april 14-16, 2023
A VIRTUAL QUILTING CONFERENCE
april 14-16, 2023
A Virtual 
quilting Conference 
for the soul
The 2023
Sew Much Soul 
QUILTING Conference

Get your needles, thread and fabric ready for Sew Much Soul Conference Quilting Conference! This free online conference is the perfect opportunity to join a community of sewers from all over the country. With more than 10 quilting classes available, you'll learn a variety of techniques such as appliqué, improv and machine quilting so that you can create beautiful works with ease. Plus there's plenty of time in between to party too - don't miss out on this amazing experience April 14-16!

The 2023
Sew Much Soul quilting conference

Get your needles, thread and fabric ready for Sew Much Soul Conference Quilting Conference! This free online conference is the perfect opportunity to join a community of sewers from all over the country. With more than 10 quilting classes available, you'll learn a variety of techniques such as appliqué, improv and machine quilting so that you can create beautiful works with ease. Plus there's plenty of time in between to party too - don't miss out on this amazing experience April 14-16!

The 2023
Sew Much Soul 
quilting conference
10+
Workshops 
9
INSTRUCTORS 
3 Days
ACTION PACKED classes
$0
Cost To Attend
The 2023
Sew Much Soul Quilting conference
10+
Workshops 
9
INSTRUCTORS 
3 Days
ACTION PACKED classes
$0
Cost To Attend
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
about 
sew much soul…

During the Improv quilting session I made these rug mugs from scrap fabrics! This was a fantastic weekend of sewing, quilting and learning! I know what to do with scraps!! #sewmuchsoulquilting

Madelyn M.

I was not quilting along, but wanted to show my first quilting items I made last year. I have been sewing garments since I was a little girl, but now that I am retired I have more time to learn and explore quilting. 
This conference was so inspiring and packed with so many gems to help us continue the tradition and be "culture keepers."
Thank you to all the presenters and attendees for making this such a special and fun weekend!!🧵🪡✂️ Love my New Village!!

traci L. 

This is my first attempt at quilting and I still need a lot of practice, but I’m still proud of my accomplishments. Two out of four projects completed.

Crystal l.
Featured 2023 Instructors
Tisha Thorne

Tisha Thorne is co-owner of Sew Creative Lounge and is a certified sewing instructor that has been teaching locally in the DC area and throughout the country for more than two decades. 

Born and raised in Washington DC, Tisha is passionate about teaching her students of all ages about sewing. Tisha and her partner Cecily Habimana founded Sip and Sew DC in 2014 and opened Sew Creative Lounge in 2017. 

Her mission is to teach the world to sew, one stitch 
at a time.

CARRIE AUGUSTIN

Carrie has been teaching Beginner Sewing 1 at Sew Creative Lounge for four years. 

For more than 25 years, Carrie has been making dance competition costumes and has won several awards. In 2019, she made costumes for the Morgan State University Marching Band Foxxy Dancers who wore them in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Today Show. 

Carrie learned to sew from her grandmother, who was a home economics teacher and sewer. She loves sewing with stretch fabrics and her favorite garment to make is a kimono.

SANDRA LEE CHANDLER

Sandra Lee Chandler is a quilting instructor with over 38 years of experience teaching at colleges such as Saddleback College, Santiago Canyon College, and North Orange County College. She holds a B.S. in Clothing, Textiles, and Design from Arizona State University. Chandler has presented virtual and in-person lectures and workshops at various events and has been published in magazines such as Quilt Now 2020, American Quilt Magazine 2020, and Quiltfolk 2019. She has also appeared on TV shows such as "The Quilt Show" and "Quilting Arts." Chandler specializes in repurposed denim quilts and wearable art quilted garments. Her artist statement emphasizes her passion for teaching and her goal to share her experience and knowledge with others in the sewing industry.

Janet o. Green

Janet has been sewing since childhood, mostly garments and home décor items. She started this part of her journey about ten years ago, making quilts for cover and comfort. Uninspired by traditional quilt patterns and coordinated fabric bundles, she wanted more interesting quilting adventures. Facing a pile of fabric scraps and pieces trimmed from other projects, she asked herself “what if I...?”. That day, her journey took a happy turn into improvisational quilting, and she never looked back! 
Making random blocks (or segments, as she likes to call them) with no real end in mind, exciting new compositions emerged. She loved what she was creating. More importantly, she loved what she was becoming—a Fabric Mixologist.

