Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.
If you are looking for more info about the workshops and programs I offer, you’re in the right place.
Lecture/trunk show presentations and workshops for guilds, shows, stores, or other organizations will be listed here, and will continue to be added to this page as new selections become available. Meanwhile, feel free to contact me at bawquilts@gmail.com with any questions.
Due to my own in-house teaching schedule, I am able to accept only a limited number of additional speaking and/or teaching opportunities each year. Please confirm date/time availability before filling out a contract.
ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.
Pricing for contracted events will not change after the contracts have been signed by all parties, even if the listings change.
See the sample contract for a Virtual (on Zoom) program and/or workshop below:
Would you like to take a class yourself? Click here to check out what’s currently on offer. I look forward to seeing you!
Lecture/Trunk Shows – Currently online only.
Color Gets the Credit but Value Does the Work
How confident are you when picking fabrics for a new project? Do you ever hesitate when figuring out which fabric to use and where? Even more than color, value (the relative lightness or darkness of each hue) can make or break a design. But once you understand how the various elements work together, you’ll be ready to define individual shapes within a pattern, establish focal areas, and play with depth and luminosity with ease. Whether your style is traditional, modern, or somewhere in between, value is a wonderful tool!
All the Lines Are Continuous – Discovering Celtic-Style Appliqué by Machine
When you look back over your life, can you spot themes, styles, colors, or emotions that act as through lines, connecting your past to your present? In this lecture/trunk show, Beth Ann shares both the historical context for Celtic-style designs and the personal context for how this inspiration has been a recurring element in her personal and creative life, helping to shape her career as a fiber artist, quilter, designer, and author. You’ll also get an overview of Beth Ann’s creative process, from drawing to finished machine appliqué. The tips and tricks she has developed over the years make the techniques surprisingly accessible!
Heirloom Appliqué by Machine
Learn how satisfying it can be to create the look of heirloom-quality hand appliqué with finished edges – all with your sewing machine! Beth Ann, who transformed her quilting practice after health challenges, will use the classic Orange Peel design to showcase a step-by-step overview of three of her favorite beginner-friendly methods for preparing finished edges. We’ll also explore her top recommendations for presser feet, needles, thread, stitch settings, and handy notions that help make the process faster, easier, and more enjoyable.
First Steps in Thread Painting (Available for meeting dates AFTER August 1, 2025)
See how fun and easy it can be to beautifully finish the edges of raw-edged machine appliqué, add subtle dimension and shading to commercially printed motifs, bring an original sketch to life, or add fun details to pictorial or landscape quilts – all on your home sewing machine. We’ll also explore how to set yourself up for success with your choice of stitch settings, presser feet, sewing machine needles, specific types of threads, and a variety of stabilizers. Thread painting techniques can be used for accents or embellishment in quilting, sewing, home dec, craft, or clothing projects; as well as to create frameable pieces of fiber art, To get started, you’ll need a free-motion, spring-embroidery, or darning foot and the ability to lower the feed dogs on your machine. Previous free-motion quilting experience will be helpful; but is not necessary. It’s a lot easier than you may think!
It’s All About the Thread
Do you ever wonder what all the fuss is about? From piecing and appliqué to quilting and embellishment, we’ll focus on practical tips for choosing which threads to use in your sewing machine for which tasks (it matters!), selecting machine needles to match your thread choices, troubleshooting, and how to set yourself up for happy stitching.
3 Hour Workshops – Currently online only.
Prep for Success, Quilt with Confidence
Do you have quilt tops piling up because you’re not confident about what to do next? Or perhaps you’ve quilted some tops, but haven’t been as happy with the results as you expected to be? The success of the machine quilting on a given quilt has as much to do with the preparation beforehand as it does with the quilting step itself. Help is at hand!
All skill levels welcome. No supply list needed for this lecture/demo/trunk show. Printable handouts will be available for handy reference after class.
The Magic of “Invisible” Machine Appliqué
Once you know the secrets, it’s easier than you’d ever believe to create the look of heirloom-quality hand appliqué with finished edges – all with your sewing machine! And when it comes to style and versatility, the sky is the limit! Beth Ann will share an overview of her favorite methods for preparing finished edges and show you how she uses these techniques for traditional appliqué designs, modern appliqué designs, faux “piecing” and curved designs, landscapes and pictorial quilts, stained glass and Celtic designs and more!
