Boise Basin Quilters

Introducing Rachaeldaisy - Membership Meeting Program - Zoom
2025-11-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Boise) | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Add Aussie sunshine to chilly November and step into a world of vibrant colors, innovative designs and storytelling with Australian quilter, Rachaeldaisy Dodd’s trunk show. Featuring an array of quilts that showcase her unique style and passion for blending tradition with modern techniques, this show is a celebration of creativity and beauty. You’ll see and hear the stories about denim quilts with a touch of rugged charm, Yo-Yos that create playful textures, quilts with a thousand Prairie Points and many more.
Rachel’s website is: http://rachaeldaisy.com/
Note: This is a ZOOM Presentation.

01/15/26 - Happy Villages and Accidental Landscapes BBQ Membership Meeting Program - Zoom
2026-01-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Karen Eckmeier describes herself as compelled to create” as creating gives her energy and she wants to share that energy with others. Her art is happy and upbeat, concentrating on the positive and whimsical side of life.
In her lighthearted and informative Zoom presentation, she will share two totally different techniques with the same fun results! Two favorite approaches to playing with fabrics are fabric collage (the focus of her book Happy Villages) and layered/topstitching (the technique featured in her book Accidental Landscapes).This presentation will show you how the techniques evolved and will inspire you to try fabric collage or layered/topstitching in your own creations.
Note: This is a ZOOM Presentation and a link will be emailed to all member prior to the start of this presentation.

01/17/26 - Accidental Landscape: Mountain Views ZOOM Workshop
2026-01-17 09:30 - 12:30
The workshop is called “Accidental Landscape: Mountain Views” by Karen Eckmeier and will be held on Jan. 17th from 9:30 to 12:30 via ZOOM.
The price will be $25 and the maximum number of ticket sales 24. Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 16, 2025. The deadline to register for this workshop (or to cancel and request a refund) is Jan. 16th.
Create this surprisingly simple quilted scene using Karen’s layered topstitching technique. Gentle rolling hills of green fabric strips combine with distant peaks to create peaceful vistas. Include a lake or a field of wildflowers. The variations are endless! You will also learn how to embellish the landscape with beads, yarn and Angelina fibers to give it sparkle. Finished size: approx. 9” x 12” without borders (size varies)
To view more color photos of this workshop go to pages 8-13 and 50-51 in Karen’s Accidental Landscapes book.”
Here is the supply list:
Fabric

Sky: ¼ yard “dramatic” fabric with clouds, or sun, or a hand painted fabric. The sky fabric sets the mood for your entire scene, so be sure you love it!
Rolling Hills: ¼ yard 5-7 greens gradated from light to dark (look for small scale prints – not necessarily “landscape” fabrics. For example: irregular stripes, random dots, mottled, etc.
Distant Mountains: scraps or 1/8 yard each of white, gray, medium purple, or gray blue
Wildflowers (optional): ¼ yard small scale floral that looks like growing flowers
Lake/River: blues OR use a section of the sky fabric (the reflection of the sky is usually visible in the water)
Outer Border: ¼ yard your choice – dark neutrals, such as black, brown and gray work nicely as borders that act as picture frames or a window frame to surround the scene

Supplies

Sewing Machine (Featherweights are fine)
Rotary cutter, ruler, and mat
Iron and ironing pad (mini iron will work)
Threads for topstitching – select threads to match fabrics or use variegated threads Neutral thread for bobbin
Fabric scissors
Pins (I recommend the long flower head pins)
Fabric glue (for adding optional details)
Ruler for rotary cutting borders
Quilter’s Square for squaring piece (only if you already own one)
Book: Accidental Landscapes by Karen Eckmeier $21.95 (highly recommended but not required)

Most students get to the quilting stage before the workshop ends. This is what you will need for quilting:

Threads for quilting (machine or hand)
Needles for machine quilting or hand quilting
100% cotton batting (approx. 18” x 22”) + half yard fabric for backing
“Walking Foot” and/or Darning Foot for Machine quilting
Pins for Basting (for tiny quilts like these, pins are great)

