Our Current Educators

Unsurpassed artistry.

Lynn Wheatley

Lynn Wheatley

Lynn Wheatley’s passion is quilting! Quilting for over 40 years, she especially enjoys the satisfaction of teaching and sharing her experiences with the creative process, quilt design, piecing techniques, and utilization of tools for quilt construction.

Lynn Wheatley’s passion is quilting! Quilting for over 40 years, she especially enjoys the satisfaction of teaching and sharing her experiences with the creative process, quilt design, piecing techniques, and utilization of tools for quilt construction. As a retired Engineer with 30+ years’ experience in process and design, Lynn applies many of these same techniques in quilt making. Lynn loves working through every step of the process to help students learn new skills and techniques, from beginner to accomplished quilter. Lynn brings her personal touch of patience, organization, and encouraging style to the classroom.

Lynn is an Instructor for the American Quilt Society, a Certified Instructor for Studio 180 Design in precision traditional piecing, Sew Kind of Wonderful in curved piecing and Laura Heine in collage art quilting. Lynn has also published her own quilt designs and is honored to be a Pattern Designer with Island Batik.

Website: lynnwheatley.com

Facebook: LynnWheatleyQuilter

Instagram: @lynnwheatleyquilter

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Carla Alexiuk

Carla Alexiuk

Carla Alexiuk is a dedicated and experienced quilting instructor with over 30 years of quilting expertise and 25 years of teaching experience.

Carla Alexiuk is a dedicated and experienced quilting instructor with over 30 years of quilting expertise and 25 years of teaching experience. Her passion for quilting is matched by her enthusiasm for sharing her knowledge, particularly in quilt design, piecing techniques, and the effective use of modern tools in quilt construction and creativity.

Leveraging her background as a retired post-secondary educator, Carla applies her extensive skills in adult education to her quilting instruction. She is committed to guiding students through every step of the quilting process, helping them master new skills and techniques, whether they are beginners or seasoned quilters. Her teaching approach is characterized by patience, organization, and a genuine enthusiasm that creates a supportive and engaging learning environment.

Carla has published 13 of her own quilt designs and is proud to serve as a Pattern Designer with Island Batik. She is also a Certified Instructor for Studio 180 Design, specializing in precision traditional piecing, and for Sew Kind of Wonderful, focusing on curved piecing. Carla’s deep knowledge and passion for quilting make her a sought-after instructor in the quilting community.

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Jean Biddick

Jean Biddick is an award-winning quiltmaker, author and teacher whose specialty is creating stunning machine-pieced masterpieces.

Jean Biddick is an award-winning quiltmaker, author and teacher whose specialty is creating stunning machine-pieced masterpieces.

She is well known for her quilts inspired by mosaic tile work. Her quilts have won awards from both the American Quilter’s Society in Paducah and the International Quilt Festival in Houston. One of her miniature quilts is in the permanent collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. She is the author of two quilt books published by AQS.

She has been teaching quilt making for more than 40 years and loves to help students become more confident in their piecing skills.

She started designing Mystery Quilts for The Quilter’s Market in 2006 and enjoys sharing those designs with her students.

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Sherri Noel

Sherri Noel

Sherri Noel embodies a creative spirit with a passion for sewing. A published author, teacher, and pattern designer, Sherri’s work has graced the pages of several prestigious magazines and quilting books over the past decade plus.

Sherri Noel embodies a creative spirit with a passion for sewing. A published author, teacher, and pattern designer, Sherri’s work has graced the pages of several prestigious magazines and quilting books over the past decade plus. Her quilting journey began in college, inspired by her creative and industrious grandmothers. Upon graduating college, her parents gifted her a sewing machine, sparking a love for quilting that would define her career. Sherri has been designing quilts for many years, and in 2012, she launched her website, RebeccaMaeDesigns.com, named after her daughters, to share her talents and patterns with the world.

Her website offers a treasure trove of fun tutorials and block-of-the-month quilt-a-longs, inviting quilters to join her creative adventures. Sherri loves to travel, teach, and engage with the sewing community, regularly contributing to popular sewing sites. Sherri’s designs incorporate a diverse range of quilting techniques, including traditional piecing, English paper piecing, foundation paper piecing, partial seams, bias tape appliqué, needle turn appliqué, wool appliqué, embroidery, and pearl cotton. She also has a love of hand quilting with the big stitch technique.

