About Rita      

Rita Blocksom is a career educator whose twin passions for the Southwest and for art quilts provided the impetus for her relocation to Arizona and her transition to full-time teaching of quilting arts to students of all ages. Her quilt classes provide an opportunity for self-expression as well as working with the latest trends and techniques in the quilting world. She has provided programs at shops, guilds, regional quilting events, and museums, including the Museum of the American Quilters Society in Paducah, Kentucky.. 

As two-term President of the Arizona Quilters Guild, Rita was responsible for the collaboration between the AQG and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that resulted in AZ being named the pilot state for introducing UN-L’s “Quilt Quest” program to guilds. “Quilt Quest” is a quilting curriculum targeted for 10-19 year-olds that was developed by UN-L, the International Quilt Study Center, National 4-H, Nebraska Quilt Guild and the Lincoln Quilt Guild.  She was a member of the Arizona Quilters Guild Board of Directors for six years, actively participated in AQG’s Traveling Teacher program, and is a member of the American Quilters Society, the National Quilting Association, and Quilt Visions.  She has also been accepted as a Candidate into NQA’s Certified Judges’ Program.    

Rita holds a B.S. in Education with extensive graduate work in the field of Special Education and Creativity, and was a certified K-12 teacher and author of several books and numerous articles for professional publication in the field of education. Her extensive teaching experience across age and grade levels enhances her popular quilting and embellishment classes. Rita began sewing as a very young child at her grandmother’s knee and got her first sewing machine at the age of twelve. While always an avid quilter, she embraced teaching quilting as a passion after moving to Arizona in 1998.

Teaching Honors:

  • Nominated, Teacher of the Year, Professional Quilter Magazine, 2007

  • Commendation from Governor Napolitano for the Arizona Quilt Guild’s Katrina Survivor’s Quilt Donation Program.  Created program as guild president. 600 quilts for hurricane survivors in AZ.   2006

Teaching Experience:

  • Bernina University 2006, San Diego, CA. “Guild Gathering” Guest Speaker with Nina McVeigh

  • Museum of American Quilters Society, Paducah, KY, April 2005. Educator’s Forum on Quilting for Children and Youth, Co-Presenter with Dr. Diane Vigna and Dr. Patricia Fairchild, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

  • Arizona Quilters Guild Traveling Teacher, 2002-Present. Travel state of AZ teaching variety of topics

  • Rusty Barn Productions, Inc. Phoenix, AZ, January 2005-2007. “Teaching Children to Quilt”

  • Bernina Connection Llc, 2002-2007. Phoenix, AZ

  • Certified K-12 Educator. Emphasis on special education, gifted/creative. Owner, Private school for exceptional students: gifted, talented, handicapped  

  • Consulting Editor, DOK Publishers, East Aurora, NY. 1986-88

Publications:  

  • Blocksom, R.  2004-2006.  Patchwork Chatter, Newsletter of the Arizona Quilters Guild. Editor/Author

  • Blocksom, R.  2007.  Understanding the Quilt Show World. Country Register.  Feb-March, 2007

  • Blocksom, R. “The ABC’s of Embellishment”. Country Register, Jan-March 2006. Nationally distributed craft publication  

  • Blocksom, R., and Smutny, J..  1988.  Gifted Education: A Perspective.  Phi Delta Kappa Press, Bloomington, IN

  • Blocksom, R.  1988.  Nurturing Early Promise.  Bend, OR.  Pinaroo Publishing.  Activity-based book for parents, educators, administrators

  • Blocksom, R. 1986-1988.   Create-A-Kid educational series, 4 titles.  East Aurora, NY: DOK Publishers. Creative self-expression activities

Leadership in Arizona Quilters Guild

Arizona Quilters Guild  

  • Past President  and Ambassador  2006-2007

  • President  2004-2006

  • President –Elect 2003-2004

  • Membership Chair 2001-2003

As President:

  • Partnered with Bernina of America: Machine Techniques for Award-Winning Quilts, May 2006

  • Facilitated Ricky Tims Quilt Seminar, December 2005, two venues, Glendale and Mesa, AZ.  600 participants

  • Coordinated Fabric of Jazz Exhibit with Mesa Southwest Museum, November 2005-April 2006

  • Partnered with University-Nebraska Lincoln, Quilt Quest Project.  Arizona became pilot state for Quilt Quest Quilting Curriculum in collaboration with UN-L and National 4-H, 2005

 

Selected Quilts Exhibited:

Grape Jelly, National Quilting Association Annual Show; Columbus, OH, June 2007; Rockome Gardens Annual Quilt Show, Arcola, IL, June 2007, Arizona Quilters Guild Annual Show, Phoenix, AZ, 2007

PCB93, Primedia Gallery, Golden CO, “The Image and the Quilt” Invitational Exhibit, November 2004 – January 2005. Curated by Jeannie Spears. Arizona Quilters Guild Annual Show, Phoenix, AZ, March 2004

Full Circle, National Quilting Association Annual Show, Columbus, OH, June 2003; Road to California Quilters Showcase, Ontario, CA, January 2003; Rockome Gardens Annual Quilt Show, Arcola, IL, June 2003; Arizona Science Center, Peak Gallery, November 2002 (Viewer’s Choice Award), Arizona Quilters Guild, Glendale, AZ, March 2002

Quilt Affiliations:

  • American Quilter’s Society, Member since January 2002 (#85044-BLOC-000)

  • National Quilting Association, Member since June 2002 (#56252)

  • Quilt Visions, San Diego, CA, 2007

  • Arizona Quilters Guild,  Member since January 2002, Includes 6 years Board Service

  • Tucson Quilters Guild Tucson, AZ, 2007

  • Patchers Guild, Chapter of AQG, 2001-2005, Board service 3 years, Program Chair

  • Nimble Thimbles Guild, Chapter of AQG, 2002-2004, Board service 1 year, Membership Chair

  • Mavericks Art Quilt Guild, Chapter of AQG, 2002-2004, Fund-raising 1 year

Bibliography: 

  • Jeannie Spears  2005.  Digital Images on Fabric. Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, Golden, CO  January-February 2005

  • Art Doll Challenge.   Quilting Arts Magazine, Stow, MA, Summer 2003 

Judging Training and Coursework:

  • National Quilting Association, Currently enrolled as Candidate in NQA Judges’ Certification Program

  • National Quilting Association, “Introduction to Judging” Class, June 2006, Instructors: Anita Shackelford, Klaudeen Hansen

  • American Quilter’s Society, Paducah, KY, “Professional Development for Judges”, April 2007, Instructor: Anita Shackelford

  • Road 2 California, “Here Comes the Judge-An Entrants Point of View” Class, January 2006, Instructor:  Dixie McBride

  • Arizona Quilters Guild, “The Judging Process” Lecture, March 2006, Diane Pitchford, Glendale, AZ

National Quilt Shows Attended: 

  • QuiltVisions, Oceanside, CA, November, 2006

  • American Quilters Society Show, Paducah, KY, April 2002-2007

  • American Quilters Society Exposition, Nashville, TN, August 2003-2006

  • National Quilting Association, Columbus, OH, June 2004, 2006

  • International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX,  November 2004

  • Bernina University, Monterey, CA, 2003, San Diego, CA, 2006

  • Road to California, Ontario, CA, 2002-2004, 2006, 2007

Continuing Quilt Education:

  • Ricky Tims LaVeta Retreat, Creative Development and Independent Study, September 2007, LaVeta, CO

  • Ricky Tims LaVeta Retreat, Creative Development and Independent Study, September 2006, LaVeta, CO

  • Ricky Tims Dye Workshop, LaVeta, CO. September 2006

  • Ricky Tims Super Seminar, Escondido, CA, March 2007,

  • Ricky Tims Quilt Seminar, Glendale and Mesa, AZ, 2005 (2 venues)

  • National Teachers studied with include: Libby Lehman, Yvonne Porcella, Jane Sassaman, Katie Pasquini Masopust, Judith Baker Montano, Sally Collins, Gwen Marsden, Rachel Clark, Harriet Hargrave, Jan Krentz, Gail Garber, Mary Ellen Kratz, Mari Stori, June Colburn, Elinor Peace Bailey, Barbara Randle, Gloria Laughman, Becky Goldsmith, Kathy Sandbach, Pat Yamin, Judy Sisneros, Lauren Camp, Ellen Anne Eddy.

  • Road to California, class with Bob Leathers on Quilt Photography, Ontario, CA.  January 2007

  • AQS classes in publishing with Jay Staten, writing patterns with Barbara Smith and quilt photography with Charlie Lynch, Paducah, KY and Nashville, TN. 2004-2006

  • Sherrill Kahn’s Fabric Painting, Dyeing, Stamping Retreat, Sedona, AZ.  May 2002

  • Quilt Camp in the Pines, Flagstaff, AZ, July 2002

  • Quilting in the Desert, Phoenix, AZ, January 2004-2006

  • Cholla Quilters Retreat, May 2006, May 2005, Prescott, AZ

  • Mavericks Art Quilt Retreat, January 2002, 2003, Prescott, AZ