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Arapahoe County Quilters

Celebrating the Art of Quiltmaking for 30+ Years

Festival of Quilts will be June 6-7 2025. Look for more information on the
Festival of Quilts home page.

ACQ Workshops

Workshops from our featured teachers provide an amazing opportunity to learn new techniques and expand your quiltmaking skills at a minimal cost. Payments are due with your registration.

See Workshop Policies below for details.

Upcoming Workshops

  • April Workshop "Intro to Thread Painting" with Lea McComas

    • April 12, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Our Father Lutheran Church 6335 S. Holly Street, Centennial, CO
    • 0
    Join waitlist

    Intro to Thread Painting    with Lea McComas

    Try this technique without committing to a major project. Participants will complete a series of small exercises to learn skills in isolation, and then combine them in more intricate compositions. We will begin with basic exercises for drawing, filling, & blending, before moving on to creating texture, contour, and depth. Skills learned in this workshop can be applied to a variety of pictorial and abstract projects. This workshop also includes information on threads, stabilizers, and needles.

    A $45 kit fee will be paid to the instructor at the workshop. Kit items are detailed in the supply list below.

    This workshop will be IN-PERSON only.  No refunds available.

    Get Supply List HERE     Supreme Slider is no longer available     

    Lea will be speaking at the April 10, 2025 Guild Meeting

    About Lea McComas

    With a life-long interest in fiber, Lea McComas began sewing at age 6 and quilting at 16.  She earned an M.A. in Education, and has been a public school educator for almost 40 years, including 9 years spent serving military families stationed overseas. While living abroad, Lea immersed herself in the local cultures, learning the arts and traditions of the people with whom she lived. This included studying carpet weaving in Turkey, and fabric dying in Japan. 

    She has been featured in numerous publications and online platforms such as Quilting Arts TV & Magazine, and TheQuiltShow.com. Lea shares the extensive knowledge and the techniques behind her award-winning quilts in lectures, workshops, magazine articles,  online courses at QuiltingCompany.com, and her book Thread Painted Portraits.  

    Learn more about Lea:

    Website        Facebook

    Instagram     Pinterest

    Blog               YouTube
    Show details

  • May Workshop "Tree Rings" with Diana S. Fox

    • May 10, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Our Father Lutheran Church 6335 S. Holly Street, Centennial, CO
    • 12
    Register

    Tree Rings with Diana S. Fox

    Get ready to combine unique fabrics into round-ish blocks using raw edge applique to represent the growth of nature's grandest marvels. 

    Embellish and add detail with thread and your imagination.  Finish by combining the blocks into unique, mounted wall art.

    This workshop is about letting your creativity flow freely.

    Artist's Statement

    "Through the exploration of cloth as my medium choice...abstraction, shape and use of color are the primary components repeated through my work.  My approach is improvisational and organic, and I am most often stimulated by spirituality, nature, and world events.  The beginning of a composition varies from a vague idea to a detailed sketch with a selected color pallet.  Rarely does a finished piece completely resemble the initial idea, as I respond to the work as the composition develops.  The creative process is the exciting part pushing me to present a unique worldview".

    This workshop will be IN-PERSON only.  No refunds available.

    Get Supply List HERE   

    There is a kit fee of $25 due to instructor at class. The kit fee contains all the materials needed to make 3 "rounds" plus mounts to hang them individually on your wall.

    See Diana's "Tree Rings" Presentation on The Quilt Show HERE       

    Diana will be speaking at the May 8th  Guild Meeting

    Learn more about Diana Fox

    An artist and creator to the core, quilting is my medium of choice. There are so many aspects to the art of quilting that I love—the richness of community, the tactile nature, learning the basics and then bending the rules.  Moving from traditional quilting, to art quilting, to a textile art focus has been a wonderful adventure.

    I was born and raised in Denver, CO within a large and close-knit family and have never lived more than 20 miles from my place of birth. I travel frequently but could never even consider calling another place home. Before fully tapping into my creative work, I graduated from Regis University and worked in local government as a Human Resources professional.

