As a quiltmaker, teacher and author, Mary Ellen Kranz shares her knowledge of how to combine quilting, digital photography and computer software with quiltmakers across the country. Her quilts appear in shows and galleries and reflect a broad range of quiltmaking skills and techniques.

Mary Ellen’s classes provide an opportunity to try out these tools and the latest quilting software under the guidance of a creative and patient teacher. For the past 15 years Mary Ellen has taught throughout the country at shops, guilds, regional quilting events and national conferences including the AQS Quilt Show in Paducah, Quilting by the Lake, the Houston International Quilt Festival, and Maine Quilts.

Mary Ellen was a featured guest on “Simply Quilts.” Her articles have appeared in popular magazines. Mary Ellen and Cheryl Hayes are co-authors of Blending Photos with Fabric: A Beautiful New Way to Combine Photography, Printing, and Quiltmaking. Mary Ellen’s newest book is Blending Photos with Fabric 2.

Mary Ellen Kranz lives in Belfast, Maine in the summer and fall and Greensboro, North Carolina during the rest of the year.

Friday, July 30
207 Photo Inspired Landscape Quilts - FULL
All Levels
Kit Fee $10

Learn the latest techniques for printing photos onto fabric using one from Mary Ellen’s collection of landscapes or one of your own. Learn the role that scanners, digital cameras, photo software and printers play to get crisp, richly colored images on fabric. Use the latest products to make your fabric images soft, washable and lightfast. Learn how to extend your quilt outward from your landscape photo using an easy, new technique. Blend your fabrics with your photo in such a way that viewers will wonder just where your photo ends and the fabric begins. We’ll finish with a discussion of wonderful embellishment techniques and quilting possibilities. Click to see a picture.

Supply List

Saturday, July 31
306 Digital Art for Beginners & Beyond - FULL
All Levels

Click to see a class sample.

Supply List

Sunday morning, August 1 - FULL
8:30–11:30 a.m.
401 Electric Quilt: An Introduction to Computer Quilt Design
ALL

Computer software is the best quilting tool since the invention of the rotary cutter. Learn to use this top-rated quilt software package in a friendly, encouraging and creative environment. Choose from EQ’s huge library of quilt blocks and fabrics to create numerous versions of your quilt, with different settings, fabrics, and borders - in minutes! Learn to draw your own blocks, try out color schemes, and print foundation patterns, templates and yardage calculations. Software saves so much time in the design and planning stages of quiltmaking – allowing you to get to work with the fabric faster and with more confidence in the finished quilt.

It is possible that by class time, a new version may be available. When EQ7 is released, your EQ6 software will not be obsolete. EQ7 will have some new capabilities but use the same concepts and framework as EQ6. If it is available, Mary Ellen will bring trial versions of EQ7 if you want to try out the new features. You’ll get the best of both worlds … learn your EQ6 software and see what’s new in EQ7.

Supply List

Sunday afternoon, August 1
1:30–4:30 p.m.
402 Electric Quilt: Beyond the Basics - FULL
All levels

Once you know the EQ basics, learn to use this powerful quilting software to create more advanced, intricate quilt designs. Explore various grid and free-form settings. Try multiple border options. Practice drawing curved and straight lines while making blocks and appliqué shapes. Learn how scanned pictures or digital camera photos can be incorporated into your block and quilt designs. Design quilts that will turn heads and open new pathways for your quiltmaking creativity.

It is possible that by class time, a new version may be available. When EQ7 is released, your EQ6 software will not be obsolete. EQ7 will have some new capabilities but use the same concepts and framework as EQ6. If it is available, Mary Ellen will bring trial versions of EQ7 if you want to try out the new features. You’ll get the best of both worlds … learn your EQ6 software and see what’s new in EQ7.

Supply List