Yep! Teaching online Spring/Summer 2021!

 Well I made it over the hump. I took some time to take zoom classes on topics I was interested in. I chose a wide variety of topics. Some requiring reading and research, an five day intensive study of color and requiring a heavy out put and quick turn around of art quilt tops, writing classes both fiction and memoirs and twenty different zoom events about suffrage, suffragettes, race, social justice issues and women’s history.  

Midway through that period I learned all about online teaching and exactly what I needed to invest in to provide excellent workshops and day classes. As I continued to check out that arena, I worked as a class assistant then a class monitor tor two sessions over a five month period. I ended up teaching two classes and loved every moment of the process. Now I am ready to forage ahead as an online instructor, lecturer, panelist and to stream live on topics I am interested in and have invested years studying.

I will be posting my line up soon, but first I am waiting to see if I get the artist residency I applied for. Almost every else will be scheduled around that project and my ongoing studies.

Below is one of the art pieces I created during the art class I took early March with Hollis Chatlain of NC. It was a fabulous class that caused me to stretch and quickly produce a quilt top. I’ll get to the quilting soon then post the finished product.

To be added...

Happy days ahead, filled with new and wondrous finished projects and online teaching opportunities!

All the best,

Ms. V

To Share ON-LINE or to wait COVID 19 out!

I thought I would share my thoughts about on-line classes and lectures.

    It is a daunting task for some of us to switch on a dime from in person classes and lectures to going live on our computers. That is so, even if, those of us over 50 are computer and use some of the new products, have cameras, stands, and are fun, interesting, engaging and proficient speakers. 

Here are the questions I asked myself:

What will it take and is it worth the investment? 
Will it give the same satisfaction as meeting up with a new group or village of quilters and fiber artists?

When you ask questions to get a feel for your audience, will anyone answer?

What do I charge? Do I lower my prices? Most people don't.

How much equipment should I update or buy, and which/what things?

How many times should I practice before going live?

How do I attract an audience?

What should I teach?

What do I really want to share?

Should I use the same format for the lectures which is a combination of Show & Tell and Powerpoint?

    To facilitate the answer, I began to watch zoom lectures of different types, especially non-quilt related to see what worked and what did not work.

In progress shot, now completed and has been exhibited 10 different locations.

I plan to go for it. But I think I want to add being a back up person if your scheduled speaker is not available.  That way I won't spend weeks or months being anxious. And I am great at brainstorming!...lol.

I'll let you know what I decide and find. 

All the best!

Ms. V

2020-2022 Lectures, Workshops, On line, In Person...

Welcome!

Here are are my On-line lectures and workshops. The fun for me is to chat with you then tweak the program to fit your small group, large guild, art alliance, or webinar.  My goal is to be informative and entertaining, while sharing meaningful techniques for life and art! Email me for prices!

Your Process, Claiming Your Artistic Voice. Workshop or Lecture

Where are you in your process? Let’s explore. We can work together in a single day, half days, Or in-person (when safe) workshops. Using finished and unfinished projects, I will share my hard won victories. Oh you will recognize some of your own favorite techniques, starts and stops, and those ready to toss it moments.  We all have them.

During this time together we laugh, we get our mojos back, we move ahead, and some will stay right where they are, and be ok with that, while others will finish up projects!
It’s personal and we get to choose for ourselves.
It’s our process after all.
I will share where and when I get stuck. 
Then how I get unstuck and motivated.  
There are jewels of knowledge to be found in this lecture and workshop.

When Thought and Thread Collide, I mean Join!

Using thoughts, sketches, and research to tell the story. It all unfolds in this lecture and trunk show including my most exhibited pieces.  Between them they have graced 17 museums and quite a few galleries.  Lecture, Slide Show, with samples of each step.

How to Promote Your work and Yourself—without apologizing! Interactive Lecture/Workshop.

When we conclude the workshop or lecture you will be, energized, informed, rethinking how you speak about yourself and your work.

Awesome response from participants! Was even selected as one of the best workshops and rebooked for the 25^th anniversary National Conference of SAQA. (Studio Art Quilt Associates)

Hanging in Harmony—Interactive Workshop or Lecture.

-How to create a cohesive body of work!

-Have you ever wondered how to get your exhibit to flow in such a way that the viewers are in Awe?  

-There is a process that allows you to align or alternate similar work, color, size, and topics that can draw the viewer in.  

-You will learn how to get the Oooh’s! and Ahhh’s. Great for On-line or in person exhibits. We go beyond just showing the picture. Once you have seen the picture you usually want more info. Now there’s a quick lesson on how add information and labels to the slide or picture for best impact.

-Lecture can be Tweaked for the guild or those who hang quilt shows. 

