Meet the Team
Quiltfolk magazine and our online education programs are produced by a talented group of people including writers, photographers, editors, marketing and web managers. Learn more about the folks who create the magazine and workshops below!
Aleedy Crawley
Staff Writer
About Carmen
Staff Writer
Maplewood, NJ
Aleeda is insanely curious. Her daily goals: learn something new, and do random acts of kindness. A native New Yorker, she has explored many cultures, finding infinite artistic inspiration nearby. Her professional life has been rooted in sales, starting in print advertising and then online advertising, eventually transitioning to nonprofits and technology.
Energized by engaging with people, she has pursued a wide assortment of interests: sewing, cake decorating, stained glass, cooking, gardening, and travel. She began quilting in 1999, inspired by her grandmother, who made a quilt Aleeda lovingly calls “the dead body” because of its weight. It kept her warm for nine days without heat following Hurricane Sandy. She does not have a favorite style of quilting, and thinks that would be as difficult as naming a favorite child.
Aleeda is a serial volunteer in her community, serving on multiple local nonprofit boards as well as her quilt guilds. She considers herself a “happy hub” and is thrilled when connections she makes in one area are helpful in another. She is a founder of the North Jersey Modern Quilt Guild (with Rayna Gilman) and currently serves as Board President of the Modern Quilt Guild and Vice President of Empire Quilters Guild in New York City.
Aleeda has written for QuiltCon Magazine and began writing for Quiltfolk in 2023. The commitment of Quiltfolk to sharing the artistry and diversity of American makers is unmatched; each issue is an amazing introduction to new sources of inspiration.
Alyson Spiering
Production Assistant
About Alyson
Production Assistant
Baker, OR
For as long as she can remember, art has been a pillar in Alyson’s work and private life. From tracing her mother’s embroidery work with her fingers as a child to being the previous Art Director of Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, art of all media forms has shaped Alyson’s life with paramount impacts.
As an Art Director, Alyson was introduced to the diverse world of fiber art. She was the lead in designing and installing numerous exhibits for quilt art, as well as weaving and felt art. Watching a gallery space come alive with colorful brilliance from these exhibits inspired Alyson to partake in quilting classes at the art center she worked for, and have her mother show her the ways of the thread in embroidery. Alyson is also an avid art historian and enjoys reading about fiber art history, particularly tapestries of the early Middle Ages.
Alyson joined Quiltfolk Magazine in November of 2024, and has treasured every moment of being a part of a team that sews together the spectacular stories of fiber artists for our readers. She could not be more grateful for an opportunity to continue on a professional path through the vibrant world of fiber.
Outside of an exciting day with Quiltfolk Magazine, you can find Alyson out on the ranch where she raises cattle with the help of Pepper and Cigar, her cowdog and cowhorse dynamic duo.
IG: : @ranchstyle_4981
Amelia Husbands
Copy Editor
About Amelia
Copy Editor
Bend, OR
Amelia Husbands is a writer with an MFA in Creative Writing and a professional background in copywriting and public relations. Before pursuing writing full time, she worked in PR agencies developing campaigns for clients across industries, blending strategic messaging with creative storytelling. Her literary work includes published poems, a forthcoming poetry collection in collaboration with another writer, and a completed first novel. She also serves as Vice President of Communications for the Southern Oregon Central Oregon chapter of Romance Writers of America.
Although new to the quilt world, Amelia has long been drawn to the layered artistry of quilting and the stories stitched into fabric. She has been a copywriter for Quiltfolk magazine since February 2025 and loves the opportunity to merge her passion for storytelling with the craft’s traditions and communities.
Azuree Holloway
Photographer
About Azuree
Photographer
Chicago, IL
Azuree is a self-taught photographer who started photographing bands she loved at a young age. Eventually, her love for live-music photography led her to create portraits for band members, and this evolved into portrait-rich documenting. Currently, Azuree enjoys a photojournalistic approach to visual storytelling. In addition to music and portraiture, she loves to travel to mindfulness and wellness spaces and capture quilters, quilt adjacent people, and quilts for Quiltfolk! A lifelong lover of film, she intertwines polaroids and film into her work whenever she can.