01/31/26 - No-Sew Braided Rug Schoolhouse Janice Black
2026-01-31 10:00 - 15:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
Would you like to try your hand at making a small braided rug entirely from braiding, with no sewing at all involved? If so, this class is for you! Janice Black, our Schoolhouse chair, would love to share this technique with you!
Supplies and Fabric Choices:
You can make your rug as scrappy or as color-coordinated as you like, but I have found that choosing a single fabric and including it throughout most of the rug (like the solid dark red in one of the rugs shown, and the dusty solid plum color in the other rug) can help tie everything else together. You will find that colors play together very differently in a braided rug than they do in a quilt, so once you have found your main “foundation” fabric to use throughout the rug, you may find it the most pleasing to pull colors from just one other color family to use with it. Your fabrics do not need to be carefully chosen to exactly match . . . they will end up blending in a way that is similar to mixing paint. So, for example, two different shades of pink that would look terrible if used together in a quilt would probably look just fine when braided together.
I’m really not sure how to estimate how much fabric you will need, but you’ll probably need more than you would think! It partly depends on the size of rug you’d like to complete, and on how wide you choose to cut your strips (which is what determines the thickness of the rug). To keep your cost down, I would recommend purchasing an old sheet or two from a thrift store that could be used to create the major part of the rug. There is no need to use high-quality quilting cottons for this. The red rug is one that I made for my daughter from vintage double-knit fabrics, and it turned out really well!
To help with guesstimating the amount of fabric needed . . . I used about seven yards of the solid plum fabric, so probably a total of more than fourteen yards of fabric in all. For a small rug just big enough to allow you to learn the technique, I’m guessing you would need at least 3-5 yards of fabric.
You will also need a pair of scissors or small but heavy-duty snips for cutting slits to join the strips together. The strips can also be cut with scissors, or you may want to bring a rotary cutter for that. I do not recommend cutting all of your strips in advance, because stopping periodically to cut strips can give your wrists a break from the repetitive motion of braiding the rug.
Additional Recommendations: Please note that knowing how to braid before coming to class would be very helpful. The class will probably also be easier for you if you are familiar with the concept of increasing on curves from having done some crochet or knitting (although I can certainly try to guide you through this if you are not familiar with it). Finally, I would not recommend the class for someone who currently experiences a lot of pain in their wrists or hands.

02/19/26 - ReUse Market - Joan Scofield- Program
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Joanie Scofield from the ReUse Market will be talking about materials available at their Garden City store. As Joanie states, quilting materials are NOT limited to just thread, fabric and batting. Joanie hopes to encourage any of our Small Groups or possibly establish a new Small Group interested in including unconventional materials in their quilt projects focusing on sustainability.
Those interested in participating in these small groups will be offered store credit for the purchase of materials. Store credit is available for the first thirty (30) registered participants. ReUse Market plans to offer cash prizes and awards within the small groups outside of the Sustainability awards they are sponsoring at our Quilt Show.
While our Quilt Show has a well-defined Sustainability category, these Small Group challenges may follow different guidelines and will be expected to follow our Small Group Challenge guidelines should they choose to exhibit their works at our upcoming Quilt Show.
Join us for the February 19th meeting to learn more about what treasures you might find at the ReUse Market. If unable to attend, and you’re interested in joining these small groups, please contact Joanie at joanie@reusemarket.org

02/26-27/26 - Abstracting from Reality Workshop by Lisa Flowers Ross
2026-02-26 - 2026-02-27 | Idaho State Archives, 2205 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID, 83712
Lisa Flowers Ross has agreed to teach a two-day “Abstracting from Reality” workshop for us from 8:45-3:45 on Feb. 26 & 27, 2026. The workshop will be held at the Idaho State Archives building, 2205 Old Penitentiary Rd., Boise, 83712.
Lisa Flowers Ross is a celebrated textile artist who creates colorful, modern, contemporary art. Because Lisa is local, we have the unique opportunity of being able to host this design workshop at less than half the cost that it has been offered elsewhere!
Lisa describes her “Abstracting from Reality” workshop this way:
“Exploring different perspectives will lead to discovery of new ways of seeing. The focus of this workshop is to learn various approaches to abstraction that can be used in designing future artworks.
Using their own photos for inspiration, participants will work through several exercises on paper that explore design elements and principles such as line, shape, repetition and value. Different ways to translate these elements into fiber will be discussed.
Participants will leave with a mostly completed project using either fused fabrics or collaged papers. Hand stitching may be worked on in class, but any machine stitching and finishing will need to be completed outside of class.”
Ticket sales will open on Oct.1st and are limited to members of the Boise Basin Quilt Guild until Jan. 1st. On Jan. 1st, the general public is invited to register for any remaining spots. The registration deadline (and the last day to request a refund) is Feb. 21st
Supply List:
Participants will do several exercises on paper before working with chosen material for their individual project.
Supplies to bring for design exercises:
– pencil (regular 2B)
– eraser
– paper scissors (please do no use your fabric scissors for paper)
– stapler, if you have one
– staple remover, if you have one
Photos to bring:
Bring several color or black & white photos printed out on paper with image size at least 5″ x 7″ up to 8″ x 10″ (They don’t have to be super high quality, as long as you can see the photo and some details). Photos of landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, interiors, plants, nature or objects will be the easiest to
start with. It will be good to have a minimum of 5-10 pictures (more gives you more options). You might want to bring a variety to chose from so that you don’t have photos that are all landscapes or all
flowers, for example.
Independent Project Supplies:
First we will work on paper exercises together. Then, students will apply the exercises to their own project. For the individual project, students will use one of their photos as inspiration to create an abstract design. This piece will be approximately 9 x 12″. Students will choose to create a fused fabric piece OR a collage with colored papers. I recommend bringing solid colored cotton fabrics or papers (see notes below), so that details can be added later with
stitching (or markings on paper).
If you choose to make a fused fabric piece for the independent project, you need to bring:

a selection of pre-fused solid colored cotton fabrics. (Iron fusible webbing to the back of the fabrics.)
Small prints that “read” as solid may work as well.
Tighter weave fabrics are better, as they do not fray as much.
Be sure to bring a range of values from light to dark. The colors do not have to be realistic to what you have in your photos.
*Please make sure fabrics are fused and ready to use.