CAROLE LYLES SHAW

Carole Lyles Shaw is a modern quilt designer, author and workshop teacher. Carole was recently featured as one of five designers in the Makers Issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine (August 2021 issue). She co-founded the Sarasota Modern Quilt Guild and served on the Board of Directors of The Modern Quilt Guild from 2015-2017. Carole’s textile works have been juried into numerous quilt shows as well as art shows.  

LESINA MARTIN

Lesina Martin was born and raised in Detroit, MI. Her love for fiber arts began as a young girl when her grandmother taught her to sew and crochet. Years later, in college, Lesina found use for both skills in creating costuming for African dance. This led to her interest in African textiles and symbolism. Today, she incorporates this knowledge into her continued studies on African culture.

LISA 
SHEPARD stewart

Lisa Shepard Stewart is the owner of Cultured Expressions, specializing in African textiles for DIY enthusiasts. She encourages others to express themselves creatively through culturally relevant techniques and materials. In addition to teaching in-person, virtual and pre-recorded classes, and publishing projects, she also creates and hosts exciting SewJourns, unique travel opportunities with a focus on African textiles, sewing and quilting. In 2017 Lisa opened her studio location in Rahway, NJ, combining retail and event space for classes, private parties, and personal shopping appointments via Zoom, known as Virtual Visits.

rose swain

Rose Swain is a quilter and describes herself as a fiber artist that does not quilt by the rules. Yes, she follows the standard ¼” seam allowance, uses 100% cotton fabrics and batting however she likes to quilt “outside of the bolt.”

Rose is a quilt instructor at Sew Creative Lounge and a member of the Uhuru Quilters Guild, an African American quilt guild. One of her favorite things to do is to share her passion of “stitching and creating as an educator.” It can be sewing, crochet, quilting, or crafting. She believes everyone should have a creative outlet to express themselves and to relax. What better way than to teach others how to find their creative outlet joy!

CAROLE STAPLES

Carole Gary Staples is an award winning art quilter and fiber artist that has exhibited nationwide and internationally. Her work has been published in numerous books, newspapers, and exhibition catalogs. She has taught a variety of workshops and classes across the country. 

Featured Instructors
 Tisha Thorne

Tisha Thorne is co-owner of 
Sew Creative Lounge and is a certified sewing instructor that has been teaching locally in the DC area and throughout the country for more than two decades. Born and raised in Washington DC, Tisha is passionate about teaching 
her students of all ages 
about sewing. 

Tisha and her partner Cecily Habimana founded 
Sip and Sew DC in 2014 and opened Sew Creative Lounge in 2017. Her mission is to teach the world to sew, one stitch at a time.

carrie augustin

Carrie has been teaching Beginner Sewing 1 at Sew Creative Lounge for four years. 

For more than 25 years, Carrie has been making dance competition costumes and has won several awards. In 2019, she made costumes for the Morgan State University Marching Band Foxxy Dancers who wore them in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Today Show. 

Carrie learned to sew from her grandmother, who was a home economics teacher and sewer. She loves sewing with stretch fabrics and her favorite garment to make is a kimono.

sandra lee chandler

Sandra Lee Chandler is a quilting instructor with over 38 years of experience teaching at colleges such as Saddleback College, Santiago Canyon College, and North Orange County College. She holds a B.S. in Clothing, Textiles, and Design from Arizona State University. Chandler has presented virtual and in-person lectures and workshops at various events and has been published in magazines such as Quilt Now 2020, American Quilt Magazine 2020, and Quiltfolk 2019. She has also appeared on TV shows such as "The Quilt Show" and "Quilting Arts." Chandler specializes in repurposed denim quilts and wearable art quilted garments. Her artist statement emphasizes her passion for teaching and her goal to share her experience and knowledge with others in the sewing industry.

janet o. green

Janet has been sewing since childhood, mostly garments and home décor items. She started this part of her journey about ten years ago, making quilts for cover and comfort. Uninspired by traditional quilt patterns and coordinated fabric bundles, she wanted more interesting quilting adventures. Facing a pile of fabric scraps and pieces trimmed from other projects, she asked herself “what if I...?”. That day, her journey took a happy turn into improvisational quilting, and she never looked back! 
Making random blocks (or segments, as she likes to call them) with no real end in mind, exciting new compositions emerged. She loved what she was creating. More importantly, she loved what she was becoming—a Fabric Mixologist.

carole lyles shaw

Carole Lyles Shaw is a modern quilt designer, author and workshop teacher. Carole was recently featured as one of five designers in the Makers Issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine (August 2021 issue). She co-founded the Sarasota Modern Quilt Guild and served on the Board of Directors of The Modern Quilt Guild from 2015-2017. Carole’s textile works have been juried into numerous quilt shows as well as art shows.  

