Trunk Shows by Diane Harris
Whether you call them trunk shows, lectures or guild programs, they’re all about quilts, inspiration and entertainment. I’d love to visit your group to share my quilts and what I’ve learned, or even better, let’s talk quilts via Zoom! My experience includes 35 years of quiltmaking and 16 years inside the quilt industry.
Fees
No one loves to talk about money but everyone needs to know about it. To save you from searching for this information, here is the scoop:
- A one-hour trunk show live or in person is $525.
- A six-hour workshop live or in person is $700. When booked in a single day, we take a 45 minute lunch break. For virtual workshops, I strongly prefer two three-hour sessions with one week between.
- A three-hour workshop is $600.
- Class and workshop are different names for the same thing.
- Trunk show and lecture are different names for the same thing.
This information is also included in my contract. I will give you my best effort in every way and I pledge to make any presentation a fun time of enjoyment and inspiration.
See the virtual contract here.
See the in-person contract here.
For virtual meetings, the trunk show lasts an hour followed by Q&A. The fee includes handouts and links to relevant information. I believe people actually learn more during a virtual trunk show than they do in person.
For in-person events, I will bring from a few dozen to more than a hundred quilts, depending on the topic. We’ll have a great time together! I will drive up to about 300 miles for an in-person event. If I am flying, only one trunk show is available: “One Hundred Small Quilts” fits in two suitcases and is the only traveling trunk show by air.
» Print a color flyer with trunk show descriptions.
Click on each title below for details.
BRAND NEW: Scrap Quilt Potluck: Improv & Inspiration (this trunk show doesn’t yet have its own page, but read the description just below)
Taste Test: Unexpected Sampler Quilts
Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts
Read on for brief descriptions with limited photos. For more detail, click on the links above instead.
Scrap Quilt Potluck: Improv & Inspiration
My most popular trunk show (Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts) is full up, so I had to come up with a new presentation and it’s full of scrappy makes, too. You’ll see all my patchwork adventures from 2020 forward and hear about my approach to improvisational patchwork. I’ll demonstrate how combinations of diverse fabrics lead to dynamic results and unique outcomes in quilts of all sizes. You’ll see how I sometimes jump from a bad idea to a better idea and then improvise my way to a whimsical finish. Learn to see your stash with fresh eyes and venture bravely forth for your best quilts ever.
Taste Test: Unexpected Sampler Quilts
Brand new and so much fun! I make sampler quilts of various types because I love the variety. Each quilt is unique and holds my interest from the first stitch to the last.

There’s something for everyone in this trunk show. From improvisation to lovely tradition, from modern quilting to quilting bee quilts, each quilt holds a few lessons about how to pull together a bunch of blocks or rows or shapes, or whatever!

There are bed-size quilts and wall quilts, fancy quilting and basic stitches, bright colors and demure palettes.

If you want something a little different that can be enjoyed by any type of quilter, this is the one for you. While you’re at it, check out the new class on creating your own Improvisational Quilt Sampler.
One Hundred Small Quilts (in person only)
This program is a trunk show of about 125 small quilts I have made and collected over the past three decades. The small quilts offer a perspective on changing styles, techniques and fabrics over the years. They tell the story of one quilter’s journey from Nebraska 4-H member to quilt industry professional. I use the quilts to share tips on fabric and color selection, design ideas, quilting inspiration and more.

This program works best if the audience can gather in closely to see the quilts. It’s least effective in a large auditorium, so please keep this in mind. Sometimes I can help you adjust your accommodations so that everything works well.




Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts
How do you make a successful scrap quilt? Learn my best tips and a few secrets during this trunk show of more than 50 scrappy quilts made over many years.

What is a scrap quilt? Who can make a scrap quilt? Why would you create one? How is it done? Discover ways to pull your scraps together, strategies for using your stash and even what does not work. You may never make an ordinary quilt again!



See more of Diane’s scrap quilts.
Let’s Play Drezzup!
A little bit lecture, a little bit hands-on demo: That’s what Let’s Play Drezzup! is all about. Learn how a Dresden Plate quilt block is made, and then see many amazing variations on this traditional pattern. There are infinite ways to jazz it up and they’re all so much fun—you won’t know where to begin!

Get tips on fabric selection and using acrylic templates. And best of all, wrap your mind around the math behind Dresdens. More fun than you’d ever imagine!


See more Dresden Plate quilts.
Jingle Bells Trunk Show
No matter the time of year, my Jingle Bells trunk show of Christmas quilts is sure to get you in the mood for holiday sewing.

Large and small, pieced and appliquéd, modern and traditional—there’s a little something for everyone.

These aren’t just red and green quilts. There are inspired color recipes of all sorts!

Soon you’ll be planning a Christmas quilt of your own, or maybe one for every family member.

This presentation is suitable for any time of year. Let me help you get your jingle on!

Windy Wonders: A Quilt Block Grows Up
From one humble block comes this parade of unique quilt designs in a brand new trunk show. I started making Baby Windmills years ago and soon realized how many things I could do with them. Now I’m on a lifelong quest to make every such quilt that lives in my head.

I’m so excited about these quilts. Every week I have a few new ideas. There are enough to keep me busy for a decade!

During this trunk show, we’ll talk about value, scale, color and creativity. I think you’ll enjoy seeing how one simple idea can take root, grow, morph and reproduce in exciting ways.

I’ll look forward to visiting with you about how we can partner up for an exciting presentation!

Get in touch and Let’s Talk Quilts!