-The Workshop can be 45-90 minutes or half day for those who have an interest on how to plan and execute the hanging of a quilt show. Because this will happen online for now size is not an issue. Remember it’s interactive and you get to add feedback as we work through the process.

Show and Tell!  Fun Lessons on Best Practices When Presenting!

Rib tickling interactive Lecture. Includes a selection from my trunk show and member quilts.  We combine our stories and audience participation. Get ready to have fun while we brush up our presentation skills. It’s fast pace and we end on a very high note!

Strip Piecing to the Max workshop only!

Let’s take this beyond beginner level piecing. It’s easy and the results are fabulous! We create the fabric, cut out the appliqués, Ending with  a 9”x12” takeaway.  Workshop priced per person, guild pricing available. Gather basic quilting supplies, machine or iron and your precut strips or scraps, kits available.

Yes, I will design a fiber related course for a small group or to be presented to guild members.

Contact me and we will plan an event for your guild, group, or those few close friends!

All the Best! Ms. V

90th Birthday Today for our Mother!

Great Morning. Today is my mother's 90th birthday! Family and friends are gathering from all over the East coast to join herin celebration.  Through out the day I will post pictures of our time together. Let's start with Mothers grand mother and her fathers sister. In Philadelphia walking pass Lit Brothers on Market Street. When those clothes were fashionable.

The second picture is at the opening of the traveling exhibit And Still We Rise, in Ohio in the fall of 2012 or 2013...gotta look that up. I was part of a panel who spoke about their work and our quilts in the exhibit.  Mother and my husband were there to see the opening and to here me speak at the National Underground Railroad Museum.

Have a blessed day!

To the right is a picture of my great grand mother Willie Cratic Finch and great aunt E. Finch Morris.

Elton, Valarie, jo Pratt leaving the auditorium.

Be the blessing.

Everyday I strive, I pray I work and rest to be what I want existing in the world.

Be the blessing you want to see.
Be the blessing you want to have.
Be the blessing you want to hear.

I make quilts that asks questions of the viewer.

Be the blessing that solves the problem.
Be the blessing that heals.
Be the blessing that feeds a hungry soul.
Be the blessing that cares for living things.
Be the blessing you want in the world.
Be the blessing that leads to joy.
Be the blessings that needs not apologize.
Be the blessing others emulate.
Be the change that causes the blessing.
Be the blessing. Just stand up and Be.
Be the little you that 'is' larger, wiser, closer to the real truth, than the bigger you has become.
Be That, that which your little self, knew to be true.
Be the blessing and joy you were, are, before your first hurt, undaunted.
Be that blessing to all, all of your life.
(Let your light shine till it blinds.)
You can be that blessing in my life.
I can Be that blessing in your life.
Choose, I choose to
Be the blessing.

Ninigret Quilt Guild - March 2016 Lecture

"Quilter and motivational speaker, Valarie Poitier gave a slide and trunk show. 

Her topic was "Promote Your Work Without Apologizing" and was fabulous.

She was energetic, educational and very entertaining."

What a wonderful guild!

tI met my match...Ms. Barbara and she is an amazing personality, wonderful quilter and a guild treasure and favorite.  

I thought she was perfect!  Ms. Barbara my hat is off to you, what a gem!

This concludes my winter Lectures. What a fabulous time I have had traveling and meeting new people, sharing, learning and growing in spirit and lessons learned.  I am proud to represent the quilters in Massachusets where ever I go.  Many of you and our sister states have helped me develop my current programs.

If your guild is looking for a lecturer or workshop teacher contact me and let's see what we can arrange.
All the best!

March 2016 Lectures, Skits, quilters Journey Presentations

Presenting: an Off the Wall, rib tickling, event.

Quilts, dyed Fabrics, lecture, skits, stream of quilters consciousness, oh dear.
Get ready to be entertained, educated, wowed, and terribly impressed when Ms. V lets loose, and not her quilting seams.

March 5, 2016
Greater Hartford Quilt Guild

Scout Hall Youth Center

28 Abbe Rd, East Windsor, CT 06088

Presenting: A Quilter's Journey

A Lecture and a Trunkshow.

44 years in the making. No really there are at least two sewing projects scraps She will one day put in a quilt.  How does one go from bed quilts to art hanging in museums across the country. And still keep her sense of humor, find her sharp scissors, create a layout for one hundred and fifty quilts, serve on the board of a museum, teach, and represent 100 Massachusetts Art Quilter's. 

March 17, 2016

Thimble Pleasures Quilt Guild

http://www.thimblepleasures.org/

Goss Hall of the Unitarian Universalist Church at 13 Maple Street, Mendon, MA (click here for directions).

Presenting: 

March 29, 2016 

Nimble Thimbler’s Guild  

Reading, MA