Most of Azuree’s exposure to quilting has been through working for Quiltfolk! Her journey with Quiltfolk began infall of 2018. She looks forward to every single state, issue, and quilting adventure! Although sewing and quilting are not any of her talents, she loves meeting fellow creatives and finds working for Quiltfolk to be incredibly fulfilling. Storytelling, traveling, and meeting new people really fuel this high-key extrovert!
When not traversing the USA for Quiltfolk, Azuree enjoys exploring tiki bars and traveling with her husband Trevor (Quiltfolk’s very own stylist and BTS extraordinaire!). She also loves spending time with their dog son Pigeon, doing yoga, and shooting Polaroids to document their everyday lives and jaunts!
Website: azureeholloway.com
IG: @azureeholloway
Breanna Briggs
Editor in Chief
About Breanna
Editor in Chief
Eugene, OR
When Breanna left her position as lead photographer for a New York-based newspaper in 2012, she really thought that it would be the last time she’d see her name in print in this digital age. That year, she sold all her belongings and moved her three cats to Oregon, where she’d work a handful of odd media jobs between her wedding, portrait, and freelance photography clients.
So, when Mike McCormick approached her in the spring of 2016 about doing a few photo shoots for a quilting magazine he was starting, she thought: sure, I’ll take this "one-time gig."
Over the next few years, she’d wear several hats at Quiltfolk (photographer, social media manager, shipping manager, customer care representative, etc.) before eventually donning the editor in chief cap in 2021.
Before all that, she’d received her degree in journalism/mass communications and studio arts at St. Bonaventure University in NY. She’s worked in radio, television, and print as well as at one of the very last Blockbusters. Though quilting wasn’t in her purview until she joined Quiltfolk, her love for the arts bore a photographer, avid cosplayer, filmmaker, fiction writer, flower-crown enthusiast, and friendship-bracelet fiend. (She’s made enough bracelets to be well stocked for any Taylor Swift event for the next decade.) And now with five cats competing for her attention, any project is just that more challenging.
Though building a quilting magazine four times a year wasn’t on her bingo card when she entered the field of journalism, looking at the world through the lens of quilting has opened up a new understanding of what arts, community, and legacy can mean. Whether behind the lens of a camera or in the pages of a magazine, she remains committed to telling stories that inspire, connect, and captivate audiences around the world.
IG: @missbmarie24
Carmen Schell
Staff Writer
About Carmen
Staff Writer
Fort Collins, CO
Carmen has always been a maker, starting with craft kits at a young age. She loves a variety of fiber arts including needlepoint, crochet, and cross stitch. She also loves several quilting techniques like English paper piecing, foundation paper piecing, and making Dresdens—and stands firm that collecting fabric is a hobby in and of itself.
Sewing and creating is a social activity for Carmen, and she does a lot of her making in the company of friends. She loves the quilty peeps in her guild in northern Colorado! She also loves to read and is devoted to the works of Jane Austen.
Don’t count on Carmen for quick quilt finishes; they often take her two or more years to complete. Probably because she sews with friends and spends a lot of time chatting. Luckily, there are plenty of quilts in the house for her husband, daughter, and son with which to snuggle.
Carmen has been with Quiltfolk since June of 2020. She started as a production assistant, helping with scheduling, captions, and editing, but immediately began writing stories as well. She’s loved meeting so many people and learning about their lives. Writing became the creative outlet she never knew she needed! Carmen is also a teacher who took a few years off to stay home with her kiddos. She just finished her graduate degree in May of 2024. She’s looking forward to returning to a classroom of her own and also writing more stories about amazing people for Quiltfolk.
IG: @seaschellquilts
Christopher Michel
Staff Writer
About Chris M.
Staff Writer
Olean, NY
Chris Michel has spent more than a decade working as a professional journalist — as both a reporter and editor — covering everything from government, crime, business, features, and everything in between. Along the way, he earned nine Associated Press awards, most of them for business reporting. His path as a writer began early, with his first published piece at age 15. In more recent years, he has used his writing abilities in a different way — bringing the same storytelling skills to his work as a digital marketer & copywriter.
Chris became a Quiltfolk contributor in March 2025. He brings a journalist’s eye to each assignment, telling stories that reflect the character and authenticity of the quilters he profiles.
