Theresa Benson once taught a library class on the same day she got 14 stitches in her hand (long story, short version: a foster dog, a squirrel, and a sliding door that won, decisively). She mentions this only because it explains a lot about how she approaches AI: cautiously, with a decent first aid kit nearby, and mostly by trying it herself before she tells you what she thinks. This lecture opens with a trunk show, including the very first quilt she ever made, kept on purpose next to her current work so nobody forgets that “beginner” and “bad” aren’t the same thing. From there she walks through what AI is, where it came from, and why the timeline surprises almost everyone in the room. You’ll also learn that the rotary cutter was once considered cheating. History repeats, and so can the panic. This lecture aims to lend clarity and balance to a hot topic.

Find out more about Theresa on her website or on Instagram as @theaiquilter.