January 5, Marie Strait

On January 5 our guest speaker is Marie Strait, a quilter and teacher from Los Gatos whose focus is skill building while having fun. She’ll bring a trunk show called “Scraps, Scraps, Scraps” featuring a wide variety of scrap quilts. Marie began teaching in 1976 in a quilt shop in Stockton, and soon after for Manteca Adult School. She was the charter president of Manteca Quilters Guild and co-chaired their first show in 1979, which was the first show held in the California Central Valley. She moved to Merced and opened a quilt shop that she owned for four years, began teaching for Merced College, and was charter president of the Gateway Quilters Guild.

By the early 1990s she was teaching six classes a week for Merced College, working and teaching in a quilt shop in Turlock, and teaching for Madera Adult School.

She has since taught many classes for many years in a variety of locations; given talks and taught workshops at guilds, stores, and conferences; and continues to be active in the quilting world.

Her talk in January is called "Scraps, Scraps, Scraps." This trunk show features a wide variety of scrap quilts. Included is a discussion of various types of scrap quilts as well as suggestions for separating and storing scraps. Get lots of ideas for what to do with your scrap collection.

Her class on January 6 is "Going Around In Circles." Design a quilt from half square triangles, squares and machine appliqued (blindstitched) circles. She will demonstrate a unique way of creating and applying the circles. This quilt is a great opportunity to use bigger prints. Students might want to consider themed fabric such as Asian, or African. Sewing machine with zig-zag capacity is required. Appropriate for a quilter with basic skills. The class is $40.