About the Author
Mary Mashuta became a quilter in the 1970s, when hand quilting was a common practice. She switched to machine quilting with a walking foot in the 1990s so that she would have a chance of finishing the quilts she enjoyed making. In the mid-1980s, she left careers in teaching and interior design to become a full-time international quilting teacher. Her classes have always included color and design work, but she has also emphasized what to do when the top is done. Because she never made the move to free-motion quilting, she has been able to help other quilters who are "drop the feed dog" challenged. Now her students and readers know that they can finish their quilts without having to send them out. As a professionally trained teacher, she has also encouraged quilters to realize that they can create their own designs, from simple to complex. This is an area where many would-be machine quilters need encouragement, as well as specific information about needles, threads, and batting. In addition to her books, Mary has written numerous magazine articles. Her work has appeared in national shows including Quilt National and Visions. She had the fun of designing eleven quilts for the yearly book that Kaffe Fassett creates for Rowan Fabrics. Mary is an ambassador for BERNINA of America. She lives in Berkeley, California, with her twin sister and fellow quilter, Roberta Horton. Together they were named the 2014 TQS Legends by The Quilt Show (thequiltshow.com).
