Kathy provides lectures and workshops for quilt guilds, shops, shows and community groups. Her current lectures and workshops are listed on this page. Most of her lectures include trunk shows. Kathy is able to customize any lecture or workshop to meet the needs of your group. Listed at the end of this page is information about Kathy's quilt show judging. Once you have determined the services that may be of interest to your group, feel free to contact Kathy by email or phone with any questions. A written contract is required to hold dates for any group.

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This is Kathy's most popular lecture. Kathy discusses edge treatments for quilts and has a trunk show of quilts with great edges. Simple bindings, Amish bindings, reversible bindings, self-bound edges, scallops, prairie points, piping, cording , flanges, and the history of edge treatments are all discussed. This a great lecture and one sure to inspire guild members to make a great edge treatment for their next quilt. This is a trunk show with over 25 antique and new quilts.  If Kathy does not drive to the lecture, extra shipping and insurance costs are necessary to bring her antique and new quilts to your guild or show.

What makes the crowd at a quilt show stop at certain quilts and ignore others? Creative use of color and design make these breathtaking quilts. Kathy calls these quilts the zingers. The skill to create zingers is seldom taught and is the hardest skill for quilt makers to develop. Kathy provides helpful hints for designing original quilts and choosing colors and fabrics.  This lecture will help put you on the path to winning ribbons at major shows.  An overhead projector and screen are needed for this lecture.

During the early 1980s, Kathy lived near the Amish in Western Wisconsin. She admired their quilt making style and soon became friends with families in this community. She shares information about the history of the Amish, their lifestyle, quilts, furniture making and cheese making in Wisconsin. She will discuss the difference between Pennsylvania Amish quilts and Midwestern Amish quilts. Included will be a trunk show of quilts and Amish-made items. This lecture is a trunk show.  If Kathy does not drive to the lecture, extra shipping and insurance costs are necessary.

Have you ever wondered why one quilt wins over another? Kathy shares the process of quilt show judging, what judges look for and why they make the decisions they do. Kathy shares easy tips to help you make award-winning quilts. She includes her "top ten tips" for entering quilt shows and information regarding choosing categories, writing quilt descriptions, shipping quilts to shows and volunteering on the judging floor.

In this humorous trunk show, Kathy tells the story of her life as a quiltmaker. She shares her disasters as well as her successes. This lecture is an encouragement to all who wonder if they will ever make an award-winning quilt. Kathy lays claim to the titles of "Queen of the Quilt Starters" and "Mistress of Mistakes." This lecture will keep your audience "in stitches."

The 1930s were one of the most difficult periods in our country's history. Learn what events caused the Great Depression and what life was like during that time. Kathy will share aprons, laces, doilies, fabrics and quilts from the time when everyone quickly learned how to "make do." Audience members are encouraged to bring Depression Era quilts.

Quilt makers have developed a variety of styles and techniques over the centuries. This lecture provides interesting facts on the history of quilt making, sewing tools and the design styles of those who stitched their way through the pages of history. Members of the audience are encouraged to bring antique and vintage quilts to be included in the lecture. At least 20 quilts are needed for this lecture. Kathy will ask the owners to say a few words about the history of their quilt. She will then discuss the quilt and the era in which it was made. As a certified appraiser with the American Quilter's Society, Kathy shares valuable information about appraisals, storing and displaying quilts, cleaning quilts and protecting tomorrow's treasures today.

This is a good class for students new to hand quilting as well as those with hand quilting experience. Students will learn about batting, basting, thread, needles, thimbles, hoops and designs. Kathy will show how to achieve small, straight and uniform quilting stitches. The finished class project can become a pillow or wall hanging. Students will pay a kit fee of $25 for a pre-printed pattern, batting, backing, needles, a spool of quilting thread and a packet of information about hand quilting that has been written by Kathy.  Students will need to bring a thimble (Kathy likes the Roxanne Thimbles) and a 12" or 14" hoop (Kathy like the Morgan no-slip lap stand hoops. The lab stand hoops contain two hoops with three connecting legs so they are reversible. The 10"/14" model is good or you can even get a triple hoop model. These can be purchased on line at: www.nosliphoops.com.

