Meet the 2020-2021 Board

I can’t remember when I didn’t sew, but I must have learned during junior high home economics classes because my mother didn’t really sew much.  She had a top-of-the-line Singer sewing machine with all the bells and attachments which my father had bought her when she came to America as an English war bride.  (My father, an engineer, always felt that one should get the best quality machines.  Our KitchenAid mixer even had a shoe-shining attachment!)  She tried, but it wasn’t her thing.

I made some of my clothes in junior high, high school, and after, but didn’t come to quilting until I took a class with former EVQ member Carolyn Nelson at our church.  We made a sampler quilt and I was hooked.  

I was EVQ Intraguild Co-Chair in about 2002, but gave up quilting for a few (15) years.  Like Jan Eliot (of Stone Soup fame), I wanted to actually finish something and took up jewelry making and card making.  They get finished quicker and the supplies take up less room.  

I came back to quilting after a 2016 trip to England, where my cousin, who had joined me at an EVQ retreat, reintroduced me to it.  I really got going in 2018 and have been busily collecting a new stash ever since.  I love that I’m back in the sisterhood (and brotherhood, Ken) of EVQ and eager to help as I can.

Even though I used to be a card maker, I find I’m using commercial cards for my duty of wishing members the best during times of trial.  That gives me more time to make masks and quilts!

Ken Casey is a native of Phoenix and has been quilting for about 30 years now.  He grew up making articles of clothing for himself and others, even entering a few clothing construction contests in high school and worked in the fabric department of a Phoenix area department store.

In his quilting journey, he spent a few summers at Quilt Camp in the Pines in Flagstaff, has taken classes from many internationally known teachers and further developed his skills. He is also a certified instructor for AnglePlay Templates.  He LOVES to play with color and use unexpected combinations. He likes to challenge himself to try new techniques as often as he can.

In high school I learned to sew in Home Economics class.  I remember making the required gusset in the underarm seam vowing that I would never sew again! I never understood why the gusset was required when you will never use that skill!  Shortly after I was married, I inherited a little money from my grandmother, and purchased my first sewing machine. I knew it was something that I would use in her honor.   I started sewing clothes and home goods. Later I had two daughters, I begin to sew their clothes.  As they grew older, I made prom dresses and eventually bridesmaid dresses for our daughter’s wedding. Now I have the joy of making clothes for my two granddaughters. I always loved quilts and cherish the two hand sewn quilts made by each one of my grandmothers. I wanted to learn how to sew my own quilts, so I took my first quilt class at Jean Maries. This led to another class and then another, etc. I joined EVQ around 1990 and the rest as they say is history.  I enjoy all the wonderful quilts and the friends you meet through quilting.  I love being in a Satellite group, that meets every week, it expands my quilting and each of these quilters has become a cherished friend.

As a quilter since 1998 I enjoy all aspects of quilting and have pushed myself to make more complicated blocks, both pieced and paper pieced. Currently making small (tiny) blocks is proving to be both challenging and very satisfying.

As a member of EVQ since 2004, I  have served on Quilt Show committees helping with the inventory one year, and with the Demonstrations for two consecutive quilt shows.  Last year I co-chaired the EVQ Block of The Month with Diane Barfield, and this year I am having fun  co-chairing the Library with Judy Coats.  I also belong to the EVQ Strippers satellite group that meets at Our Sewing Room. 

Being involved has been fun and to quote many, many, many, other members, “ it is a great way to meet other members”. I have learned so much from our speakers, from members, and from classes including school house, and retreats. As a result I have been able to not only start many quilts and wall hangings, but actually also finish many, (not all), but many and look forward to continue learning and enjoying the people at EVQ.

Quilt Show 2021: (Chair)Laura Lowe and

(Co-Chair) Linda O’Bryant