about - resumé

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my resumé

Though born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Elly's personality is less Baltimore Album and more Crazy Quilt. Lucky to have learned from a wide array of experts as she produced her many quilting books, she brings their diverse and innovative techniques--as well as her own eclectic ideas and designs to all of her trunk shows and workshops. Mission: Getting beginning and experienced quilters to try something new, quilt outside the box, and have a lot of fun!

PUBLISHING: 1985-present: Independent author, editor, book producer/packager, pattern designer; photostylist; teacher and lecturer; PR & marketing consultant. Focus on quilting, home-sewing, do-it-yourself decorating, keepsake crafts, innovative, fast and fun techniques.

BOOKS

Quilt Blocks Go Wild! (Self-produced for Leisure Arts, 2012)

Unforgettable Tote Bags: 20 Designs Too Cool to Leave in the Car (Self-published, 2009)

Skinny Quilts & Table Runners and Skinny Quilts & Table Runners II (Martingale/That Patchwork Place, 2008, 2009)

American Quiltmaking: 1970-2000 (American Quilter's Society, 2004)

Rodale's Successful Quilting Library (RSQL) series, volumes 8-15 (Rodale, 1998-2002)

Creations in Miniature: 101 Tiny Treasures to Stitch & Craft (Produced for Krause, 1998); Book of the Month Club (BOMC) - Crafter's Choice selection

The Parents Party Book, (Golden Books Adult Publishing Group, 1999)
Country Living Country Paint (Hearst/William Morrow, 1998); BOMC selection
Country Living Handmade Country (Hearst/William Morrow, 1997); BOMC selection
Halloween Fun, 101 Ways to Have a Safe and Scary Halloween (Berkley Press, 1993)
Country Living Country Quilts (Hearst/William Morrow, 1992); selling more than 100,000 copies in its first 2 years; reprinted in 2003
The Country Look and How to Get It (Hearst/William Morrow, 1991); a main selection of the Better Homes and Gardens Book Club and a BOMC selection
Great Little Quilts, 45 Crib and Doll Size Antiques, With Patterns and Directions, (Harry Abrams, 1990); a main selection of the Better Homes and Gardens Crafts Club and the Better Homes and Gardens Country Club

WORK FOR HIRE BOOK EDITOR FOR THESE AND MORE:

Accidental Landscapes, Layered Waves, by Karen Eckmeier (2008, 2009)
The Quilter's Catalog, by Meg Cox (Workman Publishing, 2008)

Asian-Inspired Quilts, by Lonni Rossi (2006)

Fast, Fun & Easy Fabric Bowls, by Linda Johansen (C&T Publishing, 2003--top-seller)

STAFF POSITIONS

Editor, McCall's Craft Books, 1984-1985
Editor/Dept. Chair, Needlework, Sewing, Crafts, Woman's World Magazine, 1981-1984
Copy Chief, Book Editor, McCall's Needlework & Crafts, 1979-1981
Production Editor, Woman's Day Special Interest Publications, 1977-1979

PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING CONSULTANT
Fujifilm: Manage and produce a PR/publicity campaign of photo-crafts projects for newspapers, magazines, e-newsletter, and conventions, 2004-2013
Quilt-Pro Systems: Researched and developed branding strategies and marketing recommendations for makers of quilting software, 2003-2004

LECTURER & TEACHER
Presentations: 2002 — present; current offerings:

Rock Your Quilting: 12 steps to Original Design
Quilting Goes Wild & Crazy
Quilting Project Runway: A Fashion Show
A Magical History Tour of Quilting in America, 1970-2000
Not for Mother's Day Only
Memory Quilts

Workshops: 1992 — present; current offerings:

Nine Patch Goes Wild!
Weave a Skinny Quilt with Me!
Weave a Giant Quilt with Me!
An Unforgettable Tote Bag
Stretch a Block, Stretch the Imagination
An Extra Leaf for Your Table
Button, Button, YOU'VE Got the Button
3D Flowers with Fabric & Ribbon
Trash-Stash Quilting: Ecovative Folk Art
Hello, Baby: Spell a little one's name on quilted wall pockets

RELIGIOUS SCHOOL TEACHER AND ARTS SPECIALIST: 2002 — 2015
SECONDARY SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER, high interest/low level skills, Baltimore, MD and Glenolden, PA — 1973-1977

EDUCATION

Master of Arts in Teaching, Brown University, Providence, RI — 1973
Bachelor of Arts, Cedar Crest College, Allentown PA (cum laude) — 1972

AFFILIATIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICE & ADVOCACY

Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), co-rep for the Pennsylvania region: 2019-2023

Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia, member artist and leader of the DVAA book group

National Council of Jewish Women: Life member, former Pennsylvania Policy Advocate, former national board member, Pennsylvania chair for federal judicial nominations

Advocacy Committee, Southeast Pennsylvania Early Childhood Coalition

Past chair of Pennsylvanians for a Fair & Independent Court, active member of NCJW's Benchmark campaign, Courts Matter, and 73Forward

Past co-Chair, Advisory Committee for Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) at Diversified Community Services in Philadelphia

Majority Inspector of elections for my ward/district

Neighborhood newsletter editor and block party host