THE LONG STORY

Hello, my name is Rossie Hutchinson. I grew up in Wisconsin, lived in Seattle for a few years in the aughties, and came to Ann Arbor, Michigan for graduate school at the University of Michigan. After completing my PhD in 2010, I started teaching full time at the University of Michigan. I tried to balance home/work/quilting for a few years, ultimately leaving the University in 2014 in order to focus on my art full time. While I miss being in the classroom regularly, I do get my teaching fix in quilt classes on a regular basis! For my teaching offerings check my teaching page; I will travel to teach, hire me!

I still live near Ann Arbor, with my little family and our many animals. Jon and I were married in 2013 (you can read about that here). In the fall of 2014, we bought our dream home in the countryside outside Ann Arbor (you can read about that here). We have a two dogs, two barn cats, and ten chickens at our place! Our child, Simon, was born in 2017 (I posted a few baby photos here).  Funny story: I met Jon through quilting. We had a mutual friend that I knew through quilting and Jon knew through business classes.  She introduced us at her birthday party and we’ve been a couple ever since!

I’ve been quilting since 2002. I made only a few quilts in my first five years, and now I make a few quilts a month! It all started from a love of fabric and a desire to have a quilt with a modern aesthetic (which I couldn’t find to buy anywhere, so I set about making.) 

I am sometimes referred to as a leader in the “modern quilt movement” because I started Fresh Modern Quilts on Flickr back in February of 2008; I started the group out of an interest in being a part of a group where I could regularly see pictures of other non-traditional quilts, not finding a group to join, I made one. Fresh Modern Quilts became the first great online meeting place for a modern quilters, and the popularity and activity on Fresh Modern Quilts was an important precursor to the founding of the Modern Quilt Guild.

Speaking of the Modern Quilt Guild, you should see if there’s a guild near you!  I’m an active member of the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild  In the past, I have served as an officer and have also been active as a member of the nominating committee for the Modern Quilt Guild.  I’ve also proudly and excitedly attended the first Quilt Con (the MQG’s national conference and show).  I was honored to teach at the second and third Quilt Cons, and plan to attend as many as my schedule and budget will allow in the future!