    My work has moved from flat art quilting into the sculptural realm, removing negative space and engaging the area in and around each piece. As a textile sculptress, I prefer to dye much of my own fabric for my creations. I have had numerous pieces juried into national and international shows and have mounted several successful solo exhibitions, including one currently at the National Quilt Museum. I am a Juried Artist member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and a member of 4 Common Corners, an invitational art quilt group. I am looking forward to upcoming tapings on both The Quilt Show as well as Quilting Arts TV and I’m an avid quilting teacher.

    In addition to quilting, I am passionately committed to environmental sustainability and my creative work often tells this story. I am constantly dazzled by this amazing and beautiful place we call home – Earth. It’s my goal to be a quiet activist for our planet. Through my art, I hope to inspire us all to stop and observe a sunset, smell the flowers, and remember that we are not separate from but rather a part of nature.

    I currently live in Parker, CO with my life partner, two rescue dogs, Dolly and Lewis, and two fat cats.

    Learn more about Diana on social Media:

    Website

    Facebook

    Instagram



    Show details

  • July Workshop "Free Styling & Spiraling" with Mel Beach

    • July 12, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • 20
    Registration is closed

    Free Styling & Spiraling with Mel Beach


    These improv-pieced spiral designs are sure to mesmerize and energize!!  We’ll start with square spirangles and experiment with different design options and construction techniques.  Then we’ll explore new spirangle designs:  rectangles, triangles, and other fun shapes…oh my!!

    This workshop will be ON ZOOM only via the Speaker's Platform.  The Zoom link will be provided to all sign-ups prior to the Workshop date.

    No refunds available.

     Get Supply List HERE        

    Mel will be speaking at the July 10th Guild Meeting

    About Mel Beach

    Mel Beach is a San Jose, CA based quilt artist, teacher and lecturer, who breaks away from tradition by adding her own modern, beautifully textured, and colorful twists. She loves to have fun stretching her creativity through her completion of six 100-Day Projects involving dice, daily carves challenges, and participation in 100+ quilt challenges at the local and international level.

    Her quilts have been juried into national quilt shows and traveling exhibits, published in books/magazines, earned awards/ribbons, and selected as Finalists. Mel has been featured on Quilting Arts TV (series 2500 and 2600) and The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims (episode 2112 and 2808), in addition to having articles published with Quilting Arts Magazine, Curated Quilts, and The Craft Industry Alliance. From 2022-2024, Mel Beach served as President of Studio Art Quilt Associates, a global organization dedicated to promoting the art quilt.

    Learn more about Mel Beach

    Website                   Blog             Instagram           YouTube           Facebook

    Show details

  • August Workshop - "Tuscan Vintage" with Scott Flanagan

    • August 16, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Our Father Lutheran Church 6335 S. Holly Street, Centennial, CO
    • 30
    Registration is closed

    Tuscan Vintage with Scott Flanigan

    Join Scott Flanagan for an engaging Tuscan Vintage quilt class, featuring his jelly-roll friendly pattern.  Learn to master partial seams while crafting a captivating pinwheel-inspired design.  This class offers valuable techniques and guidance for confident beginners and experienced quilters alike.

    This workshop will be IN-PERSON only.

    No refunds available.

    Get Supply List HERE  

    ***(Please note that students need to have all fabrics pre-cut prior to class as stated on the Supply List.  The "Tuscan Vintage" pattern is required for the class and may be purchased for $10.00 at the class.  You will need his version of the pattern and NOT the digital online copy from Quiltmaker magazine as theirs is different from Scotts)

    Scott will be speaking at the August 14th Guild Meeting

    About Scott Flanigan

    My quilting journey started at the age of 7 sewing alongside my grandmother making quilts for Lutheran World Relief, but I come from a family of crafters and woodworkers. I started 4th and Main Designs in 2011. Since then my patterns have been frequently found in Quilters World, American Quilter, Quiltmaker, McCalls Quilting, and Fons & Porter magazines along with solo authoring four books for Annie's Publishing. I am also a guest designer for Banyan Batiks and have designed three fabric lines with lines four and five are in the works. 

