Alex Anderson's love of quilting all began in 1978 when she completed her Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt as a part of her work towards her degree in art from San Francisco State University. Over the years her central focus has been to understand fabric relationships and an intense appreciation of traditional quilts and beautiful quilting surface design.

Alex is the author of 30 books selling near 1 million copies (including several titles in multiple translations), and her quilts and instructional tips have also appeared in numerous magazines. She is the National Spokesperson for Bernina of America, a promotional partner for AccuQuilt's GO!, as well as a designer of several lines of fabrics with P&B Textiles, and threads with Superior Threads. For 11 years, she served as host of "Simply Quilts" on HGTV. Alex continues to be one of the most sought after instructors and lecturers in the international quilting and sewing industry.

Alex was chosen as the 2008 Silver Star Award winner given annually by the International Quilt Festival to a "whose work and influence has made -- and continues to make -- a sizable and positive impact on the quilting industry and community." In addition to this top industry award, Alex was also chosen by the readers of Quilter's Newsletter magazine (Feb 2009) as "The Most Influential Person in The Quilting Industry" (in a three-way tie with Ricky Tims, and Karey Bresenhan of Quilts, Inc), and has received the Michael Kile Award of Achievement and the Bernina of America Quilt Leadership Award.

Alex's personal mission is not only to share her love of quilting with anyone who will listen, but to educate and encourage those interested in quilting as clearly and simply as possible, so quilting can continue to be handed down from generation to generation.

Alex has two children and lives in Northern California with her husband.

http://www.alexandersonquilts.com

Ricky Tims successfully blended two diverse passions of music and quilting into one very unique and interesting career. He is known in the international world of quilting as an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, an award-winning quilter, and a talented and spellbinding speaker. His innovative and entertaining presentations, feature live music and humor combined with scholarly insights and wisdom. His quilts have been displayed worldwide, and are highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilts with traditional appeal.

Ricky began designing and making quilts in 1991 and was recently was selected as one of "The Thirty Most Distinguished Quilters in the World". In 2008, Quiltmania named Ricky one of 9 "Exceptional Men" in the quilting world. Ricky was featured in March 2008 on CBS Sunday Morning. He is the author of 10 books (with over 100,000 copies sold) that demonstrate his unique blend of artistry with quilt making. He not only maintains an extensive international schedule of teaching and speaking engagements, he is the founder of the often sold-out "Ricky Tims Super Quilt Seminars" touring throughout the United States. Ricky is also designer of his own line of fabrics and threads, and a promotional partner for AccuQuilt's GO!.

Ricky was also chosen by the readers of Quilter's Newsletter magazine (Feb 2009) as "The Most Influential Person in The Quilting Industry" (in a three-way tie with Alex Anderson, and Karey Bresenhan of Quilts, Inc).

Ricky's blend of music and quilting is unique and remarkable. Ricky's lifelong passion for music began with formal music lessons at the age of three. He is a pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, music producer, and performing artist, with several recordings in his portfolio. Tims' music is neither classical, new age, pop nor world, and yet it could fall under any of those classifications.

Ricky and his life partner, Justin Shults, live in South Central Colorado where they own the Tims Art Quilt Retreat Center.

http://www.rickytims.com