We will not spend time in the workshop preparing the fabrics. The fused fabric will not be used until the second day. So if you are local, you can wait to
decide what colors to bring after the first day, if you like.

a piece of fabric or batting for the base on which to fuse your design, at least 13″ x 16″. If you want
the base fabric color to show as part of your background, then bring several colors to chose
from. Otherwise, a white or neutral color is fine.
fabric scissors
fabric marking tool (i.e. fabric pencil, chalk pencil)

OR if you choose to make a paper collage piece for final project, you need to bring:

a selection of solid colored papers. Papers that have small prints that “read” as solid may work, too.
Suggestions: scrapbook papers, construction papers, art papers, found papers, painted papers,
magazine papers with solid sections that can be cut out
a sturdy backing paper on which to glue your pieces
Bring a selection of at least 3-5 colors for this, if you choose to let the background show. If you
plan to cover the entire background with the cut out papers, then the color of the support paper
doesn’t matter.
your favorite adhesive to attach papers
(I will provide a glue stick but you may prefer to use Elmer’s, scrapbooking glue or dots, etc.)
pens, markers, colored pencils, etc. to add details if you choose.

Supplies the instructor will supply:

blank white paper
materials for value studies
“view finder”
glue sticks
tracing paper

If you have any questions about supply materials, please feel free to contact me at
lisa@lisaflowersross.net. I look forward to working with you!
Lisa Flowers Ross

02/28/26 - Quartered Stripes Baby Quilt Schoolhouse by Barbara Doogan
2026-02-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
This can be a baby quilt or a wall hanging. There is the option to make it bigger. All you need is a striped fabric and a border fabric (or two). The most difficult part is actually finding a striped fabric you like. Although a fabric with regularly spaced lines will work just fine. Try to find a fabric with irregular stripes. The amount of fabric listed will yield 16 blocks. There are 2 different blocks. You can add applique’ or replace some blocks with other designs. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination!
Supplies –
• 1 ¼ yard of striped cotton fabric
• Coordinating fabric for borders
The body of this quilt finishes about 36” plus the width of any border you want to add. Double the amount of fabric if you want a larger quilt
• Straight stitch sewing machine-cleaned, oiled, new needle
• Pins and clips
• Thread
• Rotary cutter with a new blade
• Rotary mat (minimum 12×18” Use larger mat if possible)
• Square ruler with diagonal line 10” or bigger
• Rotary ruler – longer than 10”
• Rotary turntable 10” or larger (Optional)
The registration and cancellation deadline is February 21, 2026.

03/7/26 - New Member Coffee Hour
2026-03-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Alchemist Coffee, 2701 W Stewart Avenue, Boise, ID, 83702, United States
Welcome New Members – Coffee Is On Us!
If you were a new BBQ member in 2025 or 2026, you are invited to a new member gathering:
Saturday, March 7th at 10:00 am
Alchemist Coffee Roasting Co.
10650 W Overland, Boise
We are so pleased you have joined BBQ and hope you will come and meet other new members and some longtime members too. We want to learn what kind of quilting you enjoy and answer your questions about activities and opportunities at BBQ. Feel free to bring hand work if you wish. Call or text Becky at 208-305-2690 if you have questions. (psssst – any member is welcome regardless of how long you have been part of BBQ 😊)
Enjoy a chance for door prizes in addition to your coffee/tea and meeting other quilters.

