Mary Lou Weidman is an artist, quilter, painter, writer, lecturer, and workshop teacher. She started quilting with her grandmother when she was in grade school, and she started painting with her father when she was seven years old. Her interest in all mediums of art keeps her busy as she explores what her inner artist will develop next. Encouraging and teaching art concepts to others with humor and sentiment is her passion as she travels the world and meets new quilting and art friends.

Mary Lou has made a lifetime of friends while teaching on the road, and it's the people and their stories that keep her traveling and teaching. Gardening, cooking, decorating, reading, and crafting with her grandchildren are all passions that she tries to fit into the time she has at home when she is not traveling.

Melanie Bautista McFarland caught the sewing bug as a child. She has a strong background in fashion design and has traveled the world working with well-known companies such as Disney and Gap. Melanie has taught fashion design at the college level, but she really enjoys teaching younger students to sew. She finds sewing relaxing and inspiring.