WQI Retreat

I'm spending the weekend with the ladies of WQI at a retreat in Lake Geneva.  

WQI or Wisconsin Quilters Inc. was our statewide quilt guild.  Last October the group disbanded after 30 years of providing fellowship, expert classes and such enthusiastic support.  This group of amazing women provided me with the wings to fly and become the artist I am today.  I was heartbroken when they decided that they would not continue.  It was agreed that the group accomplished what they had set out to do.  Meetings used to draw between 200- 300 people each time.  With so many opportunities now available to quilters and changes in the economy attendance continued to drop each year.

I am so glad we still have chances to spend time together.  For more information about activities with this group and around Wisconsin visit the Quilt Happenings in Wisconsin blog.

Here is a list of teachers I had the privilege of meeting thanks to the efforts of this group:

Bonnie P. Turner - Crazy Quilter and Ribbon Embroidery 

Betty Ekern Suiter - Hand Applique

Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle of Fun Quilts - Color Theory and Design

Susan Cleveland - Piping Hot Curves and Binding

Jean Lohmar - Machine Quilting

Millie Sorrells - Hand Applique 

Barb Vlack - Freezer Paper Foundation Piecing
Jane Townswick - Hand Applique
Beth Wheeler and Lori Marquette - Altered Photo Artistry
Virginia Walton - Creative Curves
Jane Sassaman - Abstracting Nature
Rita Hutchens - Totally Tubular
Cara Gulati - Radiant Suns
Nancy Prince - Thread Painting
Maxine Rosenthal - Hollow Cube
Linda Halpin - Color Theory, Color Selection
Cindy Fenster - Machine Quilting