El Camino Quilters upcoming events

Blooming Pincushion Workshop with Patti Rusk (September 09, 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Blooming Pincushion Workshop

Make any size pincushion or pattern weights from large floral prints.

No sewing machine required.

Supply fee: $10.00.

Includes Lite Steam-a-Seam 2, fabric (or bring your own), glue guns, needles and thread, materials for base, batting, filling, emery powder(to keep pins sharp), parchment paper, materials for base.

Items needed: scissors, small iron-optional, fabric-optional.

Monthly Guild Meeting - It's All About the Face by Phyllis Cullen (October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

In her lecture "It's all about the face", our own Phyllis Cullen will touch on many of the issues to consider from her book It's All About the Face: Quilted Fabric Portraits, which she co-wrote with Cindy Richard. She will include her process to create patterns, choose reference photos and fabrics, and lots more about making fabric portraits of people and animals. Of course, you’ll see many of her portrait quilts!

I am Phyllis Cullen and I wear many hats: artist, quilter, teacher, author, curator, judge, SAQA representative, physician, mom and grandma. I've been making art all my life, including using fabric as a medium for 35 years. I still also consider myself a multimedia artist, incorporating felting, beadwork, painting and other materials in my work.

I've taught from Israel to Australia and lots of points between. I retired from practicing medicine (much of it as a volunteer in third world countries) and now make and sell art quilts, paintings, felted objects and bead embroidered jewelry. I teach various aspects of art quilting almost daily to students from every corner of the world online and in person, and I have written two books on portrait quilting, both available through Amazon. The first one is "It's All About the Face: Quilted Fabric Portraits” and the second one is called “More than just a Pretty Face!”

I'm co curator of the portrait quilt collection "It's All about the Face," included in Quiltfest shows. Also a facebook group of the same name is open to all. We currently have over 13,000 members!

We've lived all over the US including time now shared between California and Hawaii, which feeds my love of color, and its rich culture inspires my designs. I do not make typical Hawaiian "snowflake" quilts, but the flowers, ocean, palm trees and hula dancers inhabit much of my work. Portraits, social justice issues, collaged scenes from my travels , the animal world, and my family inspire the rest.

Phyllis Cullen workshop - Layered Portraits (October 14, 2026)

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Registration will open July 1st.

Early registration ensures that students can do their own photos. Registrations the day before class will need to buy a kit with one of my portrait patterns. Kit price is $30. There is no charge for custom patterns if I get photos 3 weeks before class.

www.phylliscullenartstudio.com

PREP WORK FOR PORTRAIT CLASS El Camino 2026.pdf

Students in this class will learn the layered portrait technique. Amaze your friends and family! I will demonstrate how to manipulate photos and how to draw contour quilting lines, but for the one day class, I will create a custom pattern for each student based on a photo emailed to me in advance.

Monthly Guild Meeting - Member Spotlight! (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

In November, we will again host a “Member Spotlight” event, where we can look forward to learning about some of our fellow guild members through their own words and works! Stay tuned for more information, and again, please let us know if you would like to share the spotlight and your talents with us!