Teaching quilting is in my blood. I love it, I need it – I can’t live without it! I began teaching quilting classes nearly 16 years ago when my oldest son was just a baby. It kind of happened by accident when a local quilt shop (who’s no longer in business) needed a shop teacher and I was in the right place at the right time.
Hugs ‘n Kisses Quilt Along
Fast forward 16 years, 3 kids and a business later, and I am finally returning to what I love.
I’ve been doing my quilt alongs for a few months now and it gives me such joy and satisfaction to see my students create a beautiful work of art from just a few bits of cloth.
I love the entire process – designing an original quilt, putting together photos and instructions, making the quilt, and editing and rewriting until everything is clear.
After attending QuiltCon and meeting up with editors and publishers last month, I’ve decided I want to take things to the next level.
One of my strongest desires is to start publishing my work in magazines and books.
I feel like I have so many ideas it’s hard to pinpoint where to begin. The biggest eye opener for me after speaking to a few editors was learning that things I want to publish in print cannot be published on my blog first. That’s okay because I have so many ideas that I can’t possibly blog about them all in the first place.
My plan is to continue developing my quilting techniques with free patterns here on the blog. Then I will take what I’ve learned to create original patterns for publication. I will also learn to practice patience.
From talking to friends of mine who’ve written books and magazine articles, I’ve learned it takes anywhere from 18 months to 3 years to get a book written and on the shelves. That means if I start today – you won’t see anything from me in print until at least 2 years down the road! But that’s ok, too.
In the coming weeks and months you can be my cheerleader by continuing to follow my blog, joining my quilt alongs and giving me your honest opinions about how you like the techniques I’m teaching. And maybe someday soon (or not so soon) you’ll get to see me in print!
Original X and O Quilt, 1st Place Pieced, DQN Show 2002
Christa Quilts 
Books are nice, but teaching is more fun than anything! Good luck with your plans. I wish you the best.
It’s gonna be an awesome journey with amazing results!! I can’t wait to see the final outcomes!! You go girl!!
How exciting and daunting all at once! You have definitely developed a wonderful teaching style for your QAL’s. Just because I don’t do every one! Doesn’t mean I don’t follow along. If you are saving your best for a book… then I will eagerly await the publishing date! 🙂
Good. I’m very glad to hear this. I think you and your work are a great asset to the quilting community. I’m pleased you will be working on being published. Thanks for doing the quilt-a-longs! I love them.
Well done on sharing your talents with others! Best of luck!
I am new to your blog, love your work. I have passed your site along to fellow quilters. We will be following your success!
I will gladly cheer you on. I just found your blog two months ago and am so inspired. I am currently working on the hugs and kisses and love it. Great directions and easy to follow. Thank you, thank you.
Go Christa ———follow your dreams and we will follow you. Hugs
Thanks for sharing the journey! It takes a lot to put yourself out there.
You go! It would be so difficult not to share pictures of things I’m working on.
I wish you much Good Luck and Sucess!
I wish you the very best of luck with your new journey/adventure. I appriciate your blog very much and look forward to every new post. Thank you very much for sharing your work and techniques. Too busy at the moment to join your Quilt Alongs but hope to at a later stage in my journey.
I wish you all the very best of luck on your new journey! Appreciate your blog very much. I look forward to reading your posts every time I open my blog roll. Thank you for sharing your work and techniques.
Good for you Christa! I enjoy your blog very much. Looking forward to watching the whole process.
Happy Easter
The Original X and O Quilt is awesome! I hope mine looks half as good when the quilt along finishes 🙂
I will be here watching and waiting and joining your quilt alongs!