Trunk Shows

Lectures – Trunk Shows

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  All Audiences

  RISE UP & Stitch Boldly: The Challenge Quilt Experience

  VirtualIn-Person

  Join award-winning quilt artist Paula Paradis for an inspiring lecture and trunk show that traces her creative journey from her first Challenge Quilt Best in Show quilt in Okinawa, Japan (1994) to nationally recognized and traveling exhibition pieces in 2026.

  Through a curated collection of challenge quilts, Paula shares the stories, techniques, and evolution behind her work—highlighting hand appliqué, paper piecing, thread painting, embellishment, and dimensional design. Along the way, she offers an honest look at the role of persistence, including the quilts that didn't make the cut and how they shaped future success.

  This engaging presentation also provides practical insight into the world of quilt challenges—covering how to interpret rules, develop original designs, and successfully enter competitions. Whether you're new to challenge quilts or looking to elevate your creative voice, this lecture will inspire you to take the leap and let your own story unfold through cloth and stitch.

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  All Audiences

  Threads of a Life: A 30-Year Quilting Journey

  VirtualIn-Person

  From first stitches to national recognition, join quilt artist Paula Paradis for a heartfelt and inspiring journey through three decades of quilting.

  This lecture and trunk show weaves together the stories behind Paula's work—from early beginnings with a simple Log Cabin Christmas Tree wall hanging to large-scale community projects, including camp quilts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the powerful USNS Comfort Quilt, a collaborative piece honoring the hospital ship's deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  Through personal quilts, group collaborations, and award-winning entries juried into national exhibitions such as AQS, Paula shares how quilting has evolved alongside her life—capturing moments of service, creativity, challenge, and growth.

  More than a showcase of technique, this presentation is a reflection on the stories we choose to tell, the communities we build, and the legacy we stitch over time.

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  All Audiences

  Stitch Smartly: Ergonomics for Sewists and Quilters

  VirtualIn-Person

  Drawing on over 25 years of experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Paula combines art and science in this engaging lecture on movement, posture, and injury prevention for sewists and quilters.

  Learn practical strategies to protect your body while you create—covering workspace setup, posture, body mechanics, stretching, and habits that support creative longevity. Whether you spend hours at the sewing machine, cutting table, or ironing board, this lecture offers approachable, expert-informed guidance to help you keep stitching comfortably for years to come.

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