03/14/26 - Seeking Sunflowers! Schoolhouse - Becky Kinzer
2026-03-14 13:00 - 17:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
Seeking Sunflowers! From 1:00-5:00 on the afternoon of March 14th, please join our 2026 Programs Chair, Becky Kinzer, in stitching one of two 12 ½” sunflower block designs.
Blue and yellow are the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and the sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower. The blocks that Becky has selected for this class are suitable for donating to “Wrap The World In Quilts,” a non-profit organization providing quilt blocks to Ukraine. It is Becky’s hope that after learning these patterns and methods, you will choose to donate one or more of the blocks created in class to Wrap the World with Quilts’ Ukrainian Project. The patterns will be yours to keep, and you can create as many blocks as you wish after class has ended.
For one of the blocks, Becky will teach a method to create multiple half-square-triangles that results in a beautiful flower. The other block does not use HST but makes a fast Bear Paw block that depicts a sunflower.
Becky plans to donate any teaching fees that she receives to Wrap the World with Quilts. Guild members may also choose to participate in this class for free if they plan to donate the blocks they create in class. If you are choosing this option, please send an email to schoolhouse@boisebasinquilters.org so that we will know how many participants to prepare for!
Any blocks that participants choose to donate will be used to build a 1,100 meter-long quilt to stretch the length of Kyiv’s main street. Blocks provided by over 36 countries will create a demonstration to symbolize unity, resilience, and peace. The blocks will then be made into quilts for distribution to civilians and soldiers there.
If you choose, you may also talk to Becky about how to donate blocks on your own if you are not participating in the Schoolhouse class.
Supplies Needed:
Fabric* (See note below.)
Straight stitch sewing machine
Neutral Thread, a few pins
Rotary Cutter and mat
Rulers helpful are 6 ½” square and 12” or longer ruler
Pencil or chalk marker
Iron, pad and extension cord (or you can use the iron provided)
*Please bring yellow, blue and any other supporting colored fabric that you choose (green, brown and white were used in these examples). Some blue and yellow fabric will be provided so feel free to come even if you do not have that fabric. If you plan to bring your own fabric, cutting it to size as per the block instructions before coming to class will help to ensure that you have time to finish the block in class!

03/19/26 - Improv Gems Workshop by MJ Kinman
2026-03-19 09:00 - 12:30 | The Hampton Inn and Suites, 7499 W. Overland Rd., Boise, ID, 83709, United States
On March 19, 2026, from 9:00-12:30, MJ Kinman will teach a half-day workshop called “Improv Gems.” The workshop will be held in the Arrowrock South Meeting Room at the Hampton Inn/ Boise Spectrum, 7499 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709.
Ticket sales will open Jan. 1st and the workshop will be made available to everyone — Guild members and the general public alike! The price is $35. Refunds for cancellations may be requested until March 1, 2026.
MJ Kinman, maker of giant gemstone quilts, will show you how to create sparkling gem blocks in a whole new way using the power of improvisational piecing.
Learn how to use improvisational strip-piecing techniques to create emerald-cut, baguette-cut, and Asscher-cut diamonds. These are diamonds that feature long, lovely facets – the “hall of mirrors” that highlight the interior clarity of a gem.
During class, MJ will discuss color selection for gems. (Hint: there is no wrong answer!). She’ll show you how to make your gem sparkle with value contrast, and how to make your gem glow with saturation contrast. Finally, she’ll demonstrate simple assembly techniques to piece together your lovely creation.
Activities include:
• Creating a color palette that brings you joy.
• Playing with high value contrast and saturation contrast to incorporate sparkle and glow into your gem.
• Strip-piecing the interior facets of your gemstone.
• Assembling the strip-pieced facets to create your own unique gemstone.
Supply List:
Note: MJ will bring basic freezer paper templates for members to use. However, if students wish to purchase their own, they can do so by purchasing it at their local grocery store OR from Amazon. The freezer paper should be 18” wide.
• 18” ruler & Small ruler with a ¼” measurement
• 6-8 business-size envelopes
• Scissors and rotary cutting tools (cutter and small personal mat) Bring 2 rotary cutters if you want to cut paper with one and your fabric with another.
• Fabric – Fat Quarters of cotton solids or gradients. Consider bringing a range of values (light, medium, dark) within one or two colorways. This project works best when you have a very dark value, a very light value, and a range of 2 or 3 medium values. White and black also work well to bump up the “bling” in your gem.
• Iron and ironing mat
• Sewing machine and basic sewing supplies
Instructor Contact Information:
MJ Kinman, 709 Fairhill Drive, Louisville, KY 40207 Cell Phone/Text (Eastern Time Zone): 502-287-3034 Email: mjkinman709@gmail.com Website: https://www.mjkinman.com

03/19/26 - Gems & Joy: Featuring the Gem Quilts of MJ Kinman Program
2026-03-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
When people ask MJ Kinman what she does, she likes to tell them, “I make the biggest diamonds in the world . . . but instead of using the hardest substance on earth, I use the softest– cloth!”
MJ says, “The most beautiful gemstones capture light and reflect it back to us with unique brilliance, revealing their fiery personalities. Every gem has a story to tell…just like people.
This slide lecture and trunk show chronicle my own story – my 25+-year adventure learning how to create the world’s biggest diamonds in cloth. Most importantly, though, the underlying message to my audiences throughout my presentation is the importance of choosing joy and saying “no” to fear, both in our creative lives and in our personal lives.
During my presentation, I’ll discuss how I’ve learned to spot gemstones with personality – the unique configuration of light and color that translate into a successful work of art. I’ll discuss my techniques to create and assemble the hundreds of pieces in each diamond, materials I use to create the wash of color and light across a gem’s surface, and the quilting techniques that enhance a gem’s facets. We may even talk a little bit (maybe a lot) about Kentucky Bourbon, as I describe the gem quilts in my series “Bourbon Diamonds”!
And as so often happens with any artist’s decades-long journey, I’ll share insights gleaned from my walk away from corporate life and into the creative life.”
MJ has been featured in many of the world’s top quilting magazines. Her work is included in collections as varied as Maker’s Mark Distillery, the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY (where she has also taught workshops and had a solo show) and the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE. We are honored to have her here in Boise!
Website: mjkinman.com