Among her notable creations are the Madawaska Mittens, the Dear Daughter quilt, her Scandinavian Christmas designs, and her beloved scrappy block-of-the-month patterns. Sherri views quilting as a profound form of creative expression. In 2016, she began adding sentiments and quirky sayings to her quilts, starting with the Dear Daughter quilt, which features tender, thoughtful messages for her daughters about living a joyful and simple life. Sherri lives in New England and can be found at rebeccamaedesigns.com.

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Penni Domikis

Penni Domikis

I am the owner of Cabin Quilters (dba Cabin in the Woods Quilters), a quilt pattern design company established in 2003.

I am the owner of Cabin Quilters (dba Cabin in the Woods Quilters), a quilt pattern design company established in 2003. I am a self-proclaimed Jill-of-all-trades and take pleasure in many hobbies including watercolor painting, clay building, gardening, photography, and scrapbooking. I was introduced to quilting by a family friend, fell in love with sewing and immediately used my skills as a graphic designer and photographer to build a thriving pattern company. As an award-winning quilter, I have developed a reputation for breaking down quilt designs into manageable pieces for quilters of all skill levels, following my company motto, “Make it simple … but make it with style!” 

 I love the creativity of coming up with new designs and delight in all aspects of the pattern process from the cutting, to the stitching, to the print layout for production. I am a self-published author of 5 books , four of them all about scrap quilting. I love working with fabric companies and product companies to showcase fabrics in their best light. As a designer I am happy to meet quilters from around the world and enjoying seeing their creations from my pattern inspiration. I live in North Carolina and host an all-inclusive Quilting Retreat facility. My husband and I, and our two pups, Stan and Olly, love working from the lake and I love entertaining quilters from around the world for our 5-day retreats. From the new studio, I am able to teach quilters with online classes and YouTube videos.

You can visit me online at www.cabinquilters.com or on YouTube at www.youtube.com/cabinquilters.

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Nina Snyder

Nina Snyder

Meet Nina, a retired Law Enforcement officer turned crafty maker quilter extraordinaire.

Meet Nina, a retired Law Enforcement officer turned crafty maker quilter extraordinaire. Throughout her thirty-year career, she always tailored her own uniforms, but don’t ask her to hem pants anymore, quilters don’t do that! Nina lived and worked in CA for more than 50 years and when she retired from Law Enforcement, moved to Idaho with her husband where she can sew all day long and she thinks that is fantastic.

Nina has had a sewing machine since she was very young. She still has her first machine, a mini toy singer hand crank which she used to play with as a child! She was always crafty making all kinds of things for her children, home, and gifts for friends and family. But one day in 2019 tried quilting and finally understood what her high school geometry teacher had been trying to teach with all those angles and shapes.

Nina’s first Legit Kit quilt was “The Kracken”. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, it was a no brainer. And it was purple. After that one quilt she was hooked and couldn’t wait to help others learn how to make their own Legit Kit works of art.

Nina is a skilled educator with a background in curriculum design and adult learning concepts. Her style of teaching is energetic and fun. She has a certificate on Instructor Development and Adult Learning Concepts from Santa Rosa Junior College and went on to become a CA POST Master Instructor. She attended Handiquilter retail academy and is familiar with Handiquilter and Prostitcher.

If she isn’t behind a machine, you might find her swimming laps at the rec center or walking the dog along the river; Idaho is such a pretty place to live!

www.Ten7quilting.com

Instagram: @ninaquiltedthat

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Tracey Stinger & Becky Malarski

Tracey Stinger & Becky Malarski

Meet Tracey and Becky, the dynamic duo of the quilting world and sisters with boundless passion and expertise.

Meet Tracey and Becky, the dynamic duo of the quilting world and sisters with boundless passion and expertise.

Tracey, a Certified Instructor for Studio 180 Designs and Regional Sales Manager for QT Fabrics and Island Batiks, brings precision piecing and fabric selection to the forefront.

Meanwhile, Becky, owner of Sew in Stitches Quilt Shoppe and a recovering school teacher with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, infuses her teaching prowess and nurturing spirit into every aspect of their quilting journey.

Together, they form an unstoppable force, blending their vibrant personalities and shared love for quilting to inspire and empower enthusiasts worldwide. Whether through dynamic classes, innovative workshops, or their infectious enthusiasm, Tracey and Becky are on a mission to ignite creativity and camaraderie within the quilting community

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Anna Lyons

Anna Lyons

Step into the welcoming world of Scrapbooking Coach, where stories are celebrated, creativity flows easily, and every person is gently guided to feel more confident with their craft.

