Irena Bluhm was born and raised in Poland. She moved to Germany in 1981 and then to the United States (California) in 1991. After her husband retired in 2001, they purchased 71 acres in rural Antlers, Oklahoma where her large studio is now located. With 18 years of garment making/design and 12 years of doing art as a hobby, she has transitioned her experience in creating fine art into making quilts for shows and exhibits exclusively. Her work has won 55 awards in national and international quilt contests so far. Irena is very passionate about creating quilting design patterns, innovative ways of making show quality quilts, writing books and teaching. She has designed hundreds of quilting patterns and only a very small portion has been published and are available on the market. Her enthusiasm is very contagious as she loves to share, encourage and inspire other quilters to try something new. (Photo quilt is called Starburst 2nd place in Wall Quilt Category at the 2007 Machine Quilters Showcase)

Irena has reviewed her class schedule at MMQS and would like to offer a few reductions in class fees and/or kit fees.

Class #128 and Class #331 Formal Feathers - Basics and Beyond are similar classes except that Class #128 is a Drawing Class and #331 is a Hands-on with a longarm machine. Irena has reduced the kit fee for #128 to $12 and increased the length of the class to 3 hours (because she has so much to share with you). #331 remains a 4 hour hands-on class.

Class # 212 Quilts of A Different Color is a "painting" class. You'll learn how to apply color (using colored pencils) to quilted fabric to add dimension and color. The class fee has been reduced to $60 for this 4 hour class.

Class # 311 Bluhming Background Designs and Allovers has been expanded to a 4 hour class (8am-noon on Thursday, Aug 5th).

Class # 408 To Piece or Not to Piece-This is the Answer! This unique drawing class includes a one hour hands-on coloring session. The class fee has been reduced to $110 for this 6 hour class and the kit fee is reduced to $15.

Class # 508 Whimsical and Funky Feathers (Saturday, Aug. 7th, 8-11) and Class # 528 Freehand Embellishment Extravaganza (Saturday, Aug. 7th, 1-4) are both drawing classes that relate to the use of formal or funky feather fillers as fillers. Irena's encouraging nature and contagious enthusiasm will inspire you to create award winning quilts. The class fees for these 3 hour classes have been reduced to $65.

We are sad to announce the cancellation of Bob Purcell's class "Thread Therapy". Late yesterday we were notified of a health issue in Bob's family that requires his presence at home through the dates of the Milwaukee
Machine Quilting show. He regrets he will not be in Milwaukee for our first Great Show on a Great Lake.

Bob and his immediate family are fine. Superior Threads will be at the show.