Our Mission

Quilt Alliance is a nonprofit 501c3 organization established in 1993 with a mission to document, preserve, and share our American quilt heritage by collecting the rich stories that historic and contemporary quilts, and their makers, tell about our nation’s diverse peoples and their communities.

In support of this mission, the Alliance brings together quilt makers and designers, the quilt industry, quilt scholars and teachers, and quilt collectors to further the following goals:

• to promote the understanding of the quilt as an important American grassroots art form
• to share stories and documentation about quilts with a broad public
• to educate Americans about the importance of documenting quilts and quiltmakers so that their stories will not be lost

After this wonderful presentation by the Quilt Alliance, please make plans to stay for our 2025 Luncheon to be held in the Conference Room.  

PLEASE NOTE:  THIS WORKSHOP IS HELD ON A SATURDAY AND IS AT THE CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY IN ARDEN!

Where's The Block?

Have you ever looked at a quilt and tried to figure out the block and how it was put together? We’ll solve this mystery in 3 stages — very easy, easy, and almost easy. You’ll learn 2 techniques for making half-rectangle triangles. This is a scrap quilt — the more variety the better, and all fabrics should contrast well with a white or other solid background.

We will add the supply list soon!  

Learn the many connections between between history, battles, myths, art, technology, math and science all  stitched together between three layers.

Paula’s “elevator speech” boils down to the title of a song in Roger and Hammerstein’s musical, Carousel, “I Cain’t Say No.”  Those words have led her to some fabulous quilt making experiences throughout her life.  Paula has been fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, which has lead to all sorts of fabulous quilting experiences.  (Or, she could not sit on her hands when volunteers were requested.)  She is a co-author of the book, The Quilts of Virginia – the Birth of America Through the Eye of A Needle, sponsored by the Virginia Consortium on Quilters; Past-President of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Quilt Museum; founder of Cabin Branch Quilters, Prince William County, VA; Teacher of the Year, The Professional Quilter Magazine; on Jinny Beyer’s teaching staff for 20 years; co-organizer of Along the Spice Route with Ann Reardon, a exhibit that toured the US for three years.  Paula is someone who is passionate about quilts, quilters, their stories, and the techniques for almost 50 years.

Frolicking Felines

Begin the day learning Jinny Beyer's theory of color. Paula created an easy tessellated cat paper foundation pattern to showcase your new skills and understanding of value, shading, and color!

Frolicking Felines
Supply List

Beginning with Color Confidence for Quilters and the Portable Palette by Jinny Beyer, learn about the use of color and then transfer that knowledge into a whimsical tessellated paper foundation pieced quilt of interlocking kitty cats.

Portable Palette by Jinny Beyer - optional (palettes will be available for use in class)

• Paper
• Tracing paper
• Colored pencils
• Fabric: a multicolored piece from your stash
• Basic sewing kit
• Rotary cutter, ruler and mat
• Pigma pen: Black, 0.01 micron

Fabric: Ah, the choices.... . This quilt block lends itself to at least four variations:

1. Nine patch with two colors

2. Simple shading from light to dark of six fabrics (it could be more, if you like) in one color family

3. Simple shading from light to dark in alternating rows of two color families

4. Complete color study as in the sample. The sample uses 6 x 6 pieces of 60 different fabrics (10 color families shaded light to dark).

You would need 1/8 yard of each fabric. There are two sizes of blocks to choose from (2 and 3 ) so not much fabric is needed. It depends on the size quilt you would like to make.

Bring extra fabric to play with.

• Thread: 100% sewing cotton to match fabric values
• Sewing machine in good working order, manual
• Extension cord and power strip
• Iron and ironing board

Registration for Members will open:  8/22/2025

Registration for Non-Members will open:  9/22/2025