Events, Talks & Workshops
This section includes information on my upcoming appearances, talks and trunk shows, my one day program for quilting enthusiasts and workshops that I take on the road.
I typically tailor my talks to the audience, so I have not described all the possible scenarios here. I also offer private instruction on nontraditional quilting techniques such as painting and printing on fabric.
You may copy and paste these descriptions and my bio at the end of this section into your program brochures or newsletters. They are copyright free.
Upcoming 2011-2012 talks/workshops
History of Craft Class, University of Akron
Nov. 9 (Wed) -- 1 p.m.
An hourlong lecture intended to keep professor Donna Webb's students awake! I am sure visitors will be welcome. Learn More...Reflections of Nature Quilt Show, Rocky River
November 12 and 13, 2011 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
I will be a judge and deliver several inspiring speeches about taking risks in order to grow during this popular weekend quilt show at the beautiful Rocky River Nature Center. Learn More...Long Arm Quilters' Group from Ohio and Western Pa.
Jan. 21, 2012
A tour of my studio at Summit Artspace and a lecture on the third floor. Visitors are welcome -- we'll have a few extra chairs.Double T Quilt Club of Cuyahoga Falls
June 21, 2012, 6:30 p.m.
Talk: The Sensitive Creation of a Memorial Quilt and a visit with all the other quilts. Learn More...Workshop: Chagrin Valley Quilt Guild
Date TBA
Pet portraits -- How to bring your animal to life in cloth. This one-day workshop actually will have two parts. A second date will be set for participants to visit my studio en masse and bring their finished and unfinished pet portraits for help, if needed, and for general enjoyment otherwise. Here's a link to some of their work: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150101983786587.278549.175032591586 Learn More...Recent Appearances
Akron Art Museum
8/4/2011
Title: That's No Potholder, Buster: How Contemporary Artists Are Changing Learn More...Association of the UA Retirees, University of Akron
9/14/2011
A talk and trunk show that will include slices of life from my current career as a quilt artist and my former life as a newspaper reporter and columnist. I will season this tasty stew with anecdotes about muses and dogs -- naturally. Here is the link to AUAR: Learn More...Women's Art League
9/10/2011
A talk (with quilts) to inspire, amuse and enlighten other women artists at the Woman's City Club on Exchange Street. Here's the link: Learn More...Memory Makers, Christ Church, Hudson
7/11/2011
An irreverent but informative and inspiring talk, plus art quilts and time to talk about them. Here's the link to the church. Learn More...NEORQC Getaway, Fabric oil painting workshop
2/25-27/2011
Connie was chosen to teach Fabric Oil Painting at the three day weekend. Learn More...Medina County Art League
November 22, 2010 11/22/2010
About 50 artists attended the meeting, where I shared quilts and stories and information about how to get a foothold as a professional/emerging artist in Northeast Ohio. Learn More...Talks
If the World Were Ruled by Quilters
Feel trapped in your quiltmaking? Doing the same all over again? I explain how to unleash your creativity and free yourself from the quilt police. An inspirational talk riddled with quilt humor and a trunk show full of fun and color.
That’s No Potholder, Buster
OK, so how do you get respect in the world of art, especially when you’ve been known as a reporter and columnist for three decades? There’s no quick answer, but there are a few absolutes that apply to all artists, and Connie will lay them out for your organization. She will also talk about the rocky road she took from reporter to artist and how other quilt artists are faring across the country, even in these lean times. There are a few who are making an astounding $100,000 a year -- and that means the public’s perception of the quilting arts is changing dramatically. (Given to Medina County Arts League, Nov. 22, 2010)
The Sensitive Creation of a Memorial Works: Celebrating Life After a Death
The making of memorials is a complex, spiritual and physical process involving in depth interviews with the family, restoration of decades old fabrics and waiting .... for messages, signs and clues on what to do. This talk is appropriate for groups interested in the afterlife, spirituality, memorials, genealogy as well as memorial quilts.
Workshops
A Day in the Studio, a one day program for quilting enthusiasts
Quiltmakers often spend long hours in the studio, alone. Their friends and family may not be quiltmakers themselves, so certain questions are never answered, such as:
Are my quilts “good”? Do they qualify as art? What are their strong and weak points? Was my use of color effective? How could I have made them even better? What techniques should I employ to push my quilt making to the next level? Am I using the right tools? Can I paint on my quilts? Do I have to stitch by hand? Do I have to use a machine? What if I hate the quilting? What if I hate piecing? What if I hate (fill in the blank). Learn More...
Hand embroidery on needle felting
Hand embroidery on needle felting with a Jack and the Beanstock sized needle and perle cotton. It's easy but you can get powerful results, especially when you add beading. We'll do it all in this class. Learn More...
Painting and printing on fabric
You will be using textile paints to color and pattern your own cloth. Get out the kitchen utensils and sink stoppers for stamps. Use a dental syringe to write. The finished fabric will look great all cut up in your quilts. Here are some photos. Learn More...
Fabric Oil Painting
Make your own Monet with dry ingredients. This technique does not use any paint, just fabric and thread. But it makes your quilts look like impressionist paintings. See photos here. Learn More...