Margaret Willingham

“I see quilts as transcriptions of the world around us – in my work I am inspired by the functional elegance of Victorian architecture, from iron grates to grand facades, as well as the natural beauty of creation. In my designs, I want to enable you to bring this beauty and elegance to your own home to create a sense of welcome and hospitality for the people you love.”

Margaret Brewster Willingham, the creative mind at work behind Eye of the Beholder Quilt Designs, is an international teacher and lecturer, pattern designer and author. Margaret’s quilts are influenced by the dynamic elements of movement, color and design she used for over 40 years as a choreographer of dance as she composes unique quilts full of beauty, elegance, and inspirational color. For Margaret, quilting is a journey of excellence and a creative act of hope. Her award-winning quilts and her teaching style invite you into that journey. Her greatest joy is in passing on skills and growing confidence in quilters new and old, inspiring us each to listen to our own creative voice and to have the confidence to try something new. She is most well-known for the innovative (and foolproof!) methods she’s devised for reverse applique – ‘Trace, Baste, Snip and Stitch’, which takes the mystery (and hardship) out of reverse applique. Many of her designs can be completed by either hand or machine, for those times when you just must have it finished quickly!

In addition, she designs patterns for commercial and Indie fabric companies, including Island Batik, Banyan Batiks and Batik Textiles, and co-authored her first book in 2018: Christmas RAPPing, Christmas Quilts featuring Reverse Appliqué & Paper-Piecing (with Nan Baker). She teaches regularly at specialist applique retreats and at festivals, including Academy of Applique, Applique Away on Galveston Bay, Houston International Quilt Festival, Houston Virtual Quilt Festival, QuiltFest, Road to Ca, Vermont Quilt Festival, AQS Lancaster and Paducah, both in-person and virtually. In 2023 she appeared on The Quilt Show (#3309 on Oct. 22) and taught at AQS Paducah, and KCRQF. In 2024 she taught at the John C. Campbell Folk School, NC, and returned to teach at AQS Paducah and Houston International Quilt Festival, was the featured teacher at Quilting on the Green, WY, as well as quilt guilds throughout the country. In 2025 she will teach at AQS Lancaster and be published in Love of Quilting again. In January 2026 she will teach on AQS Quilt Cruise Hawaii.

If you or your local guild/shop are interested in booking her for workshops or lectures, please contact her via her website.
www.eobquiltdesign.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Eye-of-the-Beholder-Quilt-Design/404428092950878?ref=br_tf
https://twitter.com/eobquilt
http://www.pinterest.com/eobquiltdesign/
http://instagram.com/eobquiltdesigns/

Margaret is an experienced and encouraging teacher. In all my classes I delight in sharing with you the tips and tricks I’ve learned from 25+ years of quilting and 40+ years of sewing that make stitching easier and fun. Margaret has a special knack of meeting each student right where they are and helping them expand their horizons and hone their quilting skills in an encouraging and patient atmosphere. As a quilter myself, I understand that quilters are visual creatures. Margaret gives thorough explanations and step-by-step demonstrations, and takes time with each student, so they are comfortable.  Her multiple camera set up gives you the best possible virtual visual advantages: you’ll get both close-up and bird’s eye views to see what’s going on as you learn, plus with our picture-in-picture frame there’s teacher eye contact for that personal touch. You’ll also get the broader view of the project so you know where the project is headed.