Minot Prairie Quilt Guild

Instructors

Nancy Odom, Carmel, IN:

Quilt designer, author, and teacher Nancy Odom has several books and dozens of patterns in publication, with more pattern and book ideas always in the works. Also among her creations are Quilter's Gloves for the machine quilter. Nancy is also the coauthor of Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publications). Azalea Trail, Gather Sunshine, Vintage Rose, and Orchard Park are fabric collections designed by Nancy for P&B Textiles. Nancy has appeared on three episodes of Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson, on America Sews with Sue Hausmann, Quilting Arts with Pokey Bolton and It's Sew Easy. Several of Nancy's designs have also been featured in McCall's Quilting Magazine, For The Love of Quilting magazine and Designers' Quarters magazine. She has also created quilts for C&T Publications, P&B Textiles, Hoffman Fabrics, Benartex Fabrics, Bernina Sewing Machines, and Viking Sewing Machines. She designed and created raffle quilts for the International Quilt Association in 2005 and the Quilter's Hall of Fame Celebration in 2009. Nancy is a featured teacher and lecturer at quilt shows, quilt guilds, and quilt shops around the country. Her teaching style is energetic and fun, but more important she is a knowledgeable quilt teacher. Students will not only be entertained but will leave her class with new skills. Having completed her first quilt at the age of 17, Nancy credits her grandmother's love of quilting for inspiring her at such a young age. She has vivid memories of sneaking downstairs after "bedtime" as a child to watch her grandmother appliqu a quilt top. Nancy was amazed and fascinated by every stitch. Today, the very quilt that inspired that little girl has a proud place among Nancy's own quilted creations.

Heidi Pridemore, Chandler, AZ:

Heidi was born and raised in Rochester, NY, where she received a bachelor's degree in Industrial Design from Rochester Institute of Technology. In 2000, Heidi began offering her services as a product designer to a number of fabric companies. She created her own line of quilt patterns in 2002 and in 2004 Heidi started designing fabric in her own bright and whimsical style. By 2005 the work load warranted expanding to a partnership and The Whimsical Workshop LLC began with Heidi as the main designer. Heidi is known for her fun and whimsical quilts which she often makes in dramatic, bright colors. She also has an excellent reputation for writing clear and easy to follow instructions. Heidi designs a large number of project sheets featuring fabric lines from national companies such as Blank Quilting, David Textiles, Studio E, Timeless Treasures and Robert Kaufman. She also designs quilt patterns for a variety of popular quilting magazines such as Quiltmaker, McCall's Quick Quilts, The Quilter and Quilts. In addition she has completed five books; Quilted Whimsy, Bold Batiks and Dazzling Designs for Leisure Arts. For C&T Publishing she has written "Pop Up Paper Structures". For F&W Media, Fabric Jewelry-Wrapped, Braided and Sewn, published in 2009. Heidi spends most of her time designing and traveling to trade shows, giving lectures and running workshops. When not traveling she enjoys staying at home in Arizona with her husband Matthew and their Great Pyrenees dog Cleo.

Mary Jo Abel - Fargo, ND:
Mary Jo has been sewing since Home Economics in High School. She was inspired by her mother who sewed a lot of their clothes growing up. Besides working for Rae-Bon Quilt and Sewing Center she teaches scrapbooking and stamping cards with Close to my Heart. She leads a crafty lifestyle that she can't wait to start her next day of fun. Her habit of saving every scrap of fabric and paper has earned her the title of Scrap Queen.

Patty Bretheim - Minot, ND:
Patti's first sewing was in High School Home Ec., and she has been sewing ever since. Patti joined the Minot Prairie Quilt Guild in 1995 and says she's loved every minute of it. Everybody that knows Patti knows how much she loves yo-yo's and turning her scraps into yo-yo's of all sizes. She also likes to piece, applique and button hole applique. Patti is married to Paul and they have two grown children. She works as an aide at Minot Public Schools.

Bev Cushing - Minot, ND:
Bev is an avid quilter. She teaches Family and Consumer Science at Bishop Ryan High School and has added quilting to her curriculum. She is married to Gerald and they have four children and one grandson. Bev has recently purchased a long-arm machine and is in the process of learning how to use that. Bev is a member of the Minot Prairie Quilt Guild.

Merry Green - Granville, ND:
Merry Has a BS degree in Home Economics Education and a minor in Textile and Clothing from NDSU. She was employed for twenty-two years as a County Extension Agent in Stark#Billings County and McHenry County. She also was an instructor for Manitoba Agriculture for five years and owned and operated a fabric store along with an alterations business in Killarney, Manitoba. She taught many adult and youth sewing classes while working. Merry began sewing in 4-H and constructed garments for herself, family members and friends. In recent years, she has expanded her sewing skills to include machine embroidery and quilting. Merry and her husband live in Granville, ND, and have three grown children and one grandchild.

Emily Hardwig - Bemidji, MN:
Emily is a lifelong resident of northern Minnesota. She owned Emily's Country Cottage (a country gift store and quilt shop) in Bemidji for 23 years. Since selling the shop in May of 2011, she devotes her time to designing quilts, teaching quilting and vending at quilt shows. She and Jim live in Bemidji and together enjoy nine grandchildren.

