WILLIAMSBURG— Barbara Blanton started the Academy of Applique in 2015 as a way to combine her passion for the art of quilting and the desire to spend more time with her family.
“My husband became terminal. At that point, I was the breadwinner of the family and I had to figure out a way to financially sustain the family while spending the maximum amount of time I could with my husband,” Blanton explained.
Blanton, who worked as a CPA and finance manager for years, uses the academy as a way to teach the art of appliqué. Applique, which has been around since the 1300s, is a technique where pieces of fabric are sewn or stuck onto a larger piece of fabric to form pictures or patterns.
“You really need to put some time into appliquéing. This is not an instant gratification type of thing. If people were to say, ‘how long does it take to stitch a queen size quilt top that’s appliquéd,’ I would say that it takes anywhere from two to five years,” Blanton said.
Held the week following the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show, the Academy of Applique is a week-long annual seminar at Kingsmill where quilters from around the country come together to learn new techniques for stitching and appliquéing and to show off their current projects.
Blanton brings 20 different teachers to the academy who teach beginner, intermediate, and advanced stitching classes. The group also gets a tour of the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show and the Colonial Williamsburg storage facility to see all the quilts that are currently not on display in the historic district.
With over 300 people attending each year, Blanton had no clue her venture would be so successful.
“I was honestly just hoping that it would sustain my family while my husband was ill. I have never been in it for the money. What I am passionate about is appliqué and sharing that skill. If we don’t continue with that skill and share it with the younger generation, it’s going to die,” Blanton said.
While registration for the 2025 academy is full, Blanton will begin working on the 2026 gathering soon.
“I give myself one week off before I start sending out invitations to the next year’s teachers. I send out contracts, I receive supply lists, we put together a 90-page catalog of projects for people to choose from, it truly never stops,” Blanton says.
Registration for the 2026 academy will open on Labor Day.
Blanton relishes the fact that she brings people together over a shared hobby.
“If you are looking for your people, we are your people. You have found us,” Blanton said.
To learn more about the Academy of Applique, visit academyofapplique.com.