Step into the welcoming world of Scrapbooking Coach, where stories are celebrated, creativity flows easily, and every person is gently guided to feel more confident with their craft. Led by the ever-encouraging Anna Lyons, coaching scrapbookers since 2012 Scrapbooking Coach has become a trusted haven for anyone wanting both heart and practical know-how.

Anna brings more than beautiful pages to the table, she brings reassurance, laughter, and the kind of easy industry hacks you only learn from someone who truly understands scrapbooking and storytelling. She designs all her own paper, stencils, stamps, and dies, each piece uniquely different to anything else on the market and creates mixed media techniques that feel approachable, not daunting.

Her workshops are famous for building confidence, sparking fresh ideas, and helping people relax into their creativity. Her much-sought-after challenges and her Scrapbook Coach At Home Kit program have become a beloved part of her community. Each month, participants receive a beautifully curated kit including paper, stencils, and stamps, all personally designed by Anna. Every kit is created with her deep understanding of storytelling and scrapbooking, offering projects that inspire creativity while making mixed media approachable and fun. Over the years, the program has grown into more than just a kit subscription, it has become a supportive, vibrant family where scrapbookers share, celebrate, and encourage one another.

Alongside her best-selling scrapbooking books, including her beloved sketch collections and design guides, Anna teaches and presents her designs on Create & Craft TV in the UK, sharing her friendly, easy-going style with a worldwide audience.

Originally from Norfolk in England, Anna now lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, three children, and her much-loved Labradoodle.

At Scrapbooking Coach, you’re not just learning how to make a page… you’re joining a community that cheers you on, celebrates your wins, and gives you that little nudge when inspiration feels a bit shy. Whether you’re brand new or ready to elevate your style, Anna is right there with you, helping you turn life’s tender moments into pages you’ll treasure.

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Sherida Giddings

Sherida Giddings

We’re thrilled to welcome Sherida Giddings, a talented quilt artist and Certified Quiltworx Instructor, as our featured educator.

We’re thrilled to welcome Sherida Giddings, a talented quilt artist and Certified Quiltworx Instructor, as our featured educator. Through her studio, Seams Pieceful, Sherida shares her passion for precision piecing, color, and creativity. Known for her patient teaching style and deep knowledge of Quiltworx techniques, she inspires quilters of all levels to grow their skills and enjoy every stitch of the process. During the retreat, you’ll have the chance to learn Sherida’s favorite sewing techniques, helpful tips, and a few of her trade secrets that make her work truly exceptional.

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Laureen Smith

Laureen Smith

Laureen Smith is a quilt designer, educator, and founder of Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts.

Laureen Smith is a quilt designer, educator, and founder of Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts. With a background in engineering and a love for creative exploration, she delights in finding clever ways to make intricate quilts approachable—using techniques like stitch-and-flip to balance precision with play.

Her classroom is filled with laughter, curiosity, and shared discovery. Laureen finds endless inspiration in her students’ creativity and the joy they bring to every stitch. For the 2027 Alaskan Quilting Cruise, she has designed The North Slope—an exclusive quilt inspired by the intricate beadwork of the Inuit and Alutiiq peoples and the luminous beauty of the northern landscape.

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Sue Hanson

With over three decades in the fabric industry, Sue Hanson is a pattern designer, longarm quilter, and passionate teacher.

With over three decades in the fabric industry, Sue Hanson is a pattern designer, longarm quilter, and passionate teacher. She creates patterns for Hoffman Fabrics, Batik Textiles, and Trackside Quilting, and loves inspiring quilters of all levels. Whether in her studio or on the road, Sue brings creativity, warmth, and joy to every class she teaches.ndscape.

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Tara Miller

Tara Miller

Tara Miller is a quilt historian, pattern designer, teacher, and speaker who helps today’s quilters find their voice through fearless fabric play, masterful print mixing, and deep connections to the past.

Tara Miller is a quilt historian, pattern designer, teacher, and speaker who helps today’s quilters find their voice through fearless fabric play, masterful print mixing, and deep connections to the past. Her work blends bold modern design with rich historical context—modern quilts with meaning. Tara’s lectures, workshops, and retreats spark creativity and build community. She has taught throughout the U.S., as well as in England and France.

Her work has been featured in Quiltmania, Quiltfolk, Simply Moderne, and more. A former AQSG board member, she’s also co-hosted Quiltside Chats (YouTube) and worked with powerhouse quilt historians on The Six Know It-Alls.

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