Outside of Quiltfolk, the Western New York native spends his time running, vegetable gardening, and cooking for his family. Go Bills.
For him, writing is a way to connect everyday details with larger narratives — much like quilts themselves, stitched together to tell a bigger story.
Website: https://www.clippings.me/cmichel IG: @michelcl1
Christopher White
Director of Photography for Online Education
About Chris W.
Director of Photography for Virtual Education Experiences
Ilkley, UK
Chris started his journey by studying audio engineering at Leeds Beckett University. While studying the science of sound, he felt that he enjoyed the process of making and solving problems; however, the science didn’t leave much room for creativity. From a young age, Chris always had a passion for photography. He spent many fun weekends with his friend James venturing out on walks, always accompanied by a camera and experimenting with different formats. He also found time to master the sport of Tomiki Aikido, becoming a two-time world champion!
After graduating, he continued in his role as a sales assistant at a local bike shop before proposing the idea of helping out with the shop’s marketing and social media where he honed his passion for video. During this time, Chris also helped Jenni and Kay with their first Quiltfolk BoM (Patchwork & Prose) in 2022. From here, the role developed, allowing Chris to leave the bike shop and develop his cinematography skills with the Quiltfolk team. Chris loves his role at Quiltfolk, even when posed with unique challenges. Traveling the world and being given the freedom to create beautiful films with amazing people is a dream come true.
IG: @c.white_media
Courtney Mabeus-Brown
Staff Writer
About Courtney
Staff Writer
Leesburg, VA
Courtney Mabeus-Brown has been a journalist for more than two decades and a quilter for about three years. She bought her first sewing machine during the COVID-19 pandemic, making bags and small home accessories before a friend got her hooked on quilting through a group at her old local quilt shop.
Courtney lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cat, CK, in an old 1880s home. She has covered beats ranging from local politics, business and criminal justice to the military, and she has traveled with the U.S. Navy, embarking on multiple ships. Her work has a received numerous awards, including a first-place National Headliner Award and another for excellence in feature writing from the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists. Courtney’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Virginian-Pilot, Foreign Policy, Our State (N.C.), Virginia Business and many others.
Courtney joined Quiltfolk in January 2025 and has written multiple profiles for the online journal as well as print issues. She loves the community she’s found in the quilting world, and writing for Quiltfolk has introduced her to so many wonderful artists whose commitment to the craft only helps to deepen her own desire to keep learning more.
When she’s not sewing, Courtney enjoys gardening, cooking and working out, and loves cheering for her University of North Carolina Tar Heels. She earned a journalism degree from UNC and a master’s in multiplatform journalism from the University of Maryland.
Website: www.courtneymabeus.com
Instagram: @SundrySouthKing
David McCormick
SHIPPING MANAGER
About David
Staff Writer
Leesburg, VA
Courtney Mabeus-Brown has been a journalist for more than two decades and a quilter for about three years. She bought her first sewing machine during the COVID-19 pandemic, making bags and small home accessories before a friend got her hooked on quilting through a group at her old local quilt shop.
Courtney lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cat, CK, in an old 1880s home. She has covered beats ranging from local politics, business and criminal justice to the military, and she has traveled with the U.S. Navy, embarking on multiple ships. Her work has a received numerous awards, including a first-place National Headliner Award and another for excellence in feature writing from the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists. Courtney’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Virginian-Pilot, Foreign Policy, Our State (N.C.), Virginia Business and many others.
Courtney joined Quiltfolk in January 2025 and has written multiple profiles for the online journal as well as print issues. She loves the community she’s found in the quilting world, and writing for Quiltfolk has introduced her to so many wonderful artists whose commitment to the craft only helps to deepen her own desire to keep learning more.
When she’s not sewing, Courtney enjoys gardening, cooking and working out, and loves cheering for her University of North Carolina Tar Heels. She earned a journalism degree from UNC and a master’s in multiplatform journalism from the University of Maryland.
Website: www.courtneymabeus.com
Instagram: @SundrySouthKing
Diane L. Murtha
Editor-in-Chief
About Diane
Staff Writer
Bettendorf, IA
Diane’s maternal grandmother taught her to quilt in 1970, and she’s been quilting ever since! She retired in 2016, after a 32-year career as a U.S. Department of Army civilian. In retirement, she really explored her love of quilting, and in 2018, she launched her own business: Diane L. Murtha. Her goal is to inspire quilters to challenge and grow in their quilting journey.
