Myself, left; my twin sister,
Diana, right, at 6 1/2 months.

Linda Carlson's educational background includes two Bachelor degrees; Elementary Education and K-12 Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. While teaching Second Grade, she became certified by the Library of Congress to transcribe Braille, and there resides her transcription of Shel Silverstein's A LIGHT IN THE ATTIC.  These degrees and experiences prepared her for a career in quilting in that she possesses a good sense of humor, is patient, flexible yet guiding, and allows her students to follow the creative beat of their own drummer.

In 2006 Linda and her twin sister Diana Henage combined their creative sides to create "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses!" fabric collection produced by Benartex. Linda conducted brain-based research regarding colors and graphics scientifically proven to stimulate brain synapse growth in infancy through the toddler stages. Its blockbuster popularity with quiltmakers led the sisters to create a second line, "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses Grow Up!"  in 2007 extending the "brainy" concepts! Coming in 2010, another ground breaking "Grammie & Mimi's Baby Geniuses" concept will premier focusing on development and interaction. All three collections are not only scientifically sound in color and concept, but speak to all ages of sewers and non-sewers alike, from toddlers to 'tweens, teens, and art quilt fabric lovers! 

Since the early 1980s, Linda has taught all areas of quilting, specializing in hand applique, machine piecing, serpentine vines and feather borders, and Scherenschnitte techniques. She is an authority on the history and techniques of the large four block quilt style. She has taught and judged quilt shows throught the US and in international waters for guilds, retreats, symposiums, and large managed quilt shows. Linda believes her 16-year national judging experience, "is one of the very best offerings I bring back to my students in that I can help them improve all their quiltmaking techniques in creating a visually pleasing and skillfully executed quilt."

The American Quilter's Society published her first two books in 1994 and 1997 respectively: Roots, Feathers & Blooms: Four-Block Quilts, Their History & Patterns, and Four-Blocks Continued... .  In 2002, Krause Publications published her third book, Quilting to Soothe the Soul: Create  Memories for Today, Tomorrow & Forever.  In 2003, AQS published a partial combination of her first 2 books with new patterns added, The Best of Four Blocks . . . And More!

In 1995, Carlson presented a research paper, The Roots of the Large Four Block Quilt  for the symposium What's American About American Quilts? at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, sponsored by the American Quilt Defense Fund and the Smithsonian Institute. Later in 1996, she received the G. Andy Runge Ambassador Award in recognition of her representation of Mexico, MO, during her many teaching excursions. Since then, about thirty of Linda's four-block antique quilt collection were exhibited at the MAQS Museum in Paducah, KY. In 2005, her quilt "Amy's Wedding Quilt" was the "Featured Quilt of the Week" on episode #3 of "American Quilt TV Show" on the Lifetime Real Women station. She has written articles for several national magazines including Fabric Trends Spring 2007, Quilter's Home August 2006, Applique Society Newsletter 2004, Lady's Patchwork Circle, Quilter's Newsletter, American Quilter, Quilting International, Fabric Showcase Special, (supplement to Traditional Quiltworks and Quilting Today), and Quilting Today. Some of Linda's quilts, both new and antique, have been featured in books such as A Quilted Christmas, edited by Bonnie Browning at AQS, Quilts: A Living Tradition, by Robert Shaw, and Marie Salazar's book from Michael Friedman Publishing Group, Inc. Recently, Carlson's articles on fabric choices, quilts, and the emotional impact on the makers and viewers have appeared in Quilting Today's 1999 Fabric Special and the 2001 Spring issue of the American Quilter's Society Magazine. Issue #86 of Quilting Today featured her article on quilt corner treatments.  Quilter's Newsletter Magazine June 2004 features a reader workshop called, The Great Frame-Up:  Scherenschnitte Frames.  The 2004 issue of Quilt will feature one of Carlson's patterns.  In March 2001, Linda was a guest artist at the Elly Sienkiewicz Applique Academy in Williamsburg, VA. 

Carlson's work has also been featured in such exhibitions as:

Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza XV 2008
World Quilt & Textile: On Tour XII World Quilt Show in New England
Vermont Quilt Festival 2007 The Fabric of Friendship

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative: Forgetting Piece By Piece, Lake Farm Parks in Kirtland, OH 2005
United We Stand, Paducah, KY, 2002 American Quilter's Society Show, quilt What So Proudly We Hailed, currently on 3-year loan
Remember When..., Paducah, KY, 1997 American Quilter's Society Show invitational and touring exhibit, quilt Remember When We Built Our Dream Home Back In 1996?
Museum of American Quilter's Society, Paducah, KY, 1997, Grand and Glorious: Four Block Quilts from the Collection of Linda Carlson. 

Linda's classes and lectures  offer 27 classes featuring mostly hand applique and/or pieced four-block quilt projects from large applique pieces to intricate Scherenschnitte designs, celebratory/commemorative quilts, designing specific features for quilts such as feather borders, center and corner treatments, perfecting applique and 3-D techniques, and choosing background and quilting motifs.

Linda's philosophy is, "As I continue to teach around the country, I am always inspired by my students' undiscovered talents. I've learned so much from them and hope I have opened their eyes to their own creativity."

Linda