I love sharing my love of quilting and sewing with students. I bring a lifetime of knowledge, a positive attitude, as well as tons of tips and tricks to each class. Plus every class is infused with my love of color and fabric selection.

LECTURES

I would love to visit your shop, guild, group or retreat and share quilty knowledge with a bit of fun and humor. I offer a variety of lectures about piecing, tips and color. I also offer a complete trunk show of my May Chappell quilts and patterns. Upon request, a mini trunk show can be included, with no additional fee, to the end of another lecture.

WORKSHOPS

Let’s spend the day together! My workshops are full of learning opportunities. From talking about fabric choice and placement to showcasing different versions of the quilt, students will be creatively inspired. I will sprinkle piecing knowledge, tools and demonstrations throughout the day to encourage students to try a new process and build their skills.

  • Understanding the Rainbow Lecture

  • Naturally Neutral

Item 1 of 23

Lectures

  • Who doesn’t love to talk about color? It’s the universal topic among textile artists. This lecture covers the basics of color theory and how those concepts lead to better quilts! Attendees will leave armed with many tools for choosing fabrics and a better understanding of how to expand their color horizons. The lecture consists of a full trunk show exploring different aspects of color theory in quilts. Perfect for all level sewists. This lecture is one of my most popular!

  • I’m back with more color! This lecture is a great follow up to Understanding the Rainbow or it can serve as a standalone. We will talk basics of color theory and look at applying the same concept with new results. Attendees will leave inspired to expand their color options and consider how saturation and value can create an entirely different look. Plenty of eye candy will be shown throughout this colorific lecture. Perfect for all level sewists.

  • Why didn’t I think of that? This lecture is packed full of tips, tricks and tools to make your stitching faster, easier and more organized. Constantly updated, even the most experienced piecers will be reminded of a long forgotten trick. This lecture is perfect for all level sewists and popular among guilds with mixed skill levels.

  • Get those perfect points with ease and efficiency! This lecture is loaded with tips and best practices to make your piecing faster and more efficient. Live sewing demonstrations will show how to implement the tips. Attendees will leave with an arsenal of piecing skills and the know how to create more accurate piecing in their quilts. This lecture is perfect for all level piecers. Available via zoom only.

  • Hear about my stitching journey as it weaves through generations. You will hear the stories behind the quilts; get inspiration for your projects and insight into the creative process. A complete trunk show of May Chappell’s quilts and patterns. Upon request, a mini trunk show can be included, with no additional fee, to the end of another lecture.

Workshops

Color

Anyone intimidated by fabric selection? Knowing the basics of color theory is a vital tool for quilters! Students will leave armed with many tools for choosing fabrics and looking at value and purity.

  • The workshop will begin with a mini lecture. During the workshop, students will make a dresden color wheel. Attendees will learn about cutting, constructing, piecing and appliquéing dresdens. Multiple appliqué techniques will be shown, including hand appliqué and blind machine appliqué. Perfect for all level sewists; some piecing skills required. One to two day workshop.

  • Learn about using a color wheel as you make a simple raw machine appliqué design. The workshop will kick off with a mini trunk show conveying the basics of color theory. Students will learn about ways to try new color combinations and explore different palettes. Perfect for all level sewists, including beginners. Half day to one day workshop.

  • By looking at saturation and figuring out where each color lives on the wheel, we will examine neutrals to identify their underlying color. Using the principles of color theory to lessen or intensify the true identity. Attendees will create a color study with three shades of grey to show the effects of neutrals. Perfect for all level sewists; basic piecing skills needed. Half day to one day workshop.

  • This workshop will focus heavily on color theory, specifically value. Discover how to determine value and how to use value to make a quilt design pop. Gain a deeper understanding of how to evaluate value in relation to other fabrics in use. Monochromatic is one of the most difficult palettes to work with; most monochromatic quilts grow up to be analogous. Students will leave class with a thorough understanding of that distinction and the beginnings of a monochromatic quilt. We will construct a series of log cabin blocks to arrange in multiple ways to explore value placement. Perfect for all level sewists; basic piecing skills required. Half day to one day workshop.

Bags

Learn tons of tips for bag making, including topstitching and finishing! Students will learn about interfacing, thread choice and hardware. Great for beginning or accomplished bag makers. 

  • Looking for the perfect bag to tote around your stitching supplies? The All Sewn Up Sewing Kit is one you’ll want to make for yourself and a sewist buddy. Students will learn a lot about bag construction, including zippers, stitching with vinyl and perfecting top stitching. With a bit of prep work prior to class, most students leave with a finished or nearly finished project. This class is great for confident beginners and intermediate stitchers. One day workshop.

  • These hard frame bags are much easier than they look! Students can choose which bag, Clutched (larger) or Cased (smaller), they prefer to make. The bags use the same supplies, including a 3×8” hard frame. Students will leave with a finished bag in just a few hours. This versatile class is great for all levels and beginner friendly. Half day to one day workshop.