She is an award-winning fiber artist, author, freelance writer, and international lecturer and instructor. Her quilts and articles are in books, 30+ magazines, and multiple juried exhibits and international shows, including the National Quilt Museum and International Quilt Festival. Diane published her first book Artful Insights in Fiber: Quilted Bits of Wit & Wisdom in 2023.
Diane is on the board of directors for the Iowa Quilt Museum. She’s a member of two quilt guilds and a fiber art group, plus she is an independent member of the Modern Quilt Guild. She has appeared on local TV shows as well as The Quilt Show with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson.
Thrilled by turning the pages of the first Quiltfolk magazine issue she saw, Diane knew she wanted to be a part of this wonderful publication. Diane joined the writing team in April 2022 and provides 2-3 profiles for each issue as well as online articles for the Quiltfolk Journal.. She enjoys traveling in their RV with her husband, Tim, walking her dog, hiking and pickleball. She currently resides in Iowa.
Website: www.dianeLmurtha.com
Instagram: @dianelmurtha
Emily Pillard
Marketing Coordinator
About Emily
Marketing Coordinator
Denver, CO
Emily has had a passion for the arts since childhood, which led her to acquire a BFA in painting followed by an MA in art history with a concentration in museum studies from the University of Denver. She believes in the power of the arts to connect people across cultures and throughout history and continues to be fascinated by all that we can learn from creators of the past. In her personal artistic practice, Emily draws inspiration from nature and from the power of memory. Her curiosity about all forms of creative expression has also led her to delve into ceramics, and, more recently, quilting!
In 2021, Emily relocated from Colorado to Oregon and began working for Quiltfolk. In addition to the role of marketing manager, Emily also created the exclusive series of Seasonal Barn Block watercolor paintings and writes the “Campus Connection” column for Quiltfolk’s sister publication Fiber Art Now.
Instagram: @emyjart
Frances O’Roark Dowell
Staff Writer
About Frances
Staff Writer
Durham, NC
Frances is the bestselling author of more than 20 books for young readers, including the Edgar-winning Dovey Coe; The Secret Language of Girls trilogy, and How to Build a Story, a writing guide for kids. She first combined her love of storytelling and quiltmaking in her 2016 novel Birds in the Air, followed by the short story collection Margaret Goes Modern. The audio versions of her novel Friendship Album, 1933, and its sequel Friendship Album: Forget-Me-Not are currently available on the Quilt Fiction website.
Writing for Quiltfolk has given Frances the opportunity to meet an array of fascinating quilters from across the country. Her first Quiltfolk articles appeared in the North Carolina issue in July 2022, and she's been a contributor ever since. Frances has also written for QuiltCon Magazine, Quilting Arts, Curated Quilts, and Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. A longtime board member of the Quilt Alliance, a nonprofit with a mission to document and preserve America’s quilt heritage, Frances clearly can’t get enough of quilts and quilt stories.
When she's not writing or reading, Frances spends her time making quilts and baking sourdough bread in Durham, NC, where she lives with her husband, Clifton. She has two young adult sons and an elderly Cockapoo named Travis.
Websites: francesdowell.com and quiltfiction.com
James Tulley
Video Editor & Assistant Cameraman
About James
Editor & Assistant Cameraman for Virtual Educational Experiences
Ilkley, UK
Throughout his childhood, James always had a passion for video and photography—whether it be filming and editing mini sailing videos or taking pictures alongside Chris White on their regular photo walks. James has always enjoyed expressing his creativity, through his competitive dinghy sailing and photography alike.
James took an alternative route to higher education. He decided not to attend university and instead pursued his passion for sailing. He completed his RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore in December 2018 and went on to be a freelance skipper around the world. Time at sea can be high pressure and unpredictable—and this experience helped James become resilient and a fluent problem-solver. Landlocked during the pandemic, James worked in a local supermarket. During this time, he assisted in the live portions for the Quiltfolk 2022 BoM Patchwork & Prose. Over the next two years, James gained confidence in sound recording and technical editing, and in September 2023, he took on the opportunity to become a full-time member of the Quiltfolk team.