All skill levels welcome. No supply list needed. This lecture/demo/trunk show is a more in-depth version of the lecture/trunk show listed above. A printable handout is included.
6 Hour Workshops – Currently online only.
Celtic Blessings Quilt
Create a beautiful finished-edge machine appliquéd and quilted Celtic-style knotwork design with Beth Ann’s favorite “invisible” machine appliqué-and-quilt in one step method. A no-hand-sewing-needed hanging sleeve option is also included. At 22 1/2″ square, this lovely quilt will be a special family keepsake or treasured gift!
Skill level: Intermediate. A complete supply list will be provided to the class organizers to give to all students immediately upon registration. A digital version of the pattern is included with the class, and will be emailed to participants one week before class so they can trace their design onto the background fabric before class.
Celtic True Lovers Knot Pillow or Wall Hanging
This popular block pattern originally included in Beth Ann’s book Celtic Quilts: A New Look for Ancient Designs (NOT required) is based on the ancient True Lovers Knot, the continuous line forming the design symbolic of the eternal nature of true love. Learn to create Celtic-style knotwork from bias strips and “invisibly” machine appliqué-and-quilt your block in one step. Turn your finished block into a beautiful decorator pillow or small wall-hanging.
Skill level: Intermediate. A complete supply list will be provided to the class organizers to give to all students immediately upon registration. A digital version of the pattern is included with the class, and will be emailed to participants one week before class so they can trace their design onto the background fabric before class.
Create Your Own Quilted Landscape
Capture a treasured memory in fabric! Learn to create a beautiful finished-edge machine appliquéd and quilted landscape with Beth Ann’s step-by-step easy methods. Create your own piece of fiber art in this hands-on class while picking up skills and techniques you’ll be able to use in other projects, too.
Skill level: Intermediate. A complete supply list will be provided to the class organizers to give to all students immediately upon registration. A digital version of the pattern is included with the class, and will be emailed to participants one week before class.
Color Tools and Color Confidence
Learn to combine fabrics more confidently with author and designer Beth Ann Williams. Unlock the magic of color harmonies, designing with relative values, and creating quilts that sparkle. Class includes live instruction and Q&A, up-close photography of an extensive trunk show of blocks and quilts, and optional exercises you can do along with Beth Ann to put the principles into practice.
All skill levels welcome. A complete supply list (all items suggested, but not required) will be provided to the class organizers to give to all students immediately upon registration. Printable handouts will be available for handy reference after class.
Easy Machine-Sewn Quilt Bindings – That Still Look Great!
Do you have quilts that need bindings? Skinny, wide, striped, flanged, plain or embellished – would you like to learn how you can sew great-looking French-fold quilt bindings on your sewing machine with no hand-sewing required? It’s faster and much easier than you might think!
All skill levels welcome. No supply list needed. Printable handouts will be available for handy reference after class.
Easy & Effective Machine Quilting with a Walking Foot
Go beyond quilting in-the-ditch and discover fast, fun, and deceptively easy ways to complement piecing, enhance a focal area, and create a variety of wonderful textures, all while machine quilting with a walking foot. This beginner-friendly hands-on zoom class will feature live instruction and Q&A, up-close photography, video clips showing the techniques in action, and plenty of examples of finished quilts. Together the class will make a set of swatches that you’ll be able to refer to for inspiration whenever you wonder “How can I quilt this?”
All skill levels welcome. A complete supply list will be provided to the class organizers to give to all students immediately upon registration. Printable handouts will be available for handy reference after class.
Modern Rose “Invisible” Machine Appliqué
Create a beautiful layered design with “invisible” machine appliqué and completely finished edges in this hands-on class, which is based on a modern interpretation of the classic Rose of Sharon quilt pattern. Next thing you know, you’ll be ready to tackle other designs of your choice with these easy, practical techniques!
These are large 20″ blocks; one block would make a great pillow or table mat; two or three blocks would make a generous runner, and 4 blocks would make a darling baby quilt. Of course, you can always make more and create a bed quilt!
BONUS: a printable PDF with full instructions and tips will be included with the printable digital pattern.
***Freezer paper is needed for this project.***
Please note that we will not be making a full quilt in this class; we will be focusing all our time on just 1 block so that we can complete it together in class.
Skill level: Confident Beginner – Intermediate. A complete supply list will be provided to the class organizers to give to all students immediately upon registration. A printable digital version of the pattern and instructions is included with the class, and will be emailed to participants before class.
