Michelle Elrod, Quilter

Michelle Elrod, a Nebraska native, living in Leawood Kansas, has quilting/crafting roots going back several generations. She grew up watching her Grandmother Marie create hundreds of quilts for family members and church missions. Michelle, considering herself “Marie’s Legacy” started her quilting journey in the early 1990s and channels her beloved grandmother’s spiritual energy into her projects. Family heirloom quilts grace her studio and remind her of her family’s legacy.

She spent 10 years as a Bernina salesperson and educator, developing and creating many one of a kind projects on her favorite Bernina machines. Michelle has a passion for teaching students how to use their machines and to create their own quilting masterpieces.

In addition to her textile work, Michelle is a certified instructor through Neon Moon Sewing Co for train case restoration. She conducts specialized workshops to bring these vintage travel pieces back to life. This complements her passion for rescuing thrifted textiles and vintage linens repurposing them into wearable art and quilts. She loves bringing the past into the present by blending vintage linens with modern fabrics to create one of a kind wearable art and quilting pieces. Each stitch is a way to honor the artistry of previous generations while giving these timeless materials new life. Teaching others how to merge the old with the new is one of her greatest joys, helping quilters and crafters preserve both our resources and the incredible needlework of our ancestors. “Quilting isn’t just about fabric—it’s storytelling, sustainability, and creativity.” She can be found teaching classes in the Kansas City area at quilt shops and conducting workshops at area quilt guilds.