Kim Brunner

Machine Quilting Teacher of the Year

Growing up, I spent many school vacations at my grandparent's farm, where my grandmother, who had the patience of a saint with a little girl and her clumsy fingers, taught me to do all kinds of handwork (probably in an effort to keep me from going out and terrorizing the chickens). Her love of quilting, and my desire to grow up to be just like Grandma, has led me to an amazing and rewarding career as a professional quilter. And if that weren't enough fun, quilting has led me to teaching, which is, I believe, exactly where I’m supposed to be. I get to teach quilting stuff! Not rocket science, or dental hygiene, but quilting stuff! Could there even be a better job? (Not that I have anything against rocket scientists or dental hygienists, mind you. I'm sure you're very lovely people and I'm glad that you are willing to do your jobs so I don't have to. Especially dental hygienists.)

I love that my job allows me to spend almost every day of my life in pursuit of creative pleasures. Drawing new quilting designs, developing new techniques, creating new classes and DVDs, and above all, cutting up perfectly good fabric into little bitty pieces and then sewing it all back together again to make quilts is my idea of the perfect life, and I am so grateful to Grandma for setting my feet on this path. The awards and recognition that I have been lucky enough to receive are icing on the cake. My joy lies in having the ability to wake up every morning and play with my quilty toys. Who ever would have thought that being a grown-up would be so much fun?

 My work has been published in numerous books, magazines, calendars, and on the American Quilter's Society website. I regularly teach at both national and international machine quilting shows, including MQX, HMQS, MQS, MMQS, QWM, the Australian Machine Quilting Festival, and Houston International Quilt Festival.