One of Kathy's specialties is crazy quilt stitches. In this workshop, students learn to make some of Kathy's favorite stitches. Included will be the feather stitch, blanket stitch, chain stitch, stem stitch, French knots and lazy daisy stitches. Kathy will also share silk ribbon techniques including the spider rose, folded rose, rosettes, Japanese ribbon leaves and boat leaves. Students will make one-block pillow as their project.  The crazy quilt patterns and simple instructions for paper piecing the blocks will be included with the supply list.  The block must be made at home before class.  The focus of this class is to learn and add crazy quilt stitches to the project. The class kit fee is $15. It will include hand-dyed silk ribbon, beads and pearl cotton for the stitches.

Silk Ribbon Photo Frames

This is one of Kathy's new workshops. Each student will bring a small embroidery scissor and a 5" x 7" photo frame. It can be a vintage looking frame, a fancy frame, a wood frame or a metal frame. Places like Hobby Lobby have great frames to choose from. Kathy will bring beads, hand-dyed silk ribbon and vintage photos she has transferred to silk and cotton. She will also have dupioni silk in a variety of colors as the border fabric, needles, fusibles, batting and pearl cotton for the embroidery stitches. The cost of the kit is $15. Kathy will have additional supplies available for purchase. She has made some great samples for students to see. It's hard to make just one of these vintage pictures.

Victorian Pin with Silk Ribbon Flowers & Beads

This is another new workshop that Kathy has developed. Each student will make a beautiful Victorian pin. It will have a vintage photo, silk ribbon flowers & beads. The cost of the kit is $15. All the students need for this class is a small embroidery scissor.

Working with Wool

This class project is a wonderful wool applique block that has been designed by Kathy.  It can become a table topper, pillow or wall hanging. The kit for the class is $40 and it includes everything needed for the block. Students will need to bring a paper scissor and a sharp embroidery scissor for cutting the wool motifs.

Kathy shares fun techniques for designing Hawaiian folded cutwork patterns. During this workshop, students will make a Hawaiian applique block by machine. A sewing machine with a decorative blanket stitch or satin stitch is needed for this workshop. The history of Hawaiian quilt making will be shared. The students will leave with their block completed and ready to quilt. The pattern is $10. It includes directions for designing Hawaiian patterns as well as four patterns designed by Kathy. Students will need to bring two 18" squares - one for the background and one for the Hawaiian design. The background can be a light or dark fabric. Thread (cotton, polyester or rayon) is needed for the machine applique. Students will also need a roll of freezer paper (18" wide) to practice making their designs and a yard of paper-backed light-weight fusible (Wonder Under, Heat 'n Bond or Steam a Seam 2.)

Judges for quilt shows come from all sorts of backgrounds. They should be knowledgeable in the field of quilt making and judging. Each entry is evaluated on its strengths and weaknesses. Judges are expected to provide fair and unbiased decisions regarding comments and awards.

Kathy Kansier became interested in textile competitions through her early involvement in 4-H programs in Wisconsin. During the early 1980s, she began entering food, clothing and quilts in adult classes of a local county fair. After moving to Missouri in 1992, she began entering her quilts into quilt competitions.

Kathy became interested in the process of judging quilts and took a seminar on quilt judging in 1999. Since that time, she has worked as a volunteer at 10 quilt shows and observed the judging of 3,219 quilts. To date, she has worked as the actual judge in 40 shows having judged a total of 6,851 quilts. Her experience includes quilt show judging on the local, regional and international level. She will provide a detailed listing of her judging resume for shows interested in her judging services.

The purpose of judging a competitive quilt show is generally three-fold: 1) to fairly evaluate each quilt in each category, using the same criteria, 2) to choose the award winners for the competition, and 3) to encourage and educate the entrants by providing a written critique for each entry.

Kathy prefers the elimination process for competitive judging. She enjoys working with local volunteers on the judging floor. The understanding of good techniques and designs are increased and the volunteers often become better quilt makers as a result of their volunteer work. The number of volunteers needed for a judging floor varies based on the size of the show. Normally six volunteers per four hour shift are sufficient. It is expected that the show coordinator or a judging coordinator will be available to help with the coordinating process.

Not all quilt shows are judged shows. These non-competitive shows are called exhibitions. They are popular with small guilds and shows. As a service to the quilt makers, the show sponsors may still offer judging evaluations. As with competitive judging, Kathy provides 5-7 written comments per entry. Her comments contain a balance of positive and constructive observations.

Most shows combine her teaching and appraisal services with her judging services. She is experienced in judging on a team as well as judging alone in a competition. To provide adequate time for each entry, it is best to judge no more than 125 quilts in a given day. For shows that contract her judging services, Kathy is available to provide consultation regarding rules, categories and the judging process, a sample critique sheet for judging and a listing of instructions for volunteers.