My love for sewing began in childhood, when I made my own clothes and discovered the joy of creating with fabric. In the late 1970s, I stitched my very first quilt—a queen-size Log Cabin made as a wedding gift for a friend. It was the era of Thimbleberries fabrics in orange, cream, and brown, and every piece was cut with scissors! After that, quilting took a long pause in my life until the late 1990s, when I took my first formal quilting class and was introduced to rulers and the rotary cutter. What an eye-opening improvement!
From there, I explored just about everything the quilting world had to offer: Dear Jane, Ricky Tims’ Convergence, Fons & Porter patterns, and more. But my heart truly found its home in Quiltworx designs. For years, I admired Judy Niemeyer’s work from afar, convinced it was too complicated—until one day, I stumbled across a video she shared on YouTube. That was it—I was hooked. That moment eventually led me to become a Certified Quiltworx Instructor, combining my passion for paper piecing with my love of teaching.
Today, I’ve completed over 90 Quiltworx projects spanning the full range of techniques, and I share this expertise through classes, workshops, and lectures. Some of my most popular workshops include Fractured Paintbox, Jungle Magnolia, Woven Ribbon Star, Steampunk Fairytale, True North, Vintage Compass, and Evergreen Fern.
I am proud to be an award-winning quilter, with recent honors including Best of Show, Viewers’ Choice, and multiple first-place ribbons. Even more rewarding is seeing my students succeed—many have gone on to win ribbons of their own. As the founder of The Unfiltered Quilters, I strive to create an environment where laughter and learning go hand in hand.
I am the owner of Designs by TKO and Make Quilts With Me, and I believe no group is too small. Whether it’s a single class, a multi-day workshop, or a trunk show, my motto is simple:
“If there’s a desire to learn, I’ll be there.”
📍 Available for classes, guild presentations, trunk shows, and workshops nationwide.
Project Album from the Quiltworx Facebook Page: Click on any image below to see more quilts by this Instructor!