Carmen Haugen - Minot, ND:
Carmen is the owner of Prairie Rose Quilt Shop in Minot, which has been opened since 1997. She started quilting in 1983 and has many years of experience in quilting, sewing and design work. Carmen has been a vendor for many years at our Festival.

Kathleen Moorhead Johnson - Alexander, ND:
Kathleen started quilting in 1984 and teaching in 1987. She has won numerous awards for her quilts and is known for the wonderful use of color in her quilts. She has also had numerous quilts published in books, calendars and magazines. Her most recent publications include a quilt in Ricky Tims. Kool Kaleidoscope book and Citrus Slices in the Quilting Quarterly Magazine published by NQA. Kathleen started designing patterns and publishing her Autumn Wind Quilt Designs patterns several years ago. Kathy has a relaxed, fun teaching style that puts all her stu# dents at ease in the classroom. www.augustwindquiltdesigns.com

Bonnie Lundorff - Bemidji, MN:
Bonnie opened her quilt shop/wool, Willow Wood Market, 15 years ago and has been instilling a love of quilting and stitching in her shop and around the upper midwest ever since. She designs simple to make wool projects as well as stitcheries and quilted projects. She began hand dying wool a few years ago, and it has become her newest passion! Bonnie lives in Bemidji, MN, with her husband and best friend Tim. They have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and three adorable grandsons.

Julie Rostad - Minot, ND:
Julie owns the quilt shop, Bernina Plus, in downtown Minot. She has been sewing since age five. Quilting is her favorite type of sewing, BUT, she also enjoys garment making, home d?cor, stained glass, ceramics and many other forms of art.

Mardi Schock - Velva, ND:
Mardi is the owner of The Quilted Bean, a unique quilt and coffee shop in Velva, ND, just 19 miles southeast of Minot. The Quilted Bean opened in 2008 after Mardi and her sons renovated it. She got bit by the quilting bug about 10 years ago, having sewn garments since she was old enough to reach the treadle on her grandmother's antique treadle machine. Mardi lives on a farm near Velva with her husband. and they have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. She has an easy laidback teaching style and loves to help her customers with color selection. Mardi has just started to create her own patterns, available in her shop only. This is her first time teaching at the Minot Quilt Festival and she is honored to be asked. She will be vending again this year and can be contacted for information about classes by calling 701-338-2850 or through her website www.thequiltedbean.com.

Gladys Lowell - Minot, ND:
Although her mother made quilts and taught her to sew at a young age, Gladys did not discover the joy of quilting until much later. Since joining the Minot guild in 1991 quilting has taken over her life. Gladys has exhibited many quilts at North Dakota shows and won many ribbons, including three Best of Show awards at the Minot Festival and one at the ND State Fair. Gladys has been teaching quiltmaking classes since 1998.

Julia Mehlhoff - Bottineau, ND:
Julia enjoys almost all quilting techniques. The pace in her workshops is relaxed, enjoyable and the outcome is pleasing. She is very patient and supportive. She has taught both one on one at students. homes and in classrooms. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she loves to share, inspire and encourage others. She teaches classes from very basic introductory skill levels for those just starting out to more advanced techniques for experienced quilters. And, she finds great satisfaction helping others learn, develop and grow as their skills improve. Her personal preference is for traditional quilt patterns. Her interests include redwork, needle-turn appliqu?, hand appliqu?, hand quilting, treadle and early electric machines. This has lead to a personal interest in using vintage era sewing machines to help capture the look and style exhibited in those early quilts as well as developing and appreciation of the time and skills necessary to use those tools. At least that is the excuse she has used for having as many as 27 sewing machines. She sometimes uses one of her vintage machines in class much to the enjoyment of her students. This has resulted in a strong understanding of the basic fundamentals, techniques and how they can be used in both vintage and modern style quilts. She feels that to truly be a good instructor it is important to have skills not only in design and color but also in how to utilize the tools, techniques and machines correctly. There are tips and tricks she will share with her students to make it fun to learn. And yes, if you do not complete your project during class you are welcome to call her at home for continued support!

Irene Ost - Norwich, ND:
After retiring from teaching, Irene has finally found time for quilting. Irene now enjoys appliqu more thanks to her Cricut machine. Irene has been a member of the Minot Prairie Quilters for two years. Irene and her husband, Donald, have a hobby farm near Norwich, with a large garden and animals. They have three grown sons and one grandson.

Jackie Slagle - Minot, ND:
Jackie has been quilting for about five years and a member of the Prairie Quilters for a couple of years. She enjoys making tops as she can make them quickly. Jackie's love for applique has grown with the use of the Cricut machine. She has had so much fun doing different applique projects with the Cricut. The ease of making letters and shapes makes appliqu fun and effortless. Jackie is married, has two grown children, and works at JoAnn's Fabric which enables her in her quest to win the "who has the most fabric" contest.

Donna Vangsness - Minot, ND:
Donna began sewing at 15 years old after taking a Home Ec. class at MHS. She began by sewing shirts for her little brothers from leftover clothing. Donna started quilting seriously about 1989 and really became hooked. She loves to hand quilt and finds it very relaxing. Donna has taken classes from Vickie Haider and attended many classes and lectures locally and has attended quilt shows in Houston, Paducah and Duluth. Donna is a very active member of the Minot Prairie Quilt Guild and the Minot Prairie Quilt Festival Board for many years. Donna has been married to Glenn for 56 years. They have three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.