03/20/26 - Cracking the Color Code Workshop by MJ Kinman
2026-03-20 09:30 - 15:30 | The Hampton Inn and Suites, 7499 W. Overland Rd., Boise, ID, 83709, United States
No Sew Workshop
On March 20, 2026, from 9:30-3:30, MJ Kinman will teach a workshop called “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction.” The workshop will be held in the Arrowrock South Meeting Room at the Hampton Inn/ Boise Spectrum, 7499 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709.
Ticket sales will open again on Jan. 1st and the workshop will be made available to guild members and the general public. Refunds for cancellations may be requested until March 1, 2026.
Note that this workshop has a Kit Fee of $10 (for color wheel and fabric), to be paid directly to MJ at the workshop.
Josef Albers, the great artist/educator of the 20th Century, acknowledged how tricky colors can be. In his words, “Colors deceive continuously.” As artists, how do we navigate this world of deception?
Luckily, by using a few simple rules, we can predict how color will try to deceive us and thereby increase our color confidence.
In this hands-on class, MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will introduce you to the four rules of color interaction and show you how to apply them to your own quilt design to create dramatic effects – regardless of your subject matter. For example, using strips and squares of solid fabric, MJ will show you how to:
• Add sparkle (“bling”!) to your quilts.
• Create dramatic focal points.
• Add exciting visual movement.
• Make your quilts glow.
• Create powerful transparencies.
• Alter the appearance of a color simply by pairing with another color.
• Create the illusion of metal surfaces without using metallic fabric or thread.
MJ’s class is based on her new book, “Cracking the Color Code: Master the Magic of Color Interaction”, available in class and on her website.
Supplied by Instructor (See Kit fee above):
• Fabric strips and squares for experimentation
• Color wheels
Supply List for Students:
• Notebook and pen
• Rotary cutter and mat
• Fabric scissors
Instructor Contact Information:
MJ Kinman, 709 Fairhill Drive, Louisville, KY 40207 Cell Phone/Text (Eastern Time Zone): 502-287-3034 Email: mjkinman709@gmail.com Website: https://www.mjkinman.com

03/21/26 - Lit from Within Workshop - MJ Kinman
2026-03-21 09:30 - 12:30 | The Hampton Inn and Suites, 7499 W. Overland Rd., Boise, ID, 83709, United States
No Sew Workshop
On March 21, 2026, from 9:00-12:00, MJ Kinman will teach a half-day color workshop called “Lit From Within: Make Your Quilts Glow Using the Magic of Color Interaction.” The workshop will be held in the Arrowrock South Meeting Room at the Hampton Inn/ Boise Spectrum, 7499 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709.
The workshop is open to everyone — guild members and the general public alike!– for $35. Ticket sales will open on Jan. 1st, and refunds for cancellations may be requested until March 1, 2026.
Please note that the content of this workshop overlaps with the “Cracking the Color Code” workshop being offered on March 20th, so we recommend that participants register for only one (not both!) of these two workshops!
Kit Fee: $5 (for color wheel and fabric)
After introducing you to the four rules of color interaction, MJ Kinman will lead you on a deep-dive into the fourth rule – saturation contrast. Using fabric squares of different hues and saturation levels, you’ll learn how to combine colors to create a glowing effect in your quilts, as though they were lit from within.
This class is an exploration of just one of the topics presented in MJ’s new book “Crack the Color Code: Add Drama to Your Designs Using the Secrets Color Interaction.” There is no sewing in this class.
Supplied by Instructor:
• Fabric strips and squares for experimentation
• Color wheels
Supply List for Students:
• Notebook and pen

03/21/26 - Playing with Pixels: Find Inspiration Using Photo Editing Apps - MJ Kinman
2026-03-21 14:00 - 15:00 | The Hampton Inn and Suites, 7499 W. Overland Rd., Boise, ID, 83709, United States
At 2:00 on Saturday, March 21, the Boise Basin Quilt Guild will host a lecture by MJ Kinman, Playing with Pixels: Find Inspiration Using Photo Editing Apps. The lecture will be held in the Arrowrock South Meeting Room at the Hampton Inn/ Boise Spectrum, 7499 W Overland Rd, Boise, ID 83709.
The lecture is open to both guild members and the general public for just $15. Ticket sales open on Jan. 1st, and refunds for cancellations may be requested until March 1, 2026.
MJ Kinman, maker of giant gem quilts, will share one of her favorite ways to find inspiration for new work or a new series – playing with images in a photo editing app. These apps allow you to manipulate images in infinite ways, transforming them into intriguing ideas for new work.
MJ will show specific examples of the process she has used to create new mock-ups of current and future work.
Additionally, students will learn more than 20 different ways to manipulate images to create fascinating designs. For example:
• Want to turn a ruby into an emerald? MJ will show you the tool to use.
• Boost the saturation of an image to make your image glow.
• Add a gentle curve or tight twist to your image.
• Pixelate your image into squares or triangles of different sizes.
• Slice your image into segments horizontally, vertically, or both.
• Create an infinite variety of kaleidoscopic images. (Caution: this is addictive!)
• Melt your image into waves of color.
• Tilt an image backwards, forwards, or side to side to add perspective.
• ….and more!
Instructor Contact Information:
MJ Kinman, 709 Fairhill Drive, Louisville, KY 40207 Cell Phone/Text (Eastern Time Zone): 502-287-3034 Email: mjkinman709@gmail.com Website: https://www.mjkinman.com

