M: What will someone learn from your “Intentionally Pieced Large Scale Paper Piecing” workshop?

A: In my Intentionally Pieced Large Scale Paper Piecing class, you will learn tips and tricks for handling larger foundations which are typically a little more challenging than small foundation paper pieced (FPP) pieces. Additionally, we will place some of our fabrics intentionally to take advantage of directional prints while working with an FPP foundation. It’s sort of like fussy cutting but with a directional print rather than an isolated motif. In all my foundation paper pieced classes, I also share my favorite notions and tools and how and why I use them.

M: What will someone learn from your “Improvisational Paper Piecing” workshop?

A: I teach the method that I coined Improvisational Paper Piecing in this technique-based class. Students will learn what improv paper piecing means to me and why I work this way. I will then walk them through designing their own original improv paper-pieced block and how to section and number it. We will talk about how to cut fabric for FPP and how you might decide to place your colors. We will each sew our own original block and then I will guide you through a series of steps to imagine how that block might look in a modern quilt layout. This class is experimental and more about the process than the end result.

M: Who inspired you to quilt? Who was/is your most influential mentor/influencer?

A: I was inspired to quilt when modern quilt blogs started popping up in the early 2000s and by the founding of the first Modern Quilt Guild in 2009.

M: How do you best describe your quilting style/instructor style?

A: My quilting style is generally modern with restrained color palettes and bold designs. I usually work in solids. But I also will work in projects that are fussy cut and whimsical, but these still feel modern because I use modern prints and place my blocks in a modern layout.

As an instructor, I am patient and will repeat steps and demonstrations until people feel comfortable. I do not hold back secrets and pass along all my knowledge. I am not an extroverted entertainer—I tend to be serious because I really want to make sure students feel like they learned something, and the workshop was worthwhile.

M: Do you personally try to create pieces each year that you can enter into judged or juried quilt shows or does that not influence your process? 

A: I do not make quilts just for shows. I do make personal pieces each year that I do not write patterns for. Often those are the quilts that I will enter into QuiltCon. But I have never designed for a show.

M: Where do you see the fabric art and quilt industry five years from now?

A: Gosh, I really do not know. If tariffs have the expected result, I see a lot more reuse in the future. I already see more of an interest in stash-based projects.

M: How has social media influenced your position in the quilting/fabric art world?

A: Yes, I think that the ability to share on social media has certainly helped me share my work with many more people than I would have otherwise while working in a small town.

M: How can students reach out to you after class if they have any questions?

A: I am happy to answer emails. Send to amybfriend[at]gmail[dot]com.

M: What are your sources of creative inspiration?

A: I am inspired by nature and experimentation.

M: Do you have a can’t-live-without-it notion in your sewing box?

A: I love my lightbox.