Ruth grew up in Japan and learned basic Sashiko from an elderly neighbor. Ruth made her first quilt in 1990 - a queen sized hand-appliqu and hand-quilted Hawaiian pineapple quilt - and she has never looked back. In her own unique style, she loves to use new techniques mingled with the old and her work usually shows the influence of her years spent in Japan. Ruth and her husband live in Colorado Springs, CO. (textileevolution.com) Liz Kettle is a fabric and mixed media artist with a passion for teaching the joy of the creative process. Liz is an active teacher, blogger, designer, and videographer, and is the author, co-author, and contributor to several best-selling Landauer books. Heather Thomas is a fabric artist, quilter, teacher, and prolific video instructor. Lauren Vlcek has displayed her unique and whimsical pieces in art shows, doll challenges, magazines, book covers, and on television. Lauren has been on The Quilt Show. She has taught art clesses in her home studio, at conferences, and for guilds and shops specializing in embellishment and figurative art. Her work is a pathway of expression for her life's experiences, challenges, and changes, and is indeed extraordinary. Lauren lives in Colorado with her husband, two sons, and dog, Charlie.