Guild & Group Workshop Catalog

Quilting found me in 2016 after a health diagnosis changed my life. In this lecture, I share the story of how I went from making my first accidental pattern, the Crooked Christmas Tree to developing Color Flow Theory and Controlled Improv — and why building a community of confident, joyful quilters became the heart of everything I do. Honest, personal, and full of quilts I made along the way. 60–75 minutes with Q&A.

A visual journey through my Controlled Improv patterns — from the simplest designs to the most layered and complex, or organized by the order in which I created them if your group prefers. This trunk show is a great way to introduce your guild to what Controlled Improv looks like in practice and spark ideas for their own work. 60–75 minutes with Q&A.

In this presentation, Mitzie shares the story behind Color Flow Theory and how it grew out of years of trial, frustration, and a deep love of color. Through a trunk show of finished quilts, Mitzie will walk us through how she uses color, contrast, movement, and intentional pops of color to create quilts that feel cohesive and full of energy—without relying on the traditional color wheel.

As each quilt is shared, Mitzie will break down real fabric choices, explain what’s happening visually, and name the decisions that make the quilt work. This talk explores color and shows quilters that there is more than one “right” way to use it. 60–75 minutes with Q&A.

If color has ever felt confusing, frustrating, or just plain hard — this workshop is for you. Color Flow is the system I developed because I needed a process that actually worked, one that didn't rely on instinct or color wheel rules I could never quite get or remember. In this three-hour session, your members will build palettes that includes 12 or more fabrics from scratch using a clear, step-by-step process rooted in ROYGBIV order and value flow. No guessing. No color wheel required. Just a repeatable method they can use on every quilt from here on out. Everyone leaves with at least one finished palette and real confidence in their color decisions.

I know what it feels like to love the look of improv quilts and then make one that feels like a hot mess. That experience is exactly why I developed Controlled Improv. This workshop is for quilters who want to explore improv without the fear — whether they've never tried it or they've tried it and walked away frustrated. Your members will learn five clear design controls — shape, repetition, percussion, hierarchy, and order — that replace guesswork with controls. Through guided prompts, they'll build improv units that feel balanced, cohesive, and purposeful. They leave with at least two finished layouts on a design wall or glued to paper, a clear framework, and the confidence to begin again without fear.

The Charade Quilt is where Color Flow and Controlled Improv meet — and the result is stunning. This is one of my favorite patterns to teach because students are always surprised by how confident they feel by the end of the day. It pieces quickly with no trimming necessary. Students will receive a pre-workshop guide for selecting fabrics, preparing them, and cutting them. During the class we will work through matching fabrics during the piecing process, and laying out a quilt that measures 48"x48".

Big, bold, and full of personality — the Cosmic Sass quilt never fails to delight. This class digs into color placement and the kind of improv-informed decisions that make a quilt feel alive. Your members will practice reading their fabric, trusting their eye, and building something that is uniquely theirs. Students will receive a pre-workshop guide for selecting fabrics, preparing them, and making and trimming their HST blocks. During the class we will work through matching fabrics during the piecing process, and laying out a quilt that measures at least 42" on all sides.

Joyful, colorful, and deeply satisfying to make — the Gingham Meadow quilt is a wonderful way to put Color Flow Theory into practice. We'll spend the day sewing, learning, and building the kind of color confidence that carries over into every future quilt. Students will receive a pre-workshop guide for selecting fabrics, preparing them, and making and trimming their 4-Square blocks. During the class we will work through matching fabrics during the piecing process for HSTs, and laying out a quilt that measures at least 42" on all sides.