Domestic Machine Instructor

As a self-described “pragmatic quilt-maker”, Kelly Ashton approaches quilt design and construction with a knowledge of and appreciation for the theoretical while searching for and developing skills and short-cuts that are practical. Kelly is passionate about patchwork! Kelly loves to design and make quilts, and her patchwork interests range from “microwave quilts” (quilts that are simple in design and quick to piece) to “crock-pot quilts” (quilts that are more intricate and complex in their construction), and she happily moves back and forth
betwixt the two.....and everything in-between!

Kelly is the author of Hexagons, Diamonds, Triangles, and More: Skill-Building Techniques for 60-Degree Patchwork, and her obsession with 60-degree patchwork continues, though she enjoys participating in and teaching a variety of quilt-making techniques. Kelly’s presentations and workshops are EPIC:

• Entertaining & Enthusiastic
• Practical & Pragmatic
• Interesting & Informative
• Clear & Colorful & Creative

Her quilt-making passion is evident in every presentation she makes and every workshop she teaches. Kelly’s knowledgeable yet pragmatic approach to quilt design and construction has contributed to her celebrated teaching style. She takes complex techniques and breaks them down into manageable and easily accomplished steps, always focused on student success. She generously shares her tips and her personal “best practices” and, because she knows that we learn in a variety of ways and because she believes “there are many paths to the same destination”, she shares optional approaches, whenever possible. Kelly’s motto is “Have quilts. Will travel.” However, since COVID, Kelly has adopted the mantra, “Flexibility is the key to a happy life”, so she continues to travel to quilt guilds “in-person” when able, AND she also “travels” and teaches (presentations and workshops) via Zoom.

Kelly and some of her classes can also be found on the new Craftsy website (https://www.craftsy.com). Additionally, Kelly has taught at a variety of national and regional shows including Houston Quilt Festival, AQS Quilt Week, Vermont Quilt Festival, and the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival, and she has taught in-person and/or virtually (via Zoom, Craftsy, and National Quilters Circle) to quilters and quilt guilds across the country and around the world. She loves nothing more than to visit guilds or shops - in person or virtually - to talk and teach about quilts!

Kelly resides in Overland Park, KS, USA with her husband, Jeff Seib. For more information, please check her website (https://kellyquilter.com), “Like” her Facebook page (Kelly Ashton: Quilting Lectures & Workshops), and follow her on Instagram (kellyaquilter). In addition to quilty things, Kelly owns and operates The Creative Place, a retreat for quilters and other artists located in Spring Hill, KS. (https://creativeplaceretreats.com / FB: The Creative Place, event venue).