A month from now I’ll be in Japan, but I’m already planning my summer road trip to AQS Quilt Week in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I usually fly out and ship my booth separately, but this year I’m going to try something different. I’m going to drive the 2,291 miles of I-80 from Alameda, CA to Grand Rapids, MI. Along the way I’ll pass through these cities:

• Reno, NV
• Salt Lake City, UT
• Denver, CO
• Chicago, IL
• Also Nebraska and Iowa, but I don’t know those states well so help me out here. Where should I stop?

If you have a quilt guild or quilt shop interested in hosting me to teach a class, give a lecture, and/or do a trunk show, let me know! For guild lectures I’ll charge my regular speaker’s fee and ask for you to put me up in a clean hotel, but you won’t have to cover my mileage or other travels costs because hey, I’m already heading that way (unless you’re way off I-80, then you’ll cover my mileage from I-80 to your venue and back, which shouldn’t be too much).

My lectures include a varied collection of 19th and 20th century indigo cottons, sashiko, boro, shibori, katazome, and other beautiful textile treats.

If you’re an individual interested in having me come to your town, contact your local guild or quilt shop and put them in touch with me. Or… if you are willing to host me at another location (library, school, etc.) and can gather 10 or more friends, I’ll come teach a class for you.

My Basic Sashiko class runs 3 hours, includes everything except for scissors and a straightedge, and is a fun way to start enjoying sashiko. I also offer full day classes, silk sashiko (vintage kimono silk and hand dyed silk thread), and other project-related classes such as the VooDoo Kitty class. Traditional or quirky, it’s up to you. Class fees depend on the length of the class and supplies involved. My supply kits include high quality fabrics and notions which may be difficult to find anywhere else.