Meet Our New Apprentice Quilt Judges!
The Canadian Quilters Association/Association canadienne de la courtepointe (CQA/ACC) Board of Directors, Elizabeth Spannring, and I are pleased to announce that Bonnie Rankin, Kerry Kerram, and Rebecca McAlpine have successfully advanced into the Apprenticeship Phase of the Quilt Judge Certification program! Congratulations Bonnie, Kerry, and Rebecca!
All three Apprentices are now officially available for show judging, and their contact information has been added to the CQA/ACC website.
Please read on to learn more about each of these hard-working and knowledgeable individuals.
Bonnie Rankin
Bonnie Rankin
Born in Ottawa and raised by two award-winning quilters, Bonnie has been sewing and quilting since she was a teenager. She has seen quilting evolve from traditional quilts to modern and art quilts using multi mediums and innovative, interpretative techniques.
Through various executive positions held in guilds in Ontario, British Columbia, and the CQA/ACC, where she was President, she has expanded her contacts and knowledge of quilting across Canada. Her expertise lies in appliqué, English paper piecing, wool work, and felting, but she loves all types of quilting.
She has taught, demonstrated, and lectured about quilting with wool at guilds and Creative Festivals in British Columbia and Ontario. She has had the opportunity to work twice in the National Juried Show judging room, and has judged the last two CQA/ACC TrendTex Challenges. She continues her work with the CQA/ACC as their Youth Program Director and is the Regional Representative for Eastern Ontario.
Bonnie is presently an Apprentice Quilt Judge and is continuing her studies in the Quilt Judge Certification Program with the CQA/ACC to become a Certified Quilt Judge. She hopes to encourage quilters of all skill sets to be proud of all that they accomplish, and to show their work wherever the opportunity arises.
Kerry Karram
Kerry Karram
Kerry-Dawn Karram, international quilt instructor, fibre artist, pattern designer, and award-winning quilter, has guided hundreds of students from ages 5-95 on patchwork and appliqué for over three decades. She has been published in numerous quilting magazines, designed patterns, and written two books. As a commissioned artist, her quilts and quilted creations have hung in England and been juried into national shows and exhibitions.
She has served on numerous quilt show committees (both juried and non-juried), and was a founding member of a guild that quickly became one of the largest in British Columbia. Kerry has been on the executive in membership, programs, and community quilts.
Kerry’s work extends well into her community. This has included teaching high school students and setting up a scholarship for them. She has also lectured and taught adult classes at many levels in person and online. Her students’ comments focus on her supportive feedback and encouragement, referring to it as “insightful” and “honest and encouraging”.
Throughout her own textile arts journey, Kerry has taken workshops with some of the world’s leading designers and quilters, continuing to learn so that she can guide others. This passion to motivate her students, a keen eye for workmanship, and knowledge of textile arts has led Kerry to pursue the goal of becoming a certified Quilt Judge by the CQA/ACC. This past fall, 2021, she became a CQA/ACC Apprentice Judge.
Rebecca McAlpine
Rebecca McAlpine
Rebecca has a passion for the beauty of life, which is expressed through her textile creations. Having worked and practiced in the textile arts for over 30 years, she brings to her craft a deep understanding and practical experience of multiple genres, creative styles, and textile history.
Rebecca started in hand work, then moved to clothing design, and then to the study of textile history and quilt making. Her popular presentation, Fabric of Time: Past, Present, and Future, explores the cultural significance and artistic foundations of quilting from the 14th century to the present.
Rebecca’s leadership, creativity and pedagogy are demonstrated by quilt guild leadership, teaching workshops, authoring articles, and helping to organize charitable initiatives related to quilting and other textile arts.
In 2021, Rebecca qualified as an Apprentice Judge with the CQA/ACC. With the benefit of previous judging experience at rural Ontario quilt shows, she is keen to take on judging at larger shows, exploring all traditional and modern genres of quilting. As a judge, Rebecca wishes to promote learning and creative growth at all skill levels.
Having retired as a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner, Rebecca recently moved to Victoria, BC, where she looks forward to being active in the local quilting community while also advocating for women and youth in textile art.
