Earthly Goods instructors have a helpful, comprehensive approach to teaching. All instructors have completed our Quilting by Degree Program. They regularly take new courses on and off-site to keep up with quilting trends and techniques.

Elaine G.

Elaine began at Earthly Goods in 1991 as a garment sewer.  It didn’t take long before she took her first quilting class and since then has completed over 80 quilts.  As manager/class coordinator Elaine has been integral in the store set up.  Her quilting leans more toward the traditional, although she tries a more contemporary piece once in awhile.

Karen
Karen earned a BSc in Clothing and Textiles from the U of A and an Associate of Arts degree from Trinidad, Colorado. As one of our first instructors, she has taught classes in rug-hooking, ribbon embroidery, doll-making, and the Stargazey technique since 1989.  Students love her quirky dolls and enjoy her flair for embellishment!

Margie

Margie combined her BEd with a long-time interest in art when she started teaching quilting in 1994.  She developed her “Add a Stripe” class for Quilt Canada in 2002 in Edmonton.  She has taught at subsequent Quilt Canada conferences in Ottawa 2006, St John’s 2008 and Saskatoon 2009.  Margie was honoured to be asked to judge the National Juried Show in 2006 and 2009.  Her quilts have been accepted into the National Juried Show on 5 occasions.  Margie is well-known for her inspiring classes on colour theory, quilt design and painting on fabric at Earthly Goods.

Lois

Lois started teaching after finishing her Master's thesis quilt, which was shown at Quilt Canada 2002 and the Pacific Northwest Quilt Show. Her students enjoy her expertise, warmth, and organization in classes on Electric Quilt software, machine embroidery, and foundation piecing.

Kathy

Kathy has been quilting for over fifteen years.  She has explored many aspects of quilting but particularly loves machine piecing, machine quilting, and digging into her stash for scrap quilts.  She applies her precision, knowledge of design, and creativity to the classes she teaches on quilt binding and fibre art techniques.

Betty Ann

Betty Ann has been quilting for over 10 years.  She joined our Earthly Goods team in June 2009 bringing along her enthusiasm and energy.  Her first love is machine piecing and quilting, leaning toward more traditional quilts.  Then she discovered Bags.  Hand bags, Eco Totes, Slouchy Bags, you name it she makes it!  Betty Ann began teaching classes in the spring of 2009 and enjoys being able to share her knowledge and tips with others, especially interfacings used in the handbags.  She loves her job, seeing it a privilege to help out customers with their quilting projects.

Janet

Janet taught herself to quilt in 1991 while living in a northern Alberta city.  Hand Quilting, Hand Appliqué and traditional quilts are Janet’s passion.  She has won quilt show ribbons and has previously taught private classes in Fort McMurray.  Upon moving to Edmonton, Janet took every Earthly Goods class she could and started teaching quilting classes in 2009.

Lezley

Whether traditional patchwork style quilts or heavily appliqué and thread play style quilts, Lezley has been actively quilting since the early 1980’s.  She made her first quilt in 1969 using an industrial upholstery sewing machine. Taking classes and workshops from local and international quilters and artists has given Lezley a broad background in quilting and quilt related artwork. Lezley’s motto  Carpe Quilti,  seize the moment and quilt!

Marj

Marj’s earliest sewing was done with her Dad’s shirt sleeves, making doll clothes. (Yes Dad was out of those sleeves!)  Her first quilting project was when Marj was 12, a Grandmothers Flower Garden English paper piecing pillow all done by hand.  The fabric was left over square dance fabric.  It wasn’t until the early 90’s that she took a class in rotary cutter in Winnipeg and since then quilting has been non-stop.  An earlier career was nursery school teaching and banking.  Marj says she has come a full circle – teaching something she loves to students willing to learn.

Margo

Margo’s early art experiences include teaching high school art and watercolour painting; so when she became a quilter it was her natural inclination to pursue art quilting.  Margo has mastered a complex machine piecing method that she uses to create her art quilts.  She exhibits and sells her work at local galleries and through her website.  She relies heavily on this art background when teaching colour theory and piecing classes.

Kim
From an early age, Kim has had a love of handwork and crafts. She took home economics and tailoring at NAIT before she began quilting. As a teacher, she enjoys sharing with beginners the tricks and tips that she learns from other master quilters.