03/27/26 Pillowcase Sew Day
2026-03-27 09:00 - 15:00
Upcoming Pillowcase Sew Day

Please come help make pillowcases for children in the hospital. We’re still working off fabric donated to the Guild and this is a great way to get together and have an enjoyable day. Sign up using the following link: Signup Genius

Date: Friday, March 27, 2026
Time: 9 am to 3pm
Place: First Congregational UCC
2201 Woodlawn Ave
Boise, ID 83702

Please bring your sewing machine, cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter, pins, extra thread, power strip, and any other tools you might need.

Lunch will be provided, and we need an accurate head count, so please sign up when you get the email with the link.

04/16/26 - "Captivating Compositions" by Deborah Boschert Program (via ZOOM)
2026-04-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
“Captivating Compositions” is a lively introduction to design and composition. Deborah introduces eight classic compositions and shares inspiring examples from traditional, modern and art quilting, plus examples from fine art! Learn how using these compositions can generate ideas for fabulous, original work.

Learn more about Deborah and her work at www.DeborahsStudio.com

04/18/26 - 4-Patch-Posie Schoolhouse by Dianne Kane
2026-04-18 09:30 - 16:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
Dianne Kane has agreed to teach a “4-Patch Posie” Schoolhouse Class for us on April 18th, 2026.
Are you ready for some surprises? Like a simplified form of stack-n-whack, this technique will create surprising new blocks, each with its own special design. It’s as satisfying and addictive as eating a box of chocolates, because every block you make will automatically create four design options and you’ll get to choose your favorite! Because you’ll be making 4-patches, the process will go pretty quickly, and it’s likely that you’ll get many of the blocks made during our sewing time. We’ll also talk about how you can set and lay out the blocks: for example, with or without sashing or borders; on-point; with mitered strips on 2 sides; courthouse steps; and more. This is a technique that you’ll want to use again and again – just because each block is a pleasant surprise!
Supplies
Matt (bring the largest one you can)
Rotary cutter (consider a new blade)
Ruler (at least 4 x 12″ up to 8½ x 24″)
Sewing machine (only need straight stitch)
Thread for piecing
Scissors, seam ripper
Pencil & paper for taking notes
Flat head pins
Optional
(Bring along if you have them but no need to purchase)
Pattern: 4-Patch Stacked Posies by H.D. Designs
A folding mirror
Design wall
Digital camera
Square rulers (any and all sizes 3″ to 12½”)
extension cord
Fabrics
This technique works best with a “busy” fabric. A piece with lots of variations in color will create a variety of unique blocks. Retro, floral, geometric, and Asian are all good choices. (Batiks are not a good choice for the focus fabric.) Because there are so many options in the cutting and layout of the fabrics, it’s hard to provide specific fabric requirements.
You will be sent a supply list with more detail about this, but be aware that you must have at least 4 repeats of the design in the focus fabric. (Look along the selvedge edge to help you find the repeats.) You might consider buying extra yardage for borders or get at least one more repeat to use on the backing. It’s fun to use a piece of the “mother” fabric somewhere so others will know what you actually started with! If you want a large quilt and the repeat is only 12″ you might consider getting 8 repeats.
You may want to purchase coordinating fabrics for sashings or borders. Or, you may want to wait until you’ve made some blocks and decided how you will lay out the design.
The deadline to register for the class (or to cancel and request a refund) is April 16th.
If you have questions, please contact Dianne.

05/21/26 Rediscovered (Antique Quilts) Karen Tabor Programs
2026-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Karen Taber will give a presentation and trunk show featuring some of her collection of about 100 antique quilts. Quilts from Karen’s collection can frequently be seen at the Rediscovered Bookshop, where she uses them on rotation as part of the seasonal displays.