James loves his role with Quiltfolk as it challenges him to find new creative solutions every day, and he feels privileged to be able to create films that showcase the amazing quilts and quilters around the world. Perhaps, one day, he will convince Kay and Jenni to host a live workshop from a yacht!
Jenni Smith
Creative Director of Virtual Education
About Jenni
Creative Director and Co-Host of Virtual Educational Experiences
Ilkley, UK
A graduate in art history and Italian, Jenni worked as an associate producer in documentaries, culminating in a BAFTA nomination for the film Ballet Boys in 2011.
Quilting began as a hobby whilst spending a year in Canada but fuelled Jenni’s creativity and love of storytelling, leading her to start teaching the craft to friends and family upon her return to England. After several years (and amongst raising her three children), she set up a studio in her hometown of Ilkley together with her friend and tap-dancing partner Kay Walsh. In 2020, they published their first book on quilting with the iconic store Liberty of London and, due to the global pandemic, transitioned to live trunk shows and workshops via the web.
Jenni is never happier than when dreaming up educational workshops for Quiltfolk and going on the road to film them with the UK team. A perfect day usually involves several cups of strong tea, talk of textiles ideally accompanied by stitching, a challenge or two to overcome, and plenty of laughter!
Jessica Lynne Henkle
Copy Editor/Project Manager
About Jessica
Copy Editor / Project Manager
Portland, OR
Jessica has loved stories since before she could talk and began writing her own as soon as she learned to put pen to paper. She has a BA in English and art history from Boston University and an MFA in writing from Pacific University. While writing both fiction and nonfiction (and even the occasional poem), she's worked as everything from a project manager to a website creator to a publicist to a proofreader.
A weaver of words but a stranger to fabric and thread, she can barely sew a button onto a shirt—but with talented quilters on both sides of her family, she likes to think quilting still runs in her blood, if not her fingers. She joined Quiltfolk in December 2021 as a copy editor and edits magazine articles, marketing emails, and pretty much anything that passes in front of her eyes. She also contributes to the team as a project manager, building web pages, delving into analytics, and generally trying to make good use of her varied background.
Jessica lives, works, and writes in Portland, Oregon, in a tiny apartment filled with far too many houseplants and hundreds of books.
Website: https://jessicalynnehenkle.com/
IG: @jessicalynnehenkle
Kay Walsh
Creative Producer & Cohost of Virtual Experiences
About Kay
Creative Producer and Co-Host of Virtual Educational Experiences
Ilkley, UK
Kay studied linguistics and phonetics at University College London, moving to London in her late teens and spending more than a decade in the city. She worked in education and marketing for financial services before relocating back to the North of England to raise her family.
Quilting began as a social activity with friends (and cake) but turned into a career during her years at the Jenni Smith Studio when Kay taught many classes and enjoyed designing patchworks for magazines, TV shows, and books. There aren’t many ideas envisaged in fabric that she can’t make into a reality. Initially, Kay spent a lot of time producing events from behind the camera, but the warmth and kindness of the quilting community encouraged her to appear on screen, and she now co-presents a host of fun workshops together with her friend Jenni. (If you are familiar with the US sitcom, Kay is Grace, and Jenni is Frankie.)
Kay loves traveling for Quiltfolk to new and unexpected locations and relishes the opportunity to have in-depth conversations with makers as she finds people’s stories endlessly fascinating and enriching. When not stitching or designing you will find her reading, walking up hills for the big views, and trying to keep order amongst the creative chaos of everyday life!
Kestrel Michaud
Staff Writer
About Kestrel
Staff Writer
Melbourne, FL
Kestrel, board member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), is a classically trained and award-winning fine artist, graphic designer, and illustrator. She graduated with honors in 2010 from Ringling College of Art and Design with a BFA in illustration. Since 2004, when she was a junior in high school, Kestrel has created numerous elaborate, imaginative realism fabric illustrations telling stories from her steampunk fantasy world. Her fine-art training, creative mind, inventive nature, decades of experience, and unique style make Kestrel's work unlike that of any other artist. Her highly decorated quilts have been displayed in numerous galleries, museums, and fine art shows around the world.
