3 Quilters: Celebrate the 4 Seasons »

Karen Combs is an internationally-known quilter, teacher, author, and designer whose students nominated her for Quilt Teacher of the Year in 1995 and 2000. In high demand as a teacher (she began teaching quilting in 1989), Karen encourages her students, makes learning fun, and makes the complex easy to understand! Karen is fascinated with optical illusions in quilts, a fascination that has become the subject of her many workshops, magazine articles, and books.

Joan, who was taught to sew on a Singer treadle machine by her grandmother, has been a quilter for many years. She has her own pattern company, Petal Play, which she operates from her home in Massachusetts. In addition, she has taught and lectured extensively throughout the country. She has appeared on television on the PBS show "Quilting from the Heartland" with Sharlene Jorgenson, and on the HGTV program "Simply Quilts" with Alex Anderson.

The originator of this highly successful quilting technique, "Stack-n-Whack®", she also publishes her own quilt patterns as part of BSR Designs.

Journey through the calendar year with three top quilt designers and teachers. These special friends have designed a quilt pattern for every month and combined their diverse styles to create unique and exciting new designs. They also share fabric selection ideas, how-to sections on Stack-n-Whack and Appli-bond, and techniques and tips to use all year round. Joan Shay's designs feature her easy and popular three-dimensional Appli-bond method for creating flowers, birds, and fish. Bethany Reynolds presents several fun, new Stack-n-Whack designs -- a method that has taken the quilt world by storm. Karen Combs adds her special insight with quilts of illusion that delight the senses. From enchanting applique to dazzling patchwork, the great variety of projects offered will bring quilting excitement throughout the year.