Remembering Carole Lyles Shaw, Freddy Moran, Laurie Harsh, Sarah Bond, and Art Joinnides

It is with great sadness that I write this post. In the last few weeks, we have lost delightful people in the quilting world. Carole Lyles Shaw, Freddy Moran, Laurie Harsh, Sarah Bond, and Art Joinnides have all passed away in the last two weeks. It has been a time of sadness, shock and reflection. I wanted to take a moment to honor them all and share a bit more about them.

Laurie Harsh

Laurie Harsh was the founder of The Fabric Shop Network, Inc., a trade association for fabric and quilt retailers. Laurie created a resource for shop owners to help them be successful in an ever changing retail environment. She encouraged me to publish my first book, Seven Management Strategies for Success, in 2015 and had me do webinars way back then. She was always ahead of her time. Laurie had a great sense of humor and always had a kind word at Quilt Market. She was a terrific business person, innovator, and champion of the independent retailer. She will be missed.

Carole Lyles Shaw

Carole Lyles Shaw was a modern quilter whose work inspired so many makers. She had a quick, wonderful smile and was so kind. As an educator, she was so talented at teaching others how to express their creativity. She was a teacher on Creative Spark, our online learning platform. She loved working with African prints and bold colors. She worked with Sophie Scardaci at C&T. Sophie shared,"Carole was enthusiastic about introducing folks to Modern Quilting and offered a unique point of view on color and design. She not only elevated her students' skill sets and built their confidence but reminded them to have fun and to be daring with their colors. Her insight and smile will be missed by all." She has contributed much to the quilting community through her art and teaching. She will be missed by many. Please share your condolences at legacy.com. Enter her name to leave a message.

Sarah Bond 

Sarah is from a family of quilt makers stretching back to the early nineteenth century. She began quilting in her early 20s and loves to immerse herself in old quilts and quilt books. She is obsessed with color and pattern, and while her inspirations are classic and traditional, her own work has a modern flair. Sarah was a teacher, maker and talented artist. To learn more about Sarah, watch this video.

Freddy Moran 

FREDdy loved the color red; she considered it a neutral color. Her home was vibrant and colorful. She was a C&T author publishing Freddy’s House in 1999. To know Freddy was to love her. She was funny, cheery, and kind. Freddy had The Quilt Show come for a visit earlier this year so you can see how amazing she was and how much fun her home was. Something I aspire to emulate. Here is a quote from the blog post by Jennifer Sampou: ”Freddy made my life richer, more fun, and encouraged me to be fully me. Living within walking distance from my studio to hers was a gift, and I am so grateful for her friendship.” Freddy was 94 years young and created in her studio every day. To learn more about Freddy, please see our blog post by Jennifer.

Art Joinnides 

Art Joinnides was the co-founder and president of SOHO Publishing, Mixed Media Resources, and West Broadway Distribution. While I did not know him personally, it is clear he left a significant impact on the publishing industry. We grieve for his loved ones and colleagues. I encourage you to read about him in this Craft Industry Alliance article from Mixed Media Resources LLC, and leave a fond memory or condolence in the comment section.