lesina martin

Lesina Martin was born and raised in Detroit, MI. Her love for fiber arts began as a young girl when her grandmother taught her to sew and crochet. Years later, in college, Lesina found use for both skills in creating costuming for African dance. This led to her interest in African textiles and symbolism. Today, she incorporates this knowledge into her continued studies on African culture.

lisa stewart shepard

Lisa Shepard Stewart is the owner of Cultured Expressions, specializing in African textiles for DIY enthusiasts. She encourages others to express themselves creatively through culturally relevant techniques and materials. In addition to teaching in-person, virtual and pre-recorded classes, and publishing projects, she also creates and hosts exciting SewJourns, unique travel opportunities with a focus on African textiles, sewing and quilting. In 2017 Lisa opened her studio location in Rahway, NJ, combining retail and event space for classes, private parties, and personal shopping appointments via Zoom, known as Virtual Visits.

rose swain

Rose Swain is a quilter and describes herself as a fiber artist that does not quilt by the rules. Yes, she follows the standard ¼” seam allowance, uses 100% cotton fabrics and batting however she likes to quilt “outside of the bolt.”

Rose is a quilt instructor at Sew Creative Lounge and a member of the Uhuru Quilters Guild, an African American quilt guild. One of her favorite things to do is to share her passion of “stitching and creating as an educator.” It can be sewing, crochet, quilting, or crafting. She believes everyone should have a creative outlet to express themselves and to relax. What better way than to teach others how to find their creative outlet joy!

carole gary staples

Carole Gary Staples is an award winning art quilter and fiber artist that has exhibited nationwide and internationally. Her work has been published in numerous books, newspapers, and exhibition catalogs. She has taught a variety of workshops and classes across the country. 

AS SEEN ON
What To Expect At
The 2023
Sew Much Soul 
QUILTING CONFERENCE
  • 10+ Live Workshops featuring some of the best quilting instructors from around the country
  • Classes via Zoom on Friday, April 14 at 4pm EST and Saturday and Sunday at 11am EST
  • ​Confirmation emails after registration with additional details about the conference
  • ​​Learn new quilting techniques while making fun, unique projects
  • ​Be a part of a community of sewers in our private Facebook group where you can get to know others participating in the conference
What To Expect At
The 2023
Sew Much Soul quilting conference
  • 10+ Live Workshops featuring some of the best quilting instructors from around the country
  • Classes via Zoom on Friday, April 14 at 4pm EST and Saturday and Sunday at 11am EST
  • ​Confirmation emails after registration with additional details about the conference
  • ​​Learn new quilting techniques while making fun, unique projects
  • ​Be a part of a community of sewers in our private Facebook group where you can get to know others participating in the conference
Meet The Host
Meet The Hosts
Cecily Habimana  

When Cecily Habimana was just a young child, she would often watch her mother sew clothes for the family. She was fascinated by how her mother could take a piece of fabric and make something beautiful out of it. This early exposure to sewing ignited a passion in Cecily that would stay with her for life.

Now, Cecily is the co-owner of Sew Creative Lounge, located in Mount Rainier, Maryland. At Sew Creative Lounge, Cecily and her partner Tisha offer children and adult sewing classes as well as a nation-wide membership program for sewers and quilters. 

Cecily has been featured in several publications and blogs including The Washington Post, Washington Express, American Express website and Chicago Tribune. Cecily has also appeared on Fox 5 News and NPR. She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and her MBA from George Washington University.

Cecily Habimana  

Cecily Habimana is co-owner of Sew Creative Lounge located in Mount Rainier, Maryland. Sew Creative Lounge teaches children and adult sewing classes and hosts summer camp at their home studio and satellite studio in Chicago. They also partner with various elementary schools throughout the DC metropolitan. In response to the pandemic, Cecily and her partner Tisha opened up an online store and began designing their own collection of fabrics. They excited about their work and are always eager to work with their students.

Cecily has been featured in several publications and blogs including The Washington Post, Washington Express, Madame Noire, The Examiner, American Express website and Chicago Tribune. Cecily has also appeared on Fox 5 News and NPR. She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and her MBA from George 
Washington University.

