SHAMBELLIE QUILTERS ‘QUILT FLING’ 2026

Elma has been a member of the Solway Quilters in Dumfries for the last 26 years. A Home Economics teacher specialising in Needlecraft she was first introduced to patchwork and quilting while living in Suffolk. As a hobby, she has explored various types of patchwork over the years taking inspiration from workshops, quilt shows and her surroundings, teaching classes locally encouraging others to enjoy the craft.

Ann has been professionally teaching quilt making for 15 years. She has exhibited her work around the world, currently with an exhibition touring America and another about to start touring 40 countries. Ann is quilter in residence at Alzheimer Scotland and has been awarded a Point of Light and a British Empire medal for her services to Alzheimer’s, both through working with those living with dementia and raising awareness through quilting exhibitions.

Ann teaches beginners and experienced quilters in the fundamentals of quilting and progress through traditional, modern and contemporary quilting. She runs weekly classes in Dumfries and Galloway. Ann is Chair of Dumfries Rotary and Vice Chair for Shambellie House Trust. She is also lead for the Quilters of Shambellie House, who are responsible for organising quilt festivals in autumn and May each year and running classes throughout the year.

Helen Walsh is an Artist and Creative Practitioner specialising in drawing and textiles, in particular embroidery. She is continually fascinated by the natural world and our connection to it. She is particularly interested in birds and their feathers and uses them as symbols in her work to explore the human desire to transcend. Choosing to work predominantly with natural fibres such as silk and linen Helen finds herself consistently drawn to traditional textile skills such as embroidery, knitting and dyeing and enjoys the connections with the often forgotten makers of the past that working this way gives her. Helen is a skilled and experienced workshop leader and works on a variety of community and education based arts projects working with a diverse range of people in a variety of settings. Helen’s aim is to enable people to unlock and explore their creativity.