workshop. Once you have gotten confirmation from Ellen you may pay for the workshop at a PVQA General Meeting or via PayPal.
Patricia Belyea
Saturday, March 9 &
Sunday, March 10
10 am – 4 pm
Doodle Piecing-Complex Curves
Patricia is a dynamic and creative individual who works with unusually beautiful Japanese fabrics with dramatic results. She will teaching a 2-day workshop entitled “ Doodle Piecing-Complex Curves”.
Patricia Belyea is the Canadian-borne, Seattle-based owner of Okan Arts, an on-line and brick-and-mortar shop 
that specializes in imported Japanese textiles, including yukata cottons. In addition, she specializes in creating innovative quilts, many using yukata cottons, and teaching. She recently published her first quilting book, titled East-Meets-West Quilts.
The workshop will be held in the Santa Cruz Community Foundations at 7807 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA from 10 am-4 pm and the cost to PVQA members is $70.
Click here for the Supply List for this workshop.
Jennifer Rapacki
Sunday, January 13, 2019
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Weave That!
Jennifer spoke to the Guild about a year ago and there were numerous requests for her to return for a workshop. We are lucky to be able to have her back for a workshop is entitled “Weave That” which focuses on her technique for weaving fabric strips together to create a stunning background for appliqued images.
Jennifer says: Weaving a quilt background is a little like making a mystery quilt. How you think the finished piece will look and what you get can be quite different. This is part of the fun! While many of the samples below feature applique flowers, your finished background will speak to you about what kind of applique to use.
Click here for the Supply List for this workshop.
Thom Atkins
Saturday, August 11, 2018
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Scrappy Collage
Bring your scraps and join Thom for an in-depth look at how he utilizes his scraps to create his signature quilts, each one vibrant and unique. A domestic sewing machine capable of free-motion stitching is required.
The Thom Atkins Workshop is full. If you wish to be put on the waiting line, contact Ellen McCarthy at secondvp@pvqa.org.
Click here for workshop supply list.
Freddy Moran
Sunday, June 10, 2018
10 am – 4 pm
or
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
10 am – 4 pm
Collage Freddy Style
Quotes from Freddy:
“Red is the new neutral!”
“When it comes to fabric, more is better and excess is never enough.”
Known for her humorous quotations that reflect her quilting style, Freddy Moran is a local treasure, a popular teacher, an award winning artist and an inspiration to many quilters. She will lead a workshop on Sunday, June 10th entitled “Collage Freddy Style!” To quote Freddy: “When I teach a class the subject of the class is secondary. What I try to do is talk about how I use design.”
Learn more about Freddy Moran.
Rosalie Dace
Saturday, May 19, 2018 &
Sunday, May 20, 2018
10 am to 4 pm
Vive La Difference! Contrast in composition
Add vitality, variety and subtlety to your work by sharpening your understanding and use of the many forms of contrast, key to successful art and design.
Discover how to give your compositions a more dynamic and sophisticated look. In a series of short manageable exercises we will explore contrast of value, color, line, shape, texture, size, scale and mood.
Working with dark and light, big and small, hard and soft, warm and cool, straight and curved, calm and busy, rough and smooth, organic and curvy, you will find ways of adding visual impact and spark to your work.
The class is accompanied by exciting visual support with slides, books and actual textile examples. A short discussion will give a daily focus. You will be guided in making your own individual small daily paste-ups in fabric / paper. From these you will develop a larger quilt top.
Maria Shell
Saturday, April 7, 2018
10 am – 4 pm
Making Prints out of Solids – Lines and Shapes
Using solid colored quilters’ cottons, students will learn how to stitch an assortment of pieced prints, including stripes, chevrons, polka dots, and pointy shapes. While learning these new techniques, students will also be given information about working with solids, improvisational piecing techniques, and ideas for taking these techniques and creating original quilts.
Sandra Bruce
Saturday, January 6, 2018 &
Sunday, January 7, 2018
10 am to 4 pm
Material Matrix
Sandra Bruce, an award winning art quilter with a background in illustration and lettering, will be leading a 2-day workshop. The workshop, “Material Matrix”, is inspired by the painter, Chuck Close. It involves using a gridded photograph and interpreting each 2-inch square into fabric, using 
piecing to achieve the effect. Everyone in the class works on the same project and Sandra will provide a template and handouts so the pieces can be finished at home with confidence. She will also discuss how to select a good photo to use in future projects; color and value; loose curved-piecing; and how to grid your own photo using Sandra’s unique technique.