AS SEEN ON
A FEW SAMPLE PROJECTS 
YOU’LL CREATE
A FEW SAMPLE PROJECTS 
YOU’LL CREATE
Conference Schedule
day 1. conference
4pm- 9:15pm EST
Friday, APRIL 14

Cutting Party   Carrie Augustin

 Quilted Zippered Pouch   Tisha Thorne 

 Magic Nine Patch Clutch Lisa Shepard Stewart 

day 2. conference
11am -7pm EST
saturday, APRIL 15

Part 1: Shapes of Improv  Janet O. Green

Sandra's Quilting Journey  Sandra Lee Chandler

Part 2: Machine Quilting: Casserole Dish  Janet O. Green

Scrappy Black Girl Magic  Carole Gary Staples

Cutting Party  Carrie Augustin

day 3. conference
11AM -7PM EST
sunday, APRIL 16

Symbolism in African Print Fabric  Lesina Martin

Hanging By Strings  Rose Swain

Ankara Goes Modern: African Prints in Modern Quilts  Carole Lyles Shaw

Adinkra Trivet Tisha Thorne

Closing & After Party  Cecily Habimana & Tisha Thorne

Conference Schedule
day 1. conference
4pm - 9:15pm EST
Friday, April 14

Cutting Party 
  Carrie Augustin

Quilted Zippered Pouch 
Tisha Thorne

Magic Nine Patch Clutch 
Lisa Shepard Stewart

day 2. conference
11AM -7PM EST
Saturday, April 15

Part 1: Shapes of Improv 
  Janet O. Green

Sandra's Quilting Journey 
  Sandra Lee Chandler

Part 2: Machine Quilting: Casserole Dish Janet O. Green

Scrappy Black Girl Magic 
  Carole Gary Staples

Cutting Party 
Carrie Augustin

day 3. conference
11am - 7pm EST
Sunday, April 16

Symbolism in African Print Fabric 
  Lesina Martin

Hanging By Strings 
  Rose Swain

Ankara Goes Modern: 
African Prints in Modern Quilts 
  Carole Lyles Shaw

Adinkra Trivet 
Tisha Thorne

Closing & After Party Cecily Habimana & Tisha Thorne

Who Should Attend?
The 2023
Sew Much Soul Conference: Quilting Edition is for the beginner to the intermediate Quilter! 

Learn new Quilting techniques while making fun, unique projects!

Who Should Attend?
The 2023 
Sew Much Soul Conference: Quilting Edition is for the beginner to the intermediate Quilter! 

Learn new Quilting techniques while making fun, unique projects!

Don’t miss 
the 2023 Sew Much Soul 
QUILTING Conference
countdown
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Don’t miss 
the 2023 Sew Much Soul quilting conference!
countdown
00Years00Months00Weeks00Days00Hours00Minutes00Seconds
FAQ’s 

What is Sew Much Soul Conference Quilting Conference?

Sew Much Soul is a sewing conference with a little soul! Meaning we’ll be teaching a variety of sewing classes and techniques but with a little partying in between.

When is it?

The conference is being held virtually via Zoom on April 14-16 starting at 4pm EST on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. 

What level is the conference appropriate for?

This conference is appropriate for the absolute beginner through                  intermediate level quilter. 

How much does the conference cost?

The conference is free! You can also upgrade your registration and purchase 
the recording so that you have access to all the classes until April 2023. Please keep in mind that the replay fee is non-refundable. 

What supplies do I need for the conference? 

We have made it easy for you! You may also purchase the Conference Supply Kit that includes all patterns, fabric and sewing notions for each project.

Who is hosting the conference?

The conference is being hosted by Cecily and Tisha, co-owners 
of Sew Creative Lounge. 

FAQ’s 

What is Sew Much Soul Conference: Quilting Edition?

Sew Much Soul is a sewing conference with a little soul! Meaning we’ll be teaching a variety of sewing classes and techniques but with a little partying in between.

When is it?

The conference is being held virtually via Zoom on May 20-22 starting at 6pm EST on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday. 

What level is the conference appropriate for?

This conference is appropriate for the absolute beginner through intermediate level quiliter. 

How much does the conference cost?

The conference is free! You can also upgrade your registration and purchase 
the recording so that you have access to all the classes until April 2023. Please keep in mind that the replay fee is non-refundable. 

What supplies do I need for the conference? 

We have made it easy for you! You may also purchase the Conference Supply Kit that includes all patterns, fabric and sewing notions for each project.

Who is hosting the conference?

The conference is being hosted by Cecily and Tisha, co-owners 
of Sew Creative Lounge. 

Copyright 2023 © Sew Creative Lounge | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
Copyright 2023 © Sew Creative Lounge | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy