ABOUT ART QUILTERS PLAYGROUND

A Place to Learn, Experiment, and Make Art Quilts You Love

Art Quilters Playground was created for quilters who are curious, creative, and ready to explore beyond traditional patterns.

Whether you're taking your first steps into art quilting or you've been making quilts for years and want fresh ideas, you'll find a welcoming community, practical instruction, and plenty of encouragement here.

We believe that art quilting isn't about following someone else's rules. It's about discovering your own creative voice, building skills one step at a time, and finding joy in the process of making.

Why We Exist

Many quilters reach a point where they want something more.

Maybe you've mastered traditional piecing and wonder what comes next. Maybe you have ideas in your head, but aren't sure how to turn them into fabric. Maybe you've tried art quilting before and felt overwhelmed by all the techniques, supplies, and possibilities.

You are not alone.

Art Quilters Playground exists to make art quilting approachable, inspiring, and achievable. We break complex ideas into manageable steps and create a safe space where experimentation is encouraged, and mistakes are simply part of the learning process.

Our goal isn't to help you make quilts that look like ours.

Our goal is to help you make quilts that look like yours.

What You'll Find Here

At Art Quilters Playground, you'll find:

• Online workshops and classes

• Skill-building lessons for all experience levels

• Creative exercises that spark new ideas

• Guidance on design, composition, color, and technique

• Encouragement to develop your own artistic style

• A supportive community of fellow art quilters

Whether you're interested in surface design, free-motion quilting, collage, mixed-media techniques, textile storytelling, or simply finding new ways to express yourself through fabric, you'll find resources designed to help you grow.

Our Approach…simply “What if”

But when you see art quilts…
you pause.

You wonder:

• How do they do that?

• Where would I even start?

• Am I creative enough?

You don’t need more rules.
You need a way to explore.

That means no pressure to be perfect.

No competition.

No expectation that every project will be a masterpiece.

Instead, we focus on curiosity, practice, and progress.

We celebrate the courage it takes to try something new. We encourage questions. We value creativity over perfection. And we know that every finished art quilt—and every unfinished one—teaches us something valuable.

Meet Debra Kay

Artist, teacher, and founder of Art Quilters Playground, Debra Kay has spent years helping quilters and artists develop both technical skills and creative confidence.

Known for her warm and encouraging teaching style, Debra developed Art Quilters Playground as a safe and encouraging space for traditional quilters yearning to try art quilting. Debra started art quilting in 2016, asking “What if” that led to “How can I”.  Early success came when two pieces sold at a local gallery.  Next came her first solo exhibition, “The Mighty Saguaro” in 2019, and a second exhibition, “The Nature of Things” in 2026

Debra has been a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates since 2017 and as SAQA Representative for 4 years.  She has also been a SAQA Mentor for the last 5 years, helping emerging artists reach their artistic goals.

In 2023, Debra founded the Fiber Arts Center AZ, a nonprofit organization supporting all fiber arts through education, exhibitions, and education, with plans for one day opening a Center in central Arizona.

You Belong Here

You don't need an art degree.

You don't need a perfectly organized studio.

You don't need years of experience.

You simply need curiosity and a willingness to begin.

If you've ever looked at a piece of fabric and imagined the possibilities, you're in the right place.

Welcome to Art Quilters Playground.

Let's make something beautiful.