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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), past co-rep for the Pennsylvania region: 2019-2023, now taking the lead on a regional exhibition for summer of 2026: Art Quilters Declare Independence, in tandem with our country's sesquicentennial celebration in Philadelphia, taking place at Moore College of Art & Design
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, focusing on fair, independent, and diverse federal courts, comprehensive healthcare, and quality childcare for all
Southeast Pennsylvania Early Childhood Coalition (SEPECC), advocacy workgroup and social media committee
Neighborhood newsletter editor and block party host