I’ve got my year mapped out, and I thought I would share.

Root Glacier
Abstraction Through Color, Pattern, and Repetition—Workshop
Santa Clara Valley Quilt Association–Campbell, California
February 23 & 24, 2016 9:30AM- 4:00PM
Yes. This workshop has already happened, but I am still going to mention it because, well, it has a new name and focus. This workshop is for individuals who are inspired by real world images, but who also want to make those images their own. We cover basic color theory (according to me), abstraction of images from photographs, and improvisational piecing. It is action packed. If you want to read about this workshop from the point of a student please check out Ann Brooks’s post on her blog Fret Not Yourself

Lecture Map by Jennifer Landau
Use Your Words–How to Walk, Talk, and Write like an Artist–Lecture
2016 SAQA Conference–Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sunday April 3, 2016 9AM- 10AM
I will be presenting a lecture on the finer points of removing yourself from that safe zone behind your sewing machine and putting yourself out there. How to win friends, influence people, and still love yourself in the morning or something like that. The above drawing was made by visual artist Jennifer Landau at the 2015 SAQA Conference. Landau creates wonderful graphic facilitations of lectures, talks, and discussions.
Patchwork to Artwork—Journey of Alaskan Quiltmaker—Lecture
Ocean Waves Quilt Guild—Lewes, Delaware
Monday April 4, 2016 10AM

M-Eye Perspective
Circle and Curve Sampler–Workshop
Ocean Waves Quilt Guild–Lewes, Delaware
April 5, 2016 9AM – 3PM
This workshop is an ALL day exploration of improvisational cutting and piecing of circles and curves. We will be making Log Cabin Circles and surprise curves that will all come together into a stellar Sampler of curvy quilt blocks.
Patchwork to Artwork—Journey of Alaskan Quiltmaker—Lecture
South Florida Modern Quilt Guild—Boca Raton, Florida
Thursday April 7, 2016 6:30 PM – 9PM (Lecture begins at 7PM)

Boulevard aka Ward Parkway
Making Prints out of Solids–Workshop
South Florida Modern Quilt Guild–Boca Raton, Florida
April 9, 2016 9:30 AM- 4PM
I taught this workshop for the South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild last fall, and I was completely blown away by my students work. This is primarily a technique class–I tell you all that I know about taking solids fabrics and working them into prints. You take that information and create original mind boggling compositions. I love it.

TRIBE
Fiberart International 2016
Pittsburg Center for the Arts and the Society for Contemporary Craft
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Thursday May 5- Sunday May 8, 2016
I am honored to be one of the artists selected to exhibit in this uber prestigious triennial. Opportunities like this only come around just a few lucky times, and I will be there to celebrate it.

The Procrastinator’s Quilt
Valdez Quilt Festival
Valdez, Alaska
Thursday September 8 -Sunday September 11, 2016
Over the course of four action packed days of stitching madness, I will be teaching Circles & Curves Sampler, Lines + Triangles = Squares, Making Prints out of Solids, and Modern Broderie Perse.
International Quilt Festival
Show Your Work
Wednesday November 2, 2016 2PM – 5PM
This is a short workshop focused on helping students prepare their work for shows.

Artful Oven Mitts
Artful Oven Mitts
Thursday November 3, 2016 9AM-NOON
Make oven mitts just like mine. I will be kitting up some fabulous vintage fabrics for you to make gorgeous mitts.
Traditional, Art, and Modern–Notes From Field—Lecture
Thursday November 3, 2016 4PM-5PM
Can a quilter be traditional, art, and modern all at the same time? Come to the lecture and find out.
Lines + Triangles = Squares (aka The Procrastinator’s Quilt as seen above)
Friday November 4, 2016 9AM-12PM AND 2PM-5PM
This is all day beginner’s improv class. Join me for some free form cutting and stitching.

Flowers in a Vase
Modern Broderie Perse
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016 6PM-9PM
Show up with scissors and an open mind —leave with an original masterpiece. My students always create beautiful work in this workshop.
Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens
Three Person Art Exhibition
Opening Reception Friday December 2, 1016
The curator is still in the early stages of planning this show, but the idea is a sculptor, a painter, and a quiltmaker (that’s me) explore geometry and color in what I think is going to be an awesome exhibition.
Here is a side note. Before my trip to the International Quilt Festival in Houston, from Saturday October 29 – Tuesday November 1, 2016, I will be in the Midwest looking for something to do. This means I am available for workshops and lectures.
I am also going to be in Dayton, Florida at the end of November/ beginning of December for the opening of the Ormond Memorial Art Museum exhibition.
Please contact me if you or your group is interested in having me around. Let’s make a deal.
And that is it. What are your plans for the year?
fun and exciting. you are such a good teacher… happy for you darlin”
Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 01:31:30 +0000 To: pmgarrett@hotmail.com
oh my gosh Maria! You are rocking it. Showing off your quilts to my new dude this morning (because he was staring at ablation on the wall). xxx Love it up. I’m so proud of you!
Maria – I am SO happy that your trip to Philadelphia worked out and you will be coming to speak and teach at Ocean Waves Quilt Guild in Lewes Delaware! I saw your sample on Monday, and it is spectacular. I am signed up for the class on Tuesday! I am also your “transporter” for traveling from and to Philadelphia as needed on Sunday and Wednesday. 🙂 On a side note; I LOVE seeing those “artful oven mitts” . I still have my pattern and need to get busy with the scraps and “make one for myself”. I gave away 11 at Christmas the year you sent us the pattern, not long after I started following your blog. Oh; I cross posted this post to my Facebook page. 🙂
Hi Maria – I love your M-eye quilt and now I know how you made it!
It was fun having dinner with you at QuiltCon!!
Thank you thank you SOO much to traveling all the way to sunny South Florida to teach us at the South Florida MQG. You were so gracious and interesting and I learned so much. My head is just spinning with ideas! I can’t wait to get my fabric out and start playing again!
Patti- thank you! You Southern Florida Modern Quilters are the BEST.