06/18/26 Cyanotype: Blue Printing History and Modern Explorations Program
2026-06-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Join contemporary cyanotype artist Jessie Swimeley for a discussion of the history of cyanotype– how it came to be and its historical uses. Learn how she puts a modern spin on her work and explore examples of other cyanotype artists working with textiles.
Jessie Swimeley is a contemporary cyanotype artist based in the Treasure Valley. Her lifelong passion for analog photography has evolved into exceptional photo and print-based mixed media art.
Growing up in Wyoming, Jessie found a deep respect and love for the wild and untamed spaces of the American West. She began taking photographs with her father at an early age and processed her own film and prints. She received her BA in Photography from the University of Oregon.
With the glut of technology at our fingertips Jessie has made the intentional switch back to more tangible and analog processes. The pairing of cyanotype with encaustic satisfies her love of process and allows her to capture the raw beauty of the natural world.
You can follow her on Instagram @jessies6005 to see her latest works and projects or explore her work on her website jessieswimeley.com.
Jessie will also be teaching a cyanotype workshop for the guild on June 27th.

06/20/26 Machine Applique' Schoolhouse - Maureen Stevens
2026-06-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
Saturday, June 20, 2026, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Boise Rigging Supply
6750 West Victory Road, Boise, Idaho
This is a learn it-and-do it class. We will learn about several types of machine appliqué. We will explore using different materials and stitches on our machines. I hope to cover fusible, faced, turned under edges and raw edge. I will provide you with a handout of instructions and a packet of products to use in the appliqué process. We will use the blind hem stitch, zig-zag, and blanket stitch on our sewing machines. If your machine only has a straight stitch we do have some machines that can be rented. Talk to Janice Black about that. I will give you instructions and patterns and have different products for appliqué for you to try. We will make a “sampler” of techniques and products and if desired make a pillow-top using one of the techniques. Come prepared to have a great time with fellow class members and try out some new techniques and ideas. Cost is $15.00.
Supply list:
Sewing machine in good working order
needles and feet for machine to do various stitches
rotary cutter, mat and ruler
pins, scissors and seam ripper
pencil or marking instrument
iron and pad (we will have a couple of irons and boards available)
applique pressing sheet (or can use baking parchment paper)
Scraps in various sizes and colors (for the pillow top you will need a 7″ square of green and a 7″ square of a fall color)
Fat quarter of muslin for the “sampler” piece
A 12″ square of a suitable background for the pillow top
Thread colors to match your scraps
Permanent ink pen to write on the muslin (no Sharpie–it bleeds)
Please note that June 13 is the deadline to either register for the class or request a refund.

06/27/26 - Discovery the Blues: Cyanotype Basics Workshop with Jessie Swimeley
2026-06-27 10:00 - 15:30 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
No Sewing Workshop
Treasure Valley artist, Jessie Swimeley, will guide her students through the process of using CYANOTYPE – an historic photographic process that can be applied to fabric or paper.
Cyanotype creates beautiful blue and white prints using UV radiation (the sun) and the shadows of objects like leaves, lace, keys, small trinkets, or large format negatives such as photographs. It is an easy to learn and fun process that brings creativity and your own special magic to quilting projects.
You will learn the basics of cyanotype printing including the chemistry used, how it works on different surfaces, and composition. You may choose to use your own photographic negatives or to use a variety of organic materials in your creations. You will walk away with several of your own prints that can become a quilt block or be added to other projects.
Please Note: that Cyanotype is best suited for art quilts. The images you create will degrade if they are washed or come into frequent contact with the oils from skin.
Kit Fee: $10
Supplied by Instructor:
• Paper, for making prints
• Fabric, for making prints
• Chemistry
• Objects for printing
• Optional: photographic negative for interested students, see note below under Student Supply List
Supply list for students:
• Notebook and pencil/pen
• Optional- Unique items to make prints with, the best items have a strong flat silhouette – examples: keys, lace, small items, fancy glass, leaves and flowers
• Optional- Photograph to turn into a negative 3 x 5 or 5 x 7- this MUST be sent to BBQ Workshops at least 10 days before the class so Jessie can prepare the negative to work with during the workshop.

08/20/26 Modern Quilting: A Twist on Tradition - Darla Christiansen - Programs
2026-08-20 19:00 - 21:00 | Boise Church of Christ, 2000 Eldorado Street, Boise, ID, 83704, United States
Explore characteristics of Modern Quilting, and find out how a modern approach to quilting is, in many ways, a twist on tradition. See quilts that have been exhibited at QuiltCon in a slide presentation, followed by a trunk show with members of the Boise Modern Quilt Guild.
Darla Christiansen is a Boise native and a past president of the Boise MQG. Her quilt making leans heavily toward scrappy and she often uses rescued fabrics that otherwise might be destined for the landfill. She delights in the challenge of creating beautiful things from others’ discards, and describes her process as design-build. When she’s not sewing (which is most of the time), you’ll find Darla on her bike, in a kayak, tending to her yard, feeding the cat and finding outdoor adventures with her husband.

