top of page

2023 Instructors

Betsy Bauman

Teaching: Lecture- Stories in Fabric, Ohio Rose Machine Applique

Betsy Bauman is a teacher and artist whose love of fabric, drama and history led her to the theatre and a career as a costume designer. She brings her knowledge of fashion history and sewing construction together with her sense of color, line, and shape to help the actors tell a story that will express something universal about what it means to be human. These are the same things that draw her to working as a quilt artist. “I am inspired by the history and tradition of quilting, and I collect antique quilts to study and to enjoy. This respect for the past is the springboard for the quilts I make. Although I use the same basic structure as quilters from the past, I am not trying to decorate a bed or provide warmth, but rather I seek to tell a story or express an idea. My quilts are playful and whimsical, and I think viewers will see my theatrical background in them, as well.” Betsy began making quilts in 2000, and since then her quilts have been juried into national exhibitions such as the American Quilter’s Society shows at Paducah, Lancaster, and Grand Rapids, Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA, as well as shows in Vermont and Indiana, and locally at Lake Farm Park, the Rocky River Reflections of Nature Shows, and Mutton Hill in Akron. She also lectures on Quilt History and other quilt-related topics. Bauman serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at Hiram College, where she has been teaching since 1998. She holds an M.F.A. in Design from Kent State University, an M.A. in Theatre from The University of Akron, and a B.A. in Theatre from SUNY Brockport.

Kellie Beckwith

Teaching: Star of Noel with Studio 180 Rulers

Kellie is the owner of Tulip Cottage Quilts from Lakawanna, NY. She designs quilts that combine traditional patterns with modern design and techniques.

Karen Comstock

Teaching: Hand Applique

Karen Comstock is a quilt designer who lives in Cary, NC. After years of perfecting her patterns with students, Karen officially launched her company, Quiltricks, in 2005. She has produced award-winning quilts, five dozen patterns, and traveled from Florida to Oregon exhibiting her work. Her designs have appeared in American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine, 100 Blocks From Today's Top Designers and McCalls quilting among others. She is, as her husband likes to say, a calendar girl; her Ohio Cabin quilt was featured as the full-page January illustration of the Better Homes and Garden Quilting Calendar 2003. "Patterns," a national exhibit devoted exclusively to her work, was on display at The National Humanities Center in North Carolina. One of the co-founders of the BeeFF's bee in Cary, she hosts meetings, amateur work days and group retreats in her home. Known as a caring instructor with a warm sense of humor, she is eager to share her love of the craft with quilters of every level.

Sheila Drevna

Teaching: Perfect Binding, Pumpkin Patch Collage Quilt

Sheila Drevna is an award-winning quilter from Pittsburgh, PA. Sheila has been sewing from a young age and took up quilting in 2004. Sheila became proficient with her longarm machine and is now excited to share her skills with customers from all over the country. Sheila started teaching, lecturing, and creating patterns since opening her business in 2016. Sheila’s classes are always fun and encouraging.

Kaye Koler

Teaching: Tee Shirt Quilts the Easy Way

Kaye began sewing at age eight and has never considered anything more fulfilling. Sewing and all things fabric-y and crafty have been a huge part of her life-long quest to create beautiful things with her hands. She’s a maker, a dreamer and a do-er when it came to quilts ….from miniature to modern and some in between, which has lead her to teaching her passion for more than 20 years. With positive and patient instruction she helps students believe in themselves and develop new skills. Kaye has won awards for her miniature work in Houston, Paducah, NQA (Columbus,OH), Indiana Heritage Quilt Festival and won best of show at the International Quilt Festival of Ireland.

Kim Lautman

Teaching: Lecture: Using Hand Dyed Fabrics

Kim Lautman is the owner of Kim's Peaceful Colors, which specializes in hand dyed fabrics and readymade items made with hand dyed fabrics. 

Laura Nolletti

Teaching: Paper Piecing 101

Laura Nolletti is an experienced quilter, teacher and presenter. She has won numerous "Best of Show" awards at the state and local level for her quilts. Laura likes trying new things and trying new ways of doing old things. Paper piecing, One Block Wonders, Bargello, and Optical Illusion are some of her favorites. When she isn't quilting, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, participating in church activities and golf.

Susan Sato

Teaching: Sashiko Stitching

Second-generation Japanese American, Susan has been sewing since age 14.  While going through an old trunk at her mother's home about thirteen years ago, Susan found her grandfather's kimono and obi with his kamon, the family crest, on it.  She knew then that sewing in the traditional Japanese style was the path she wanted to follow for her quilting inspiration.  Susan started quilting with Japanese fabrics, incorporating the sashiko form of hand sewing.  When her own work inspired her to teach, she began with basic quilting classes in sashiko, shibori dyeing, and then branched out to Japanese free-form design classes.

Susan's quilts have appeared in QUILTS AROUND THE WORLD by Spike Gillespie and PIECED SYMBOLS, Quilt Blocks from the Global Village by Myrah Brown Green. Sato was choosen as a Featured Teacher on The City Quilter's website in New York City and Quilter of the Month in the Quilters' Guild of Brooklyn's Newsletter. A member of the Empire Quilters and past co-president of The Quilters' Guild of Brooklyn, her work has been featured in exhibits throughout the Northeast.  She teaches quilting at shops in New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey, and at quilting guilds around the area.

Patricia Simons

Teaching: Lecture- Template (Rulers) and Machine Quilting- a Primer Course, Template Mania

Patricia represents Quilter’s Rule.  When Quilter's Rule created the Design Tools line, Patricia developed a knack for designing different quilting patterns.  Her signature class “Unlock Your Creativity (The Key is Templates)” has opened a whole new world to people who are not naturally artists.  Her techniques are applicable to all quilters regardless of whether you hand quilt, use a home machine, a short-arm, a mid-arm, or a long-arm machine.  These techniques can even be used in a variety of different crafts.  In addition to using templates to create designs, she also helps create new products.  She looks forward to sharing her techniques to help you develop your own style and look.

Carole Wooten

Teaching: Lecture- Making the Quilt Uniquely Yours, Basic Onlaid and Reverse Applique

Carole has been a sewer all her life.  Quilting came into her life in 1985 and immediately captured her heart.  She began lecturing & teaching in 1991 for various guilds, small groups and organizations throughout Ohio; including seminars for NEORQC & Quilt Camp in Ripley,WV.

 Her specialties are color, all types of hand appliqué including dimensional and miniature , hand piecing & quilting, crazy quilting by hand & machine, symbolism, Quilt Designing. Dating & preserving antique quilts.

 Carole's quilts have been featured on two magazine covers, in numerous juried shows & taken many blue ribbons & special awards through the years including Best of Show at Stan Hywet 2003, many Common Threads shows & Best Hand Quilting - LakeFarm Park Show 2023. Also featured in the Baltimore Album Exhibit at the Houston International Show in 2003, & Mead Corporation’s Great Ohio Quilters at the City Folk Festival in 2003 in Dayton, OH.

bottom of page