About Me

I’m Emma Powell, or Emma Jane if you prefer to call me by my southern, double name. Named after my paternal grandmother, Emma Lee Powell – a quilter not to be reckoned with, I was born a quilter. It’s in my blood. I’m continuing a family legacy here!

After many years of quilting, I am proud to be a quilt teacher and pattern designer. Sharing the therapeutic craft of quilting is a passion of mine.

After three decades of quilting, I have tried most everthing. A fan of all kinds of quilting, I have narrowed down my style to three staples: vintage, scrappy, and repurposed. You will find one or all three of those elements in any of my quilt designs.

I spent 10 years as a middle and high public school ESL teacher. I apply what I learned about teaching public school to the quilting workshops I teach. Seeing my passion for quilting reflected in a student’s work is truly an honor. 

emma powell quilt tribune

Global Inspiration

I fell in love with learning about Latino culture from a fantastic high school Spanish teacher. I’ve had the fortune to study abroad in Spain, teach English in Costa Rica, and travel for lengthy periods of time in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, & Mexico. The colors, textiles, and techniques  have greatly influenced my creative style and my appreciation for craft art.

Born and raised in North Carolina, I bounced around a little in DC, Virginia, and abroad before settling right back here. I do spend time in north Texas each year (see photo) visiting my husband’s family.

Back in North Carolina, my husband has a small farm with turkeys and chickens. I became an older mother having my son in my 40s. He’s under five, and I credit him for my already sparkly hair multiplying in grays and even white. I am a stepmother to two teenage girls. Among all this activity, I somehow find time to sew.