10/15/26 Post Modern Quilting by Joe Cunningham (in person)
2026-10-15 19:00 - 21:00
Joe Cunningham has been a professional quilt artist since 1979. He began making quilts in his hometown of Flint, Michigan; eventually moving to San Francisco where he lives with his wife, Carol LeMaitre, above her Pilates studio, and maintains a gallery/ studio to make and show his quilts. Joe travels the world to show quilts and teach, as well as teaching his popular online classes from his studio. He has written ten quiltmaking books, and his quilts are in the permanent collections of several museums.
Here’s how Joe describes “Post Modern Quiltmaking,” the lecture he’ll be giving at BBQ:
We all know what “Modern” quilt making is. Sort of. Now that Modern Quilts have been around for a while the world is starting to move on, or maybe it’s just me. In this lecture I’ll talk about Modern Quilts and how they have influenced the wider quilt world, and explain how I have come to find my own style of “Post” Modern quiltmaking. With lots of examples and time for questions, this is a crowd favorite.
For more info about Joe and his quilts, please visit his website at joecunninghamquilts.com .

10/16-17/26 Creative Design Workshop by Joe Cunningham
2026-10-16 08:45 - 2026-10-17 15:45 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
Here’s how Joe Cunningham describes this two-day workshop: “I will demonstrate and teach how to develop a small idea into an abstract quilt. Along the way I will teach the techniques I use for freehand piecing, working with bias tape, and creating memorable compositions. Under my instructions, students will develop their own designs and get them to a point where they can be completed.”
Since the cost is supplemented by the guild (making this workshop available at less than half its price elsewhere!), registration will be available only to guild members until Aug. 20, 2026. On that date, nonmembers are invited to register for any remaining workshop spots. The workshop price includes Saturday lunch (a half-sandwich and soup cup from Cafe Zupa’s). Lunch on Friday will be on your own.
Aug.20th is also the final day to cancel and receive a refund.
SUPPLIES
This is primarily a machine class but some hand sewing may be required.
Besides your sewing machine and standard machine sewing equipment, you will also need the following items:
Extension cord, pins, seam ripper, etc.
Rotary cutter, mat and rulers
Iron and pressing board (a few will also be available to share)
Scissors
Bias tape and matching thread (3 packs)
At least six yards of fabric, including fabrics that contrast strongly.
A 40″ wide design board (may be flannel or something similar, to be taped to the wall). Design board may be longer vertically than 40″, but only 40″ of wall width per person will be available horizontally.

10/24/26 "Fearless Foundation Paper Piecing: Tips and Techniques to Make FPP Easier and More Fun" by Esther Kleinkauf Schoolhouse
2026-10-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
This class is for someone who has done some FPP, especially if some part of the process is frustrating to you. I really want to invite anyone that has tried FPP and given up on it. You are missing so much!
We will discuss everything from what constitutes a quality pattern to why the size of the pieces is not what defines the difficulty (and what does). I will give you ideas on how to organize your fabrics and how best to cut pieces to minimize frustration from too small pieces. We will also look at what “paper” is best to sew on and you will get to try 3 different kinds.
You will be making at least 3 blocks designed especially to demonstrate and practice the ideas discussed.
Supply List

Sewing Machine – Set up with a #70 needle and a Straight Stitch Foot. (I prefer a clear plastic foot)
Thread – The “best” choice is 80 wt Deco Bob. If you are just starting out, buy a mini cone in a light shade of your favorite neutral. If you have 100’s of spools of thread , like I do, you can use other fine threads. I would not recommend anything heavier than Aurifil 50 wt.
“Add a Quarter” and “Add an Eighth” rulers. For this class you need the 6 inch ones. The ones labeled “Plus” are not more useful.
Small and large (45mm) rotary cutters, small cutting mat, small rotary cutting rulers (nothing larger than 6in x 12 in}.
Small Scissors or thread snips.
Small ironing board and small iron. The classroom will have irons.
A rectangle of heavy/crisp plastic for folding back pattern sections. Mine is 3.5 inches by 7 inches for no particular reason. You can also just use the heaviest advertising/political postcard that shows up in your mailbox.
Glue stick -I was once told that the UHU brand is the best for fabric to paper gluing.
Pins – You won’t need more than a half dozen. My preferred pins right now are Clover Patch work pins with the blue and yellow heads. They have the right balance of thinness and length.
Clover MINI clips. I have some to give out if you don’t already own any.
Acorn Precision Piecing Pen – You can buy the Essentials pack or the Starter kit and get their Easy Press fabric treatment, but you can fill the pen with other liquids such as Best Press, Magic Starch or even water…but you really need the pen!
Ballpoint awl/stiletto
Paper and pen to take notes.

Optional Supplies:

Light box with translucent mat
Roxanne’s or other glue
Tailor’s clapper
Seam ironing bar

11/21/26 Quilting on Your Domestic Machine by Madeline Trainor Schoolhouse
2026-11-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Boise Rigging Supply, 6750 West Victory Road, Boise, ID, 83709, United States
More information to follow.
