Sue Kassler, Owner, Manager, Store Staff and Teacher
Sue has been an avid sewer all her life and has been quilting since 1990. Prior to opening Quilter's Stash, she taught in quilt shops, for seniors' programs, and privately. Her professional background is in floral design, and she loves to experiment with color. Sue's quilting specialty was originally hand piecing and quilting, but she's happily moved on to machine sewing.

Maureen Bird, Store Staff and Teacher 
Maureen has been sewing for as long as she can remember.  She got started in the summer of 5th grade when her mother signed her up for a sewing class.  She has a background in clothing, including bridal and hand smocking, and also in home dec.  She made her first quilt in the 1980s using templates and scraps, and has been hooked ever since.  Maureen enjoys making many different styles of quilts, but planned scrap quilts and hand appliqué are her particular favorites.  She also loves to design her own quilts using EQ6.  Maureen has been an active member of her local guild since the early '90s, where she enjoys both participating in and running workshops.

Irene Bhatti, Teacher 
Irene started quilting when Quilter’s Stash opened its doors in 2002.  She had always wanted to learn the craft and was very happy to see a shop open up right around the corner! Her love of working with color as a decorative painter made working with beautiful fabrics an easy transition.  She took her first class in hand quilting from Sue, and went on to make several hand quilts, enjoying the whole process. Before long, finding so many fabrics and patterns she wanted to use, she moved on to making quilts by machine and hasn’t stopped since.  With her creative background, Irene has a great sense of color coordination.

Janet Elia, Store Staff and Teacher
Janet made her first sampler quilt around 1990 and has been following her quilting passion ever since. By day, she's a high school nurse and by night, a quilting maniac! Her motto is: "One can never have too much fabric or too many projects."
Janet is our custom bag-making expert -- we affectionately call her the "Bag Lady".  She is an accomplished and award-winning quilter, and you can follow her blog.

Debbie Falcone, Store Staff and Teacher
Debbie learned embroidery, needlepoint, and crochet from her grandmother when she was a child, and has been an avid crafter ever since. But she learned to sew and to quilt in classes here at Quilter's Stash. Debbie started quilting with the goal of making just one quilt – for her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary – and got hooked on quilting. She has made a number of bed quilts and many smaller quilts over the past five years (like potato chips – no one can make just one!), and has become an skillful, confident quilter. Debbie has a great sense of color, and especially enjoys making traditional block patterns using bright, modern fabrics, including batiks. 

Bev Fears, Teacher
Bev has been quilting since 1993. She has always loved sewing and crafting. As a youngster she made Barbie clothes out of fabric scraps and old clothing. She learned garment construction in high school, and continued to sew as a hobby after she graduated from college. After her third child was born, she took a beginner’s quilt class in hand piecing and has been passionate for quilting ever since. She thinks quilters are the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and has never met a quilter she didn’t like!

Linda Baxter Lasco, Teacher Emeritus; Guest Instructor
Linda has been quilting since the pre-rotary cutting days, making her first quilt in 1967. She has been a key member of a number of local guilds, and served as Program Chair for the Rhododendron Needlers. Linda has enjoyed being auctioneer for many guilds, and for the New England Images Show. As a quilter and teacher, she especially likes quick-cut techniques and finding new ways to use up scraps -- so much so that her colleagues at Quilter's Stash affectionately dubbed Linda the "Scrap Queen."  Linda is currently living and working in Paducah, Kentucky, and is Senior Editor at the American Quilter's Society (AQS). Linda visited Quilter's Stash as a guest instructor in 2008.

Michele Martino, Floor Manager and Teacher
Michele’s first sewing machine was given to her by her grandmother when she was in the 8th grade.  Michele caught the quilting bug when she took her first quilt class in 2002 –- at Quilter’s Stash -– and has been quilting ever since.  She takes great care with her piecing and pressing, and in teaching others her methods.

JoAnn Slaney, Teacher
JoAnn has been quilting since the late 1990s, though she’s been sewing for as long as she can remember. She enjoys the challenge of learning new things, stretching beyond her comfort zone, and sharing what she knows with others.

Lissa Solas, Store Staff and Teacher
Lissa’s interest in crafts began at a young age.  Growing up in a family where everyone was a crafter, she started hooking rugs and doing needlepoint.  Her interest in quilting didn’t begin until many years later, when she saw a beautiful quilt her friend made as a gift, and was inspired to learn to quilt. Lissa made her first quilt around 2002 on a borrowed machine.  Before long, she had her own machine, her own stash, and her own collection of UFOs! 

Denise White, Teacher
Denise began sewing and quilting as a teenager, and has been an avid quilter since then.  She is a member of the Rhode Island Watercolor Society, and has a strong interest in conservation.  Denise has worked in Education throughout her life.  She also has experience working in fabric and crafts stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  Denise is patient, dedicated and creative, and we are pleased to have her on our staff.

Deb Woodhams, Store Staff and Teacher
Deb has been a crafter all her life. Besides quilting, Deb is also a fabulous knitter.  When she took up quilting, she said, "I wanted to learn to quilt like my Southern relatives."  The first quilt class she took was an adult education course in hand quilting, thus beginning her collection of fabric -- and UFOs! With her creative ability and extensive crafting background, Deb is now an accomplished quilter.