Our general meetings are educational, fun, social events when we gather to celebrate our love of modern quilting!  Meetings are free for members.  

Lecture : Julie Reuben - Stitched Stories: A Modern Journey

Join us for an inspiring lecture with Julie Reuben (@b_plus_q), a modern quilter and dedicated hand-stitcher. Julie will share her creative process, the stories behind her quilts, and how handwork shapes her approach to modern design. Through images and examples of her work, she’ll take us on a journey of texture, color, and craft — showing how tradition and innovation come together, one stitch at a time.

I delight in creating images from small bits, pieces of fabric and stitches of thread. These humble materials allow me to explore the emotional impact of color, shape, and line. I want people who view my work to have a visceral reaction. As they pause and look, I hope they ask not “what does this mean?” but “how does it make me feel?” I don’t expect or wish that every viewer feels something similar. One of the things I love about visual cues are they are more malleable than words. While words can carry multiple connotations, they are relatively constrained compared to color. For example, red can evoke love and hate, energy and destruction. I hope to create pieces that are open and elicit a range of different feelings.

My process is an odd combination of quick and slow, improvisation and planning. I deliberate about my fabric choices, looking for unexpected combinations and specific value gradations. But then, I’ll swap out a selection impulsively. The actual stitching takes time, and the images emerge very slowly. I’d like to rush it, but I can’t. Thankfully, the process is pleasurable, the fabric soft, the colors stimulating, the repetitive motion soothing.

The basic unit of my work is the stitch. Stitches become lines and shapes that interact with the fabric below. The stitches might dominate, transforming our perception of the fabric. The fabric and thread might share prominence, in a careful balance of foreground and background. Or the design created by the pieces of fabric sewn together might be gently supported by the stitching on top. These interactions offer endless possibilities for experimentation. These experiments produce unanticipated visual effects and carry me on an emotional journey without a map.

In addition to my textile work, I am a historian and university professor and live in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Zoom link will be sent via email or find in Facebook Members Only Group Events.

December 2025 Meeting Preview - Zoom Only

Meeting Recap will be available on the blog about a week after the event.