Gail Gibson Coming from a scientific and mathematical background, Gail has developed tricks to compensate for her poor sewing skill. These totes are her latest project. Using a ribbon, she drafts the pattern directly to the stabilizer, then foundation piece each face. Each tote can be individualized, just need to prep a new ribbon.
Marie Red (Chris Meeks) Chris Meeks was born and raised in Gahanna, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. She married her loving and supportive husband, Floyd, in 1985. Chris and Floyd retired to Las Vegas in 2011 and love it here.
The Historical Society in Gahanna taught Chris to quilt the old fashion way with templates and hand work. However, knowing that there were more modern ways to quilt, it didn’t take long to form a fabric/stash habit.
Chris’ quilting really took off when working for Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, that had a quilting group at work where they funded classes an material for charity quilt making. Taking full advantage of the “free” classes over 10 years has helped her to improve her skill levels and share quilting with others. Sharing, volunteering, and being creative together motivated Chris to create a beginner’s class that she would teach twice a year to new club members. Because of missing the comradery Chris joined DQN to get and stay motivated. As a certified technical trainer Chris enjoys sharing her quilting knowledge with others.
Madam Evalina (Ev Dahl) Ev Dahl started quilting in 1994. She was immediately “hooked” and gave up all her other hobbies. She owned Fabric Boutique Quilt Shop for 12 years until selling it in late 2010. She currently teaches in California, Arizona, and several locations around Las Vegas. She likes to teach the “easy” way to do things.
SATURDAY CLASSES
Zelda (Georgi Shalhoob) Georgi Shalhoob, retreat teacher of Wild Gypsy Mini, is sort of a free spirit. Let’s peak into her bejeweled mind with this short bio:
Georgi began quilting in 1975 without any classes and stubbornly made every sewing mistake possible. About ten year after rotary cutters were invented, she discovered them and finally tossed aside her clunky scissors. Her quilting meandered along while she accumulated four kids, five grandchildren, as well as a perpetual search for the perfect job. Georgi experimented with over 69 different positions ranging from banker to cocktail waitress, Dating Game Chaperone, Kreepy Krauly salesperson, private investigator, Rape Crisis advocate, and the voice of the Saks Christmas tree.
Fast forward 40 years – After a bumpy ride down the road of life, she still gets excited when she finds new opportunities, meets new people, teaches classes and spends copious amounts of time with old friends, quilters or clients! She thinks retreat classes should be information and fun, full of laughter and chocolate! Join her for a three hour cruise into GeorgiLand this fall.
Wendy Cushing Wendy’s Las Vegas claim to fame is that she is a 6th generation Las Vegas original. She was actually an original member of Desert Quilters and on the committee of the first retreats out in Bunkerville. After 12 years of being inactive in any guild, and raising children, she finally has time for the guild again. She is “Old School” and was Home Economics major in college. She has been sewing clothes since she was 7 years old and made her first quilt when she was 9.
Wendy absolutely loves creating and quilting but most of all showing others how wonderful quilting can be. In her previous quilting life she taught classes at quilt shops around town. She currently loves teaching quilting to family members, ladies at church, and also at Sew Yeah Quilting in Las Vegas, when she has the time.
Wendy is the mother of 3 adult children, and has been married to the love of her life for 31 years now, and she is looking forward to finally becoming a grandmother on her birthday this year! When she is not quilting she also LOVES traveling, anything fitness related, gardening, painting, decorating, cooking, photography, and much, much more. Oh and meeting new friends is a favorite thing of hers so come by and say HI at the retreat, even if you do not take her class!
Cher Chu Cher took her first quilt class in January 1986 after the Air Force sent her family to Alaska. She was addicted immediately and started teaching a few months later. Cher enjoyed introducing many ladies and a few gents to the wonderful colors, textures and unlimited designs that quilting has to offer.
SUNDAY CLASSES
Robin Jew Robin started sewing by making cloths and Halloween costumes for her children and now grandchildren. She moved to Henderson in 1999 and finally joined Desert Quilters Green Valley circle in June 2007 as referred by Sandy Foster. She then became DQN Membership Chairperson from Nov 2007 to Oct 2009. She was also responsible for accepting and returning quilts for quilt shows 2008 and 2010, and a committee member for the 2011 Girlfriends, Sisterhood of Quilters quilt retreat. Robin joined the Boulder Cut Ups quilt circle, which she is currently their reminder person. With the two circle groups that she attends, she has learned to love quilting. I find that she enjoys the process of piecing quilt blocks as well as the challenging paper piecing process, since she took a class on a quilting cruise with Carol Doak as the instructor. Robin likes bright colorful fabrics- mainly batiks, and Asian fabrics as well. She is always up for a challenge, and some day she hopes to be proficient enough to do machine quilting! She loves doing all types of projects, large or small so she hopes you will enjoy this project, the New York Beauty Bowl.
MaryKay Weishan MaryKay has been sewing most of her life. She started with simple things like skirts and pillows. Gradually her passion for sewing included making clothes for herself and her children. MaryKay moved to the Vegas valley in 1984 and took her first quilting class from May Helber at Sew Special. There she joined the Rainbow quilting circle that met at Sew Special. Her love for sewing and quilting grew from there. MaryKay has been a member of Desert Quilters of Nevada since its inception in 1995. She loves to make crafts, quilts and specialty items for babies and children. She has been making her notions bag for over 25 years and gives them away as gifts to new friends and quilters.
