Karen Henry comes to Quilt Canada 2017

In 2012, Quilt Canada travelled to Halifax NS for the CQA/ACC conference. The local organizing committee had Karen Henry as their chairperson, aka the quilter responsible for pulling off a national conference. To say things can sometimes go not as planned, there can be stressful times, and a few hiccups along the way would be a fair assessment of any national event.

What is completely off the wall crazy is that Karen Henry, the person in charge of ensuring it all worked, never stopped smiling! Like not even once!

It got to the point that some started looking to see if they could find her solemn or unhappy or even sad. Nope! All this quilter did was smile and laugh 24/7 for the whole conference! Even when she was sleeping! (ok, we may be joking about the sleeping part=) But seriously, laugh and smile and make friends is all Karen Henry did for the duration of the conference.

And now we have her booked to teach at Quilt Canada 2017!  We haven't even started to tell you about her talents in the quilting arena!  She is known for her unique landscape and pictoral quilts. Her embellishments on her quilts will stop you in your tracks for a closer look. You do not want to miss an opportunity to have her teach you. Keep reading to here what she says about her classes!

Parchment Oak Leaves

If you like to experiment with different techniques to enhance your quilts come and play at this workshop!  Bobbin Couching allows one to use a thicker line of thread that is not possible with the small hole in the needle on the sewing machine. It allows definition because it is a thick thread and permits a heavier mark of colour with a raised texture.

This class looks into the advantages of using bobbin couching in appliques and as thread play. In Parchment Oak Leaves the use of bobbin couching is explored on organza as a translucent item to be attached to the quilt. The translucency gives one the advantage of allowing the background to be visible through the stitched items which are easily sewn on with your sewing machine. The use of organza as a stabilizer lets the leaf retain its shape when the water soluble stabilizer is rinsed out; no pinning as in thread play. 

Landscape Quilts - Where Do I Start?

These landscapes are raw edge pieced and held together with the embroidered stitches. Once the fabric is on the bat and the embroidery floss or pearl cotton selected for the wall hanging the project is ready to go. These projects are truly portable and that ease makes them take away projects for the airplane, family visits or vacations; those times when your fingers are twitching, and your thoughts need a rest.

Pictoral Quilts For Beginners

These wall hangings are fun and easy to make. Most of mine reflect places I have lived and visited and they remain keepsakes of those spots. Some students work quite quickly and are able to finish within the class. It is wonderful to see the pattern adapted to the students' desire. The red shack has been purple, green and orange, the hills have been altered to complete green grass and fish nets have been added to the water. Students have made the shack every which way and relished the opportunity to encompass their vision. I feel I am there to guide them along the way.

Trust us when we say, you will never regret taking a class from Karen Henry! Her talents and personality are at the top of the class! Don't wait too long to register, she is a rare quilting gem!