Creative: Stitch Stars: Quilting Daily’s Top 5 Influencers Revealed

 

Quilting Daily is excited to introduce a new initiative that celebrates exceptional leaders in the quilting world. The inaugural Top 5 Awards honor quilting influencers who have helped shape the industry through their creativity, empathy, artistry, and business skills. Their work has touched the lives of countless quilters and helped advance the craft. Join us in recognizing these remarkable individuals and read on to discover more about each honoree.

Karey Bresenhan, a trailblazer in textiles and quilting, is the founder of Quilts Inc. Through her forward-thinking leadership, she launched the Quilt Market and the International Quilt Festival—two landmark events that still bring together quilters, fiber artists, and professionals from around the globe.

Marianne Fons, a leading figure in traditional quilting, is widely recognized as a co-founder of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine and the original co-host of the popular PBS show of the same name. Together with her friend and business partner Liz Porter, she educated millions in the art of quilting, sharing time-saving tips, tools, and techniques through their mail-order business and innovative approach.

Liz Porter, a prominent figure in traditional quilting, is best known as one half of the renowned Fons & Porter team alongside Marianne Fons. The two met in 1976 as young mothers new to quilting, eventually rising to become influential leaders and familiar names in the quilting community.

For over forty years, Alex Anderson has been a multifaceted force in the quilting world. She has created quilt patterns and fabric designs, contributed to the development of innovative quilting tools, written 30 books, and spent 11 years as the beloved host of the cable TV show Simply Quilts.

Marti Michell has a deep passion for quilts, which is clearly reflected in her impressive career. Over the years, she has created quilt designs, authored quilting books, developed a successful business focused on innovative quilting tools, and shared her expertise by teaching others through her distinctive templates and detailed guidance.