    I love the endless possibilities available when designing patterns and get super excited when putting together a project and normally end up with a sample within a day or two. As for my favorite part of quilting, really all of it! From designing, to cutting, to piecing, to quilting, to binding (OK that one may be a lie!). But it is all part of the creative process and by skipping a step it feels as though part of the project is missing. I have two strong quilting philosophies: (1) A quilt is only hard if you have been told it is hard beforehand and (2) you learn some of the best lessons from the mistakes made along the quilting Journey. With those two thoughts I strive to write patterns that no matter how hard they look a confident beginner with sewing experience could handle.

    Learn more about Scott Flanigan

    Website                    Instagram                    Facebook

    Show details

  • September Workshop - "Bird Boxes: A Playful Day with Fabric Collage" with Lisa Thorpe

    • September 13, 2025
    • 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Our Father Lutheran Church 6335 S. Holly Street, Centennial, CO
    • 30

    Bird Boxes: A Playful Day with Fabric Collage

     with Lisa Thorpe


    Class includes live-virtual instruction, kit, lots of inspiration, sharing and feedback. Lisa will provide a bird image printed on cotton.  She will also share her process of creating these images and how she prints them on her home printer so you can try the techniques later.  After a demonstration with lots of examples for inspiration, each participant will begin creating their own Backyard Bird art quilt.  By the end of the day, everyone will have a sweet 11x14" art quilt done (or nearly done) featuring your bird ready to pop into a shadow box frame or finish any way that you choose.

    Your kit includes one bird image printed on cotton, one bird-size felt piece, 11x14" pre-fused felt backing, and ephemera for embellishment.  No two kits are exactly alike!

    NOTE:  Backyard Bird Kits are $35 ($25 for the kit plus $10 mailing fee).

    Each participant will order from and pay Lisa Thorpe directly.   In order to receive your kit in time for the workshop, you must order it before August 3O, 2025.  

    Get Supply List HERE    

    This workshop will be on ZOOM only via the Instructors Platform.  The Zoom link will be provided to all sign-ups prior to the Workshop date.  

    No refunds available.    

    Lisa will be speaking at the September 11 Guild Meeting

    About Lisa Thorpe

    Lisa Thorpe is a mixed media fiber artist and educator based in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a master at creating unique printed and painted fabrics to use in her work. The art she creates for exhibition is both personal and universal. Driven to pique and poke, she strives to invite discussion and discovery, reflection, and wonder. 

    Thorpe has a BA in Design from University of California, Davis and an Art Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.  Her identity is equal parts artist + educator and she loves to share what she has learned in her creative explorations.  To that end, she has published writings and art in About Place Journal and Cold Mountain Review and numerous technique and inspiration articles in Quilting Arts magazine.  

    Thorpe was a featured artist both on Quilting Art TV PBS (season 2024) and The Quilt Show in 2022.  She teaches at quilt guilds throughout the country and at national and international art quilt venues like the International Quilt Festival in Houston, the Gulf States Quilt Festival in Baton Rouge, and the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Association) conference in Toronto.  

    More about Lisa Thorpe on Social Media

    Website                         Instagram                         Facebook

    Show details

  • October Workshop 1 - "Luscious Luster" with Julia Graves

    • October 11, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 30
    Registration is closed


    Luscious Luster with Julia Graves

    Learn how to create a quilt with the appearance of light moving across the surface through the careful arrangement of fabrics from light to dark.  Details for selecting your fabric for this project can be found on the Supply List below.  

    NOTE:  The digital pattern is required for class.  Cost is $8.00.  The pattern is NOT an automatic download but will be emailed to you at the email address you enter upon checkout.

    Email Julia at juliagraves82@gmail.com if you don't receive the pattern within 48 hours.

    Get Supply List HERE   

    This workshop will be on ZOOM only.  No refunds available.    

    Julia will be speaking at the October 9th Guild Meeting

    About Julia Graves

    Julia Graves started her quilting business, Special Occasion Quilts LLC, in 2007 and teaches, lectures, designs patterns, makes commission quilts, longarms for others, and sells & services APQS longarm machines.  She won "Best Longarm Machine Workmanship Wall Quilt" Category at the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, has had quilts published in many books, was an Artist-in-Residence at Empty Spools in 2019, and teaches at Empty Spools Seminars.  

