Guest Speaker: Veruschka Zarate
Lecture: Finding Pride and Joy in Quilting
Pride & Joy Quilting (prideandjoyquilting.com) was created by Veruschka Zarate out of a deep love for modern, vibrant and inspirational foundation paper pieced quilts. She is an Accomplished Award-Winning Quilt Maker and Pattern Designer, specializing in the technique of Foundation Paper Piecing.
She has been Faculty for many Quilt Conventions such as: The Modern Quilt Guild’s QuiltCon, Road to California Quilt Show, Empty Spools Seminar, The French International Thread Arts Convention, BERNINA Academy in Australia and New Zealand’s Quilt Symposium to name a few.
Her Quilts have received several awards, including: Best of Show QuiltCon 2025, The National Association of Certified Quilt Judge’s Award of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in Quiltmaking, QuiltCon’s First Place in Piecing, and Quiltcon’s Peoples Choice.
Veruschka has been featured in numerous Magazines and Podcasts such as, Art Quilting Studio Magazine, American Patchwork and Quilting, Curated Quilts, Quilting Love Magazine, Fons & Porters& McCalls Quilt & Tell.
A California girl through and through, Veruschka began learning traditional piecing and quilting techniques in 2016. After falling in love with the technique of Foundation Paper Piecing, Veruschka set out to create her own designs focused on subjects that inspire joy, vibrancy, empowerment and encouragement.
Her greatest achievement, however, has been mothering and raising her two young boys alongside her husband, of over 20 years.
Workshop: Modern Foundation Paper Piecing
In this course, students will master the essentials of Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) by crafting a contemporary and vividly designed FPP pattern. The block, meticulously designed for this purpose, combines a modern aesthetic with an intriguing visual composition.
Throughout the course, participants will delve into the core aspects of FPP, including navigating complex angles, achieving precise point alignment, fabric placement and positioning, understanding seam line orientation, ensuring shape continuity, and executing accurate piecing techniques. These skills will empower students to confidently assemble both small and large, irregularly shaped fabric pieces, equipping them with the ability to undertake any FPP project with ease and assurance.
Her Foundation Paper Piece Quilt patterns are colorful, inspiring and easy to complete. Each pattern includes detailed illustrations, diagrams, fabric recommendations, and multiple sizes. All patterns use only straight line sewing with NO complicated seams or tricky corners.
If you can sew in a straight line–you can complete these patterns! Our class will be focusing on the Heart of the Lion. However, the same techniques are used in her Joan of Arc or Dignity Statue Quilt.
Students will need to purchase the pattern or the kit from her website.