Quiltfest Oasis prides itself on bringing talented and inspiring instructors to present workshops in Palm Springs. Creativity and expertise are always abundantly available from the wonderful teachers. This year’s QuiltFest Oasis Palm Springs at the Palm Springs Convention Center, October 6-8, has a spectacular faculty who will be offering a wide variety of workshops for beginner to advanced quilters and textile artists. Included for 2016 are well-known instructors and internationally admired quilters Joe Cunningham, Libs Elliott, Gloria Loughman and Ashley Nickels.
Gloria Loughman, from Australia, lives by the sea, on the beautiful Bellarine Peninsula, in Victoria. Her initiation into the world of quilting occurred approximately 20 years ago. After completing studies in design and color, she began to make her large vivid landscape quilts depicting the Australian bush. Having the opportunity to travel to many unique and fascinating parts of the 
Australian continent, she finds herself continually challenged to reproduce these images in fabric. These quilts have won many major awards internationally. If you have wanted to learn the techniques that make Gloria a prizewinner, here is your chance. However, be sure to sign-up early – Gloria’s classes fill quickly. She really enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills with others. She challenges students to design their own quilts, but is also happy to provide patterns for those less confident.
Gloria Loughman will teach one full day workshop Light Up Your Landscape and present one Luncheon/Lecture Share the Journey.
If you visit instructor Libs Elliott’s website, you will see the words TECHNOLOGY and TRADITION. Based in Toronto, Canada, Libs is a textile designer who combines technology with quilting. Using a program language called Processing allows her to create random compositions from simple geometric and traditional quilt block 
shapes. The Processing project began as collaboration with designer and technologist, Joshua Davis. Libs states on her website, ” My goal is to underline the importance of craft as art in our contemporary age by producing bespoke modern heirlooms – just like quilts from a century ago, these are pieces that can be passed down through generations.” Libs studied Material Art & Design at OCAD University. Her commissions include work for individuals and corporate clients such as Playground Inc. In addition, Libs teaches internationally. Her first fabric collection, True Love, was just released this year.
Libs Elliott will teach three full day workshops Dynamic Stripes (Wednesday and repeat Thursday) and Embrace the Chaos as well as present a lecture Quilting with Code: The Quilts of Libs Elliott
Joe Cunningham, from San Francisco, California began making quilts professionally in 1979, after a ten-year career as a musician in Michigan. His early mentors were steeped in the history and traditions of quilts, leading Cunningham to a life of study in quilt history and a love of traditional technique. Over 
the years, his quilts have evolved into a unique, personal style. His quilts are in the permanent collections of museums, as well as in numerous private collections. Cunningham has authored 11 books on quilts include the 2010 book “Men and the Art of Quiltmaking,” (the first book on the subject). His column for the national magazine The Quilt Life is called “Biased and Edgy.” He has appeared on numerous television programs including the PBS series “Craft in America,” the HGTV series “Simply Quilts with Alex Anderson.” He gives talks about quilts and teaches workshops nationwide.
Joe Cunningham will teach two full day workshops Rock the Block (Wednesday and repeat Thursday) and present one Luncheon/ Lecture Share My Life in Quilts.
Ashley Nickels is a quilter, teacher, and writer based in San Francisco, California. She was greatly influenced by quilters in her family; she made her first nine-patch at eight years old and designed her own handbags in high school. Ashley, a former English and Spanish literature and language teacher, taught in both the United 
State and in Spain. Currently she is a full time member of the creative community. She teaches sewing and quilting classes across the country, writes, and owns, Alphabet Summer. According to an interview with Dear Handmade Life, she draws inspiration for her projects often from nature, “I truly do find inspiration in the world. Even if it’s not a tangible idea that’s formed, whenever I go on a hike or travel, my brain always starts to fire on more cylinders.”
Ashley Nickels will teach one full day workshop Basic Machine Quilting for Modern Quilters: Using the Home Sewing Machine to Add a Modern Twist! and present one Luncheon/Lecture New Aesthetic, Same Quilt! A Look at the Evolution of the “Modern” Quilt.
Major Annual Sponsor Brother, and sponsors Ralph’s Sewing & Vacuum: Bernina, Handi Quilter, ABM/Innova, Monica’s Quilt & Bead Creation generously support QuiltFest Oasis Palm Springs.
Pre-registration and other information is available on quiltfest.com. View and/or print the event brochure from the website.