  • Zippers introduce a whole new avenue to your sewing. Once you’ve mastered installing a zipper into a bag, you’ll be able to make so many things. This basic pencil pouch can be enlarged to become a project bag or add depth by squaring the corners to hold almost anything. This versatile class is great for all levels and beginner friendly. Half day to one day workshop.

Dresdens

Learn all types of dresden techniques. Piecing the dresdens, as well as an introduction to appliqué options, including machine appliqué, blind machine appliqué and hand appliqué, will be covered in all workshops. We will also discuss color and fabric placement. 

  • This dresden consists of two full dresden circles on top of one another. Students will learn to cut and create dresdens, as well as how to construct a quilt with on point blocks. Best for confident beginners and intermediate quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • The workshop will begin with a mini lecture. During the workshop, students will make a dresden color wheel. Attendees will learn about cutting, constructing, piecing and appliquéing dresdens. Multiple appliqué techniques will be shown, including hand appliqué and blind machine appliqué. Perfect for all level sewists; some piecing skills required. One to two day workshop.

  • Georgia’s Dresden: This quilt features a scrappy background with a chubby dresden border. Students will learn basic dresden cutting and construction, as well as how to construct a quilt with on point blocks. Best for confident beginners and intermediate quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • These elongated dresdens are constructed similarly to regular dresdens, with different cutting and pressing. Cutting and construction will be discussed, as well as different layout options. Students will typically complete one dresden in class. Best for intermediate quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • Oversized dresdens are used to create the perfect playmat. Use a rainbow of colors or create your own palette with this fun piecing project that starts out as flying geese. Students may choose to create a tree skirt as well. Ideal for confident beginners and intermediate piecers. One to two day workshop.

Quilting

Need to learn about all the steps of making a quilt? Learn to Quilt is all inclusive. Quilting Small things offers a peek into free motion quilting on a domestic machine.

  • Start with the basics. Students will learn everything from proper rotary cutting to piecing to quilting to binding. This class covers it all. It’s great for actual beginners or quilters looking to reset their skill set. Two to five day workshop.

  • Learn the basics of free motion quilting for smaller projects, from wall hangings to table runners on a domestic machine. Students will learn to baste, as well as design and thread options. There will be a focus on planning a quilting design for patchwork projects. Half day to two day workshop.

Perfecting Piecing

All of these patterns offer the opportunity for piecers to perfect their technique. Students will leave with an arsenal of machine piecing tools and tips for perfect points. We will also discuss color and fabric placement. 

  • This is a class focused on building your piecing skills. Students will learn about half square triangles and flying geese units. We will also talk about pressing plans and color placement for maximum impact. Best for intermediate and advanced quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • This oversized block packs in the piecing skills. Students will learn about half square triangles, square in a square and flying geese units. We will talk about developing pressing plans as well as maximizing impact with color and value. Best for intermediate and advanced quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • Let the geese fly! Students will choose between these two flying geese focused patterns to learn the ins and outs of all things goose. This is a class focused on building your piecing skills as you create, trim and piece together flying geese, both singles and four-at-a-time. We will also talk about selecting background fabric that makes the prints shine. Best for confident beginners and intermediate quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • Students will learn about scrappy nine patches and square in a square units. There will be a lot of discussion of color saturation and value. Best for confident beginners and intermediate quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • Students will choose between these two dynamic patterns to learn the ins and outs of strip piecing while scrappy. We will create scraptastic nine patches and snowball blocks. Best for confident beginners and intermediate quilters. One to two day workshop.

  • This medallion quilt is full of options. Create a throw while learning dresdens, flying geese, strip piecing and square in a square. Expand on your skills using the same elements to create a larger quilt, twin through king. There will be a focus on planning fabric choices and placement to create an overall design. Best for intermediate and advanced quilters. Two to Five day workshop.

  • Kicking off with an appliqué center, students will learn about freezer paper techniques, blind machine appliqué and specialty tools. Then the piecing begins with lessons in foundation piecing and patchwork. There are two complete designs with students picking their path to create their own look. We will discuss using background fabric to create secondary design elements and how value placement is vital to designing medallion quilts. Best for intermediate and advanced quilters. Two to Five day workshop.

Creative Spark

Creative Spark is an on demand online learning platform. These courses feature video that can be paused and rewatched making learning from home easy. I currently offer workshops for the Lulee’s Garden Quilt and Making a Dresden the May Chappell Way. I also have my Tips of the Trade Lecture, the only recording of this ever-changing lecture. And I host The Quilting Hour (Season 1, Season 2 and Season 3), a live (and recorded!) series of interviews with quilting experts on a wide range of quilting topics. Quilting Hour Season 4 coming Spring 2024!