Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I’m not very technical. Can I do this?
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Absolutely! I’ve built a career on connecting people to technology, regardless of age or skill level. You don’t need to be technical to get started—just open-minded and ready to explore new possibilities.
Is this just for quilters?
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Nope. I also offer lectures on artificial intelligence, covering its impact on education, business, bias, and more. My aim is to make AI accessible and relevant to a wide range of audiences.
Wait—how do AI models even learn?
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Come to one of my classes to find out! But in all seriousness, AI models DO NOT store finished artworks—they learn patterns.
It’s like a painter studying Monet—not copying, but understanding how light and brushstroke work. That said, I don’t excuse shady sourcing. The goal is training on lawful, consented, transparent data. That’s the line. Period.
AI isn’t ready—it makes mistakes.
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You’re not wrong. Some AI is buggy, lazy, or straight-up messy.
Poorly deployed billing systems? Disaster. AI-generated print-on-demand fabric? Sometimes cursed. But your experience can be different—especially when learning how things work, and using tools properly and with intention. Rushed, sloppy use isn’t the tech’s fault—it’s a human choice. I advocate for UAT (user acceptance testing) and ethics-first workflows, not shortcut culture.
There’s no room in quilting for AI.
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I get the instinct to protect tradition. Truly.
But we’ve heard this tune before—with sewing machines, rotary cutters, computerized quilting, and EQ8. AI’s not replacing quilting any more than a calculator replaced math or Microsoft Excel replaced accountants. It’s a tool. Optional. Expandable. Not a takeover.
Why AI and quilting?
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Because quilting has always evolved with the times—from hand piecing to rotary cutters to longarms and design software. This is just the next chapter.
I use AI because I love color, fabric, and storytelling… not because I can sketch like Da Vinci. (Spoiler: I absolutely cannot.)
AI helps me generate ideas, test layouts, and explore design directions I’d never think of on my own. It’s like a digital muse that handles the heavy lifting so I can stay in flow.
This isn’t about replacing tradition—it’s about expanding what’s possible.
Also? I’m a big ol’ nerd, and combining quilting with smart tools makes my brain very happy.
Isn’t AI already everywhere?
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Yep. It’s in your mammogram results, your Spotify playlist, your Google Maps route.
But not all AI is the same. Automation ≠ creative collaboration ≠ predictive diagnostics. The question isn’t “Is AI good or bad?” It’s: “How do we use it—with care, with clarity, and with human values leading the way?”
Is AI just stealing from artists?
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Not quite—but the question’s fair.
AI doesn’t store or copy finished works like a camera roll. It learns patterns from massive datasets, similar to how artists study other artists. The real issue? How that training data was sourced. Consent, credit, and compensation matter. I advocate for transparent, consented, human-centered AI—not a free-for-all.
What about AI in competitions? Isn’t that unfair?
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This moment feels big—but we’ve been here before.
Hand quilting vs. machine. Longarms. Embroidery modules. Every time, competitions have adapted with new categories and clarified rules. I expect we’ll see more of that—not a collapse of standards, just smarter boundaries.
Isn’t it unethical to use AI if artists didn’t consent?
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Absolutely—and I’ve said that since day one.
I teach slow, intentional AI adoption and push for models trained on fully consented, compensated, and transparent data. Some tools are getting better. I use what aligns with my ethics, and I’ll always tell you why I made that call.
But who’s the designer—me, or AI?
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You are. Always.
AI doesn’t have judgment. It doesn’t edit, refine, color-match, or stitch. You do. It can suggest, remix, or surprise you—but the final call, the vision, and the execution? That’s on you. You’re not “less of an artist” for using a tool well.
But AI makes it too easy. Just pick up a pencil.
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Here’s the truth: Not everyone can.
Disabilities, neurodivergence, chronic illness, or just “I can’t draw” are real. AI can open doors for expression that were slammed shut by ableist ideas of who gets to be an artist. Creativity isn’t a gate. It’s a door—and doors should be open.
$55 for shipping? I’m in the US. Why so expensive?
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Chances are, my system doesn’t yet know that you are in the US. Please make sure your shipping information accurately includes city, state, ZIP code, and country. If any of these are left out, my shipping system will default to a global shipping price.
What about AI in competitions? Isn’t that unfair?
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I’m not very technical. Can I do this?
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Is AI just stealing from artists?
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Wait—how do AI models even learn?
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Is this just for quilters?
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Isn’t it unethical to use AI if artists didn’t consent?
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But who’s the designer—me, or AI?
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AI isn’t ready—it makes mistakes.
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There’s no room in quilting for AI.
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