Golden Triangle Quilt Guild 

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Meet our Judges

Patti Hempen was born in Harvey, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago and now resides at Canyon Lake, Texas.  In 1976, she became interested in working at a physician's office as a medical assistant and her love for the medical field led her to become a Certified Medical Transcriptionist through the American Association for Medical Transcription, owning and operating her own medical transcription service for 20 years with hospital accounts from all over the country including Homestead Air Force Base Medical Hospital in Florida.

Quilting adventures all began after seeing a lovely quilt her sister-in-law made and it has been Patti's passion ever since 1998, having created 90+quilts.  Colors, the brighter the better are her love and you will see this in her favorite quilt pattern,  the kaleidoscope.  Over the last two years, she has won over 15 ribbons and awards, also having had one of her quilts juried into the American Quilter's Society Expo at Nashville.  She has had her quilts featured in the NQA Quilting Quarterly as well as Asian Fabric Magazine.  She now teaches quilting classes at a number of quilt shops and local guilds, gives programs and trunk shows and looks forward to becoming a traveling teacher.

Patti has taken many classes over the years and is currently participating in the Certified Judge Program given by the National Quilting Association.  She has judged several shows in Texas.  She has attended many lectures and too many to name yearly retreats all over the country with well-known artists including, but not limited to Alex Anderson and Paula Reid in California, Sandi Cummings in Tahoe as well as Asilomar in California with Caryl Bryer Fallert.  She has also volunteered and assisted at many AQS as well as NQA shows.

Her current membership includes: Past President, Wimberly Valley Quilt Guild; Vice President and Program Chair, New Braunfels Area Quilt Guild; Nominating Committee Chair, National Quilting Association; International Quilting Association, American Quilter's Society, Greater San Antonio Quilt Guild and the Austin Area Quilt Guild.

Having tried to grasp every aspect of the quilting worl d she possibly can, she is truly delighted and pleasantly overwhelmed with the creativity this art brings to all of us.

Connie Silber  was born and raised in Paris, IL, and graduated from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana with a BA in chemistry.  Until 1976 Connie worked as an analytical chemist for the Material Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois.  During the 1980's Connie was self-employed with custom sewing and alterations in her home.  This venture led to her position as a Professional Stitcher for the Theater Arts Department of Texas A&M University from 1988-91 where she stitched for nine period productions.  Connie began quilting in 1989.  She has been an active member of the Brazos Bluebonnet Quilt Guild for over 15 years.  While interested in all aspects and techniques of quilting, Connie's own work focuses on color use, original designs and scrapping techniques.  Her quilts have won awards in both her local guild and the 2000 National Quilting Association Show in Reno, NV.  Connie was also a participant in the NQA Quilt Judging Seminar in Omaha, NB in June 1999 under the instruction of Anita Shackelford, Carol Butzke and Klaudeen Hansen.  In May 2001, Connie was one of three judges selected to judge the International Machine Quilters Association Machine Quilting Showcase in Springfield, IL.  Over the last seven years she had judged many quilt shows across Texas, including the Austin, Arlington, and Ogallala shows.

Connie has been married to her wonderful husband Steve for thirty-five years, and they have two sons Eric and Kyle.  Eric is married to Carla and they are parents of two grandchildren Nina and Seth.  Who knew how much fun grands would be? Kyle, who was named long before residing in Aggieland, is a graduate of Texas A&M and working in Dallas.  He and his bride Katie were married in October 2005.  After honeymooning in Mexico with Hurricane Wilma,  we are very thankful they are safe and well.  We are so pleased to have her become part of our family.

Nell Smith of Odessa, Texs is a National Quilting Association Certified Judge, an American Quilters Society certified Appraiser of Quilts and Quilted Textiles and holds two judging certifications including Master Needlework Judge from the Embroiderers' Guild of America.  Nell has a BS degree in Home Economics from the University of North Texas and taught quilting and sewing at Odessa College for 17 years.  Her work has been shown at the International Quilt Association Judged Show in Houston, the National Quilting Association Judged Show, Dallas Quilt Celebration, the Margaret Parshall Gallery, EGA National Headquarters, Louisville, KY, and the State Fair of Texas.  She had a quilt in the 17th National Exhibit of the Embroiderers' Guild of America and currently has a quilt in the 18th National Traveling Exhibit.  She teaches, appraises and lectures locally, regionally and nationally and maintains a busy judging schedule.  Nell is a native Texan, is married to Glenn R. Smith and has two grown children and five grandchildren.

Last Updated 01/24/2008