Kestrel began writing for Quiltfolk in 2020. She also contributes regularly to the SAQA Journal and has been featured in Quilting Arts Magazine, on Quilting Arts TV, and on The Quilt Show. In addition to writing and creating quilts, Kestrel maintains an active Patreon, where she teaches aspiring artists how to design and create their own imaginative realism designs.
Website: KestrelMichaud.com
IG: @KestrelMichaud
Lauren DeLuca
Writer and Copy Editor
About Lauren
Writer and Copy Editor
Portland, OR
Lauren has been a writer and editor at Quiltfolk since July 2020. From the magazine and special publications to marketing and other communications, she loves the variety of projects that come her way. Lauren received a BA in English from the University of California, Riverside, and an MA in English from San Diego State University. She is thrilled that she gets to live in the creative world of words and story on a daily basis. While she grew up in California, she was always drawn to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and made the move after college. Lauren happily lives in Oregon with her husband and two young (and very busy) sons—and is a proud aunt of four nieces and one nephew. When she is not working, she enjoys cooking, organizing, reading, writing, traveling, and, of course, spending time with her family.
Mel Burke
Staff Writer
About Mel
Staff Writer
Oakland, CA
Mel is an Oakland-based lifestyle and culture writer. She has her BA in journalism from the University of Oregon and her MA in communications from Johns Hopkins University. She’s written for Quiltfolk since the fall of 2021 and looks forward to many more. When she’s not writing, Mel loves traveling with her husband, trying new food, and reading through her endless stack of romance novels. You can find her online everywhere.
IG: @melburkewrites
Meg Cox
Staff Writer
About Meg
Staff Writer
Princeton, NJ
A professional journalist since graduating from college, Meg was a staff writer for the Wall Street Journal for 17 years, where her beats ranged from agriculture to culture. Since leaving in 1994, she has written four non-fiction books, including a resource guide for quilters published by Workman. She has taken readers behind the scenes of the quilt world since 2008 through her popular newsletter Quilt Journalist Tells All. Meg has lectured to hundreds of guilds and groups—and her writing on quilts has appeared everywhere from quilt magazines to the Wall Street Journal. Weirdest quilt-writing gig: a gossip column called “Megabites” for Mark Lipinski’s Quilter’s Home magazine.
She serves on the advisory board of the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE, and is past president of the nonprofit Quilt Alliance. Meg has been making quilts since her mother taught her in 1988 and belongs to two guilds, an art quilt guild, and a modern guild. The hardest thing she ever had to do in quilting was appear on The Quilt Show with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson, where she was asked to produce a challenge quilt about a Broadway musical. She chose Sondheim’s Into The Woods, and, like many of her quilts, it featured words as well as imagery.
Meg started writing for Quiltfolk magazine in June 2018 and has had multiple profiles in every issue since. She can’t imagine a more exciting way to study this huge, gorgeous country than through the lens of quilting.
Website: megcox.com
Instagram: @meg4quilts
Michael McCormick
Illustrious Ruler of Quiltfolk
About Michael
Molly Barnaby
Customer Care Manager
About Molly
Customer Care
Eugene, OR
A former educator, Molly has taught 8th-grade Language Arts in Arizona as well as English as a Second Language. She has a passion for the arts and studied ballet at the School of Ballet Arizona before attending Northern Arizona University, where she studied literature, film, and theater while getting her degree in education.
While Molly’s crafts of choice are usually knitting or crocheting, she has also worked in wool spinning and has inherited her great-grandmother's spinning wheel that was brought over from the family sheep farm in Sweden.
She also comes from a long line of quilters on her mother's side and has recently begun her own quilting journey. She has hopes of adding to the family quilt collection that currently includes flour sack quilts, handmade by her great-grandmother, and a very special Sunbonnet Sue quilt that was made using her mother’s baby clothes. Molly has developed a particular love of barn quilts and has created a barn quilt headboard for her home.
Molly joined Quiltfolk in May 2022 and is thrilled to be inspired by the amazing artists in every magazine.
