Rick and Rack Share the Spirit of Gee’s Bend

Rick and Rack recently conducted a lecture and hands-on workshop for the Charlotte Quilters Guild, sharing the rich history of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, the renowned Gee’s Bend Quilters, and the quilting retreats led by China Pettway and Mary Ann Pettway.

Marilyn has had the opportunity to attend the quilting retreat twice, while Kaye recently participated in the March 2026 retreat. Their experiences brought a personal perspective to the presentation and helped participants better understand the traditions, creativity, and improvisational spirit of Gee’s Bend quilting.

During the workshop, Rick and Rack encouraged participants to embrace their own creativity with the simple philosophy: “Don’t think, just sew!” Using this approach, participants created scrap quilt blocks by trusting their instincts, working with the fabrics at hand, and allowing the design to develop organically.

The workshop was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the legacy of Gee’s Bend while experiencing firsthand the freedom and joy of creating quilts without overthinking the process.