    Julia has been sewing since she was 10 and always loved fabrics, needle arts and the entire creative process.  She did her apprenticeship as a quilter by making a quilt for each of her nieces and nephews (and thinks she should have counted them before making this promise...there were 32!).  She has since made more quilts than she can count, many for charity, and is partial to scrap quilts and working with color to achieve amazing results. 

    More about Julia Graves on Social Media

    Website                         Instagram                         Facebook

    Show details

  • October Workshop 2 - "Shimmering Triangles" with Julia Graves

    • October 18, 2025
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 30
    Registration is closed


    Shimmering Triangles with Julia Graves

    Learn how to make this gorgeous quilt that gives the effect of water rippling in a stream.  It is a perfect pattern to showcase beautiful fabric, especially large scale prints.  You will achieve the shimmer by applying easy-to-understand color and value concepts that can also be used to enhance all your future quilts!  

    This quilt looks complicated, but is actually quite easy to construct.  You will learn a quick piecing method for half-square triangles with perfect points.  By the end of class, you should have a design layout for your fabrics, completed several blocks, and understand how to complete your quilt on your own.

    NOTE:  The digital pattern is required for class.  Cost is $18.00.  The pattern is NOT an automatic download but will be emailed to you at the email address you enter upon checkout.

    Email Julia at juliagraves82@gmail.com if you don't receive the pattern within 48 hours.

    Get Supply List HERE   

    This workshop will be on ZOOM only.  No refunds available.    

    Julia will be speaking at the October 9th Guild Meeting

    About Julia Graves

    Julia Graves started her quilting business, Special Occasion Quilts LLC, in 2007 and teaches, lectures, designs patterns, makes commission quilts, longarms for others, and sells & services APQS longarm machines.  She won "Best Longarm Machine Workmanship Wall Quilt" Category at the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, has had quilts published in many books, was an Artist-in-Residence at Empty Spools in 2019, and teaches at Empty Spools Seminars.  

    Julia has been sewing since she was 10 and always loved fabrics, needle arts and the entire creative process.  She did her apprenticeship as a quilter by making a quilt for each of her nieces and nephews (and thinks she should have counted them before making this promise...there were 32!).  She has since made more quilts than she can count, many for charity, and is partial to scrap quilts and working with color to achieve amazing results. 

    More about Julia Graves on Social Media

    Website                         Instagram                         Facebook

    Show details

WORKSHOP POLICIES​

TIME
Workshops start promptly at their stated time. For all virtual workshops please confirm you have online access info at least the day before the workshop. 

FEES
Fess vary by workshop.

WAITLIST
A waitlist will be created if a workshop sells out. 

LOCATION
Workshops will be held either online or at Our Father Lutheran Church.  Check the workshop details page to verify workshop location.

PAYMENT, CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY 
  • Any member or guest signing up to participate in a workshop sponsored by ACQ must make payment for the entire amount of the class enrollment fee at the time of registration. Registration is not complete and class placement is not reserved until payment is received in full.

  • No refunds are available for any workshops or programs.  If you are unable to attend, the participant's fee will be retained by ACQ. However, the participant may arrange for another person to take their place at the workshop but ACQ will not be a involved in the financial arrangements made between the parties. Original participant must notify ACQ of the transferred registration before the class meeting time. 

NON-MEMBERS

  • All workshops are open to ACQ members initially.

  • Non-members interested in a workshop may register after early bird registration ends when space is still available.

  • Non-members pay a slightly higher workshop fee.

  • You may wish to join ACQ in order to take advantage of early discounted workshop fees. 

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

Contact the current VP of Programs.

MONTHLY GUILD MEETINGS

Meetings held the 2nd Thursday of each month

All meetings are streamed online

In person meetings are held at:

Our Father Lutheran Church

6335 S Holly St, Centennial, CO

CALENDAR


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Quilters

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Arapahoe County Quilters
PO Box 5357
Englewood, CO 80155

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