2024 Feature Quilter: Roxanne Reorda

My earliest memory of a quilt was a bright, scrappy quilt on my Baba’s bed when I was a small child.  She was a quilter of necessity, using old clothing and carding her own wool.  I was mesmerized by the eclectic, colourful pieces of cloth sewn randomly together.  And, bonus, it kept you warm at night!

My own journey began in 1994 when I signed up for a beginner quilting class through the City of Red Deer.  My instructor was Val Boode; she was so patient and knowledgeable.  I made three different Nine-Patch blocks, hand quilted and bias bound the wall hanging (I was hooked).  From there, I signed up for as many classes as I could through Country Cupboard Quilting.  I am so glad my beginning was traditional.

For the next 8+ years, I made dozens of traditional quilts in country cottage fabrics.  I gifted them to family and friends, always excited when someone got pregnant so I’d have an excuse to make another quilt.

Eventually life got in the way and I wasn’t inspired with the fabrics available, so my quilting slowed down for several years.

Fast forward to 2008 when my first grandchild was born and I wanted to make him a quilt.  I started looking at magazines and scouring for ideas online and I found that the fabrics had changed.  I was in LOVE with the bright material that was now available.  It was amazing!  I started following a number of quilters online and found tons of inspiration.

I signed up for Quilt-alongs, joined Instagram, and followed like minded Bloggers.  The internet changed the direction of my quilting.

In 2016, Cheryl Arkison (one of the bloggers I followed) was coming to the Central Alberta Quilters’ Guild to do a trunk show and a class.  I wanted to take her class so I decided to join the guild.

In 2018, I took an improv class from Krista Hennebury that completely changed my quilting journey, IMPROV.

I entered my first improv quilt into our local show and to my surprise I took home a 1st place ribbon.  The next year I tried my hand at needle turn applique’ and hand quilting and won another 1st place ribbon.  

I joined the Modern Quilt in 2018 and attended QuiltCon in 2020 and virtually 2021.

I was a member of the Canadian Improv Bee from 2019-2021 where 12 members from across Canada exchanged blocks every month inspired by a theme set by the Queen Bee of the month. Two of my contributions have made it to QuiltCon with one winning a ribbon.  We have another heading to Raleigh, NC this year.

The first place ribbon I won in 2023 at the CAQG Quilt Show was a collaborative quilt from the Canadian Improv Bee.

In 2023 I inspired our guild to give improv a try and had 20 members sign up for our very own improv bee.  We had so many join, we had to make two groups.  I’m so looking forward to seeing some  in the quilt show in 2024!

Quilting is a pivotal part of my life.  From the amazing group of friends I have made to the creativity I get to express, I can’t imagine life without fabric and thread.

Thirty years later and I haven’t looked back.  

2024 Feature Quilter: Liz Russell

Quilting is my creative outlet, a form of joy and meditation.

My journey into the world of quilting began with my mother who taught me to sew garments on a hand crank Singer sewing machine. However, it was my grandmother, an avid quilter, who planted the seeds of passion with her hand-pieced and hand quilted masterpieces despite living across the country. 

Childhood memories of walks in the Edmonton River valley and work in the garden, soaking in the colors of nature ignited my fascination with textile arts. I began making tapestries when I was in high school. The flower designs and all those different shades of color in the wool skeins were enjoyable to create with!  Even as I pursued a career in Horticulture at Olds College and began work at the Alberta Agriculture Research Centre in Brooks, Alberta, working through different roles, my favorite as a Herb & Spice Technician needlework remained a cherished pastime until our boys grew and completed school.

It was in Brooks, where we lived for 24 years, I met Ruth, a scrap quilter whose influence propelled me to join the Brooks Guild. Here, I discovered the best part of putting a quilt together: choosing the fabric colors, texture, and design. From traditional quilting to hand quilting, I created keepsakes for my family and friends. 

Over the years as my family traveled the world, they brought back fabrics expanding my quilting journey. It was the discovery of Molly Upton’s, (1953-1977) innovative work, a piece called “Blades” that sparked my exploration beyond repeat blocks to my own custom strip quilts making tablecloths, table runners, placemats and wall hangings.

Upon relocating to Red Deer in 2007, I found a welcoming community in the Central Alberta Quilt Guild. Here amidst camaraderie, classes, and opportunities to give back to the community; this group has provided me with connections to expand my knowledge, and share the knowledge I have with others.

Recent years have seen me drawn to African fabrics weaving vibrant stories into my quilts with fabrics sourced from cultural events and markets like Big Blue Mama, an online shop that was selling baskets and some fabrics from Ghana. With these unique finds I made my first African quilt and found my muse for creativity!

During the heat and smoke of the summer of 2020, I discovered a four-day, Quilt Africa Fabric Movement Symposium. There were speakers worldwide who were working with African fabrics, called Ankara or wax prints. What a find!  I was so inspired; it opened a whole new world. I began buying fabrics from Miriam Galadima-Benson, owner of Quilt Africa Fabrics in Abuja, Nigeria. A challenge was put out in the fall, to buy bundles of fat quarters from Quilt Africa Fabrics, and 80% of the quilt had to be African fabrics. There were three categories: traditional, mixed technique & wearable art. I won first place in the traditional category with my Quilt called the African Split Block. 

As the world shifted to virtual platforms, I embraced new learning opportunities by attending my first zoom class, with Hilde Hoogwaerts of the Netherlands, who taught African Kaleidoscope using Ricky Tim’s method. Very recently I was introduced to Improv, a new interest that I’m exploring! Very exciting!

With so many interests and so many more quilts to make, I will need another lifetime to accomplish all my dreams. Quilting and quilts are a testament to the boundless creativity of the human spirit. Thank you to the Central Alberta Quilters’ Guild for the opportunity to share my story!