Rebecca Bratburd
Staff Writer
About Rebecca
Staff Writer
Boulder, CO
Starting in February 2021, Rebecca fell in love with quilting, quilt history, and quilt culture in America. She began writing for Quiltfolk magazine in February 2023. Her grandmother, Mary Ann, inspired in her an appreciation of beautiful quilts and folk art. Rebecca is a self-taught quilter, and she makes modern traditional quilts based on the colors found in the Rocky Mountains to decorate her space and to give to loved ones. More than anything, she loves writing stories that make people feel seen.
A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal, Rebecca covered philanthropy as well as art and culture in New York City before settling in Boulder, Colorado, to work in technology. Rebecca is a member of the Colorado Quilting Council, the Boulder Modern Quilt Guild, and the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. She hikes as much as possible with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pablo, who she named after the world’s greatest love poet, Pablo Neruda.
Website: rebeccabee.com
Instagram: @rebeccabratburd
Sharbreon Plummer
Staff Writer
About Sharbreon
Staff Writer
Chicago, IL
Sharbreon PhD, is an independent researcher, curator, and writer with 15 years of experience in the arts and culture sector. Her research focuses on textile traditions, artistic production, and folkways connected to Black life, especially within the South. She has facilitated and presented work at institutions such as Project Row Houses, the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Rhode Island School of Design, Americans for the Arts, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, Princeton University, and several others.
A few of Sharbreon’s creative projects include her internationally distributed zine Diasporic Threads: Black Women, Fibre and Textiles (2022) and The People’s Quilting Bee (2023-24), an international public humanities course and quilting circle co-founded with Dr. Jess Bailey. She has also been featured as an artist-in-residence at Rogers Art Loft (Las Vegas, NV) and Arquetopia (Oaxaca, MX). She has organized shows such as Stitching Abolition (Weinberg Newton Gallery, 2022) and Mirrored Migration (Rush Corridor Gallery, 2017) and is the author of Black Quilts: Memory, Methods and Medicine (Chronicle Books, 2026). Sharbreon earned a PhD in arts administration, education, and cultural policy from Ohio State University.
Sharbreon began writing for Quiltfolk in 2021 and is inspired by rich and varied stories of the quilters she interviews.
Website: sharbreonplummer.com
IG: @sharbreon
Teresa Duryea Wong
Staff Writer
About Teresa
Staff Writer
Houston, TX
Teresa is an author, lecturer, and quilt historian. Her days are divided between tapping at a keyboard, lecturing to quilt guilds in person and on Zoom, curled up studying history, or making a quilt. Teresa joined Quiltfolk in July 2021. Quiltfolk is one of her most joyful assignments and she writes several features for each issue. Teresa also partnered with the Quiltfolk team to write and curate Quiltfolk Dogs. And when she’s not writing, reading, lecturing, or making, you’ll find her walking her dog Tom.
Teresa is the author of Sewing & Survival: Native American Quilts from 1880 – 2022 and five additional books covering Japanese quilts and textiles, American quilts and cotton, and quilts for social justice. She is a member of the International Quilt Museum advisory board and the Quilt Alliance board. Her lectures are popular with American quilt guilds, and she is invited regularly to lecture at the annual Quiltcon and International Quilt Festival events. She is also an antique quilt collector and recently began collecting antique quilt tops and finishing them on a longarm quilting machine.
Website: TeresaDuryeaWong.com
IG: @third_floor_quilts
Trevor Holloway
Photo Stylist & Videographer
About Trevor
Photo Stylist and Videographer
Chicago, IL
Trevor is a self-taught, multidisciplinary artist—practicing mediums such as filmmaking, painting, photography, woodworking, and design. Between solo gallery and group shows to writing an award-winning short film, he finds himself eagerly exploring most mediums with a curious spirit. Beyond his individual pursuits, Trevor is co-founder of an influential art collective, where he collaborates with fellow creatives to push the boundaries of contemporary art. This collective serves as a hub for innovation and collaboration, fostering a community of artists dedicated to artistic expression.
Trevor has been Quiltfolk’s photo stylist since 2020.Traveling with his wife Azuree (Quitfolk Photographer) for every issue, he is beyond thrilled to have the adventurous opportunity to see the country through the lens of quilting. Meeting quilters and makers throughout the years with Quiltfolk has made such an impact on his work and approach to art.
Website: https://www.insidetown.art/
IG: @trevorholloway
