I used to see her on "Simply Quilts" and just love her. I have not seen anything about Mary Ellen, Billie Lauder (might be misspelled) or Jean Wells. Does anyone know what they might be doing now? I really miss those quilting shows. :-(

I have seen Billi Lauder in videos on Quilters tv :D

If you Google them there should be info :)

Mary Ellen Hopkins had such good advice - her It's Okay if You Sit on My Quilts book is excellent - I highly recommend it.

I have one of her Kansas connector books. I do not have the book you mentioned but might have to check this one out. She is so cute and funny. Great teacher also. :D

Mary Ellen Hopkins was not a young woman the last I saw of her. I vagely remember hearing about her getting into some trouble over remarks she made. Perhaps she is deceased or no longer able to be active in the quilt world.
I think I have her book about sitting on my quilt. I liked her attitude about the quilt police.

She's probably around 76 years old, if she is still alive but not too long ago I heard she had passed away.

I wasn't able to find anything recent about her when I googled her.

She gave a lecture at a guild June, 2009.

I sure hope she is still with us. :-( I haven't been able to find out anything. I knew she was in her 70's but she seemed so lively and active. Thanks to all of you for your response.

I saw Billie Lauder in her booth at the quilt show in Paducah this past
April. I think she has a schedule posted on her web site http://www.easymade.com

I had also heard that Mary Ellen Hopkins passed away & I thought I saw Jean Wells name on a quilting cruise but not sure.

If she has died I'm sure some of the quilting websites or blogs would have posted the news. Not many of the newer quilters know who she is.

Jean Wells owns a quilt shop in Sisters, Oregon called The Stitchin Post. They organize the quilt show there every July. She has a daughter who writes quilt books and also designs fabrics - I think her name is Valorie Wells.

I ran into Billie at the quilt show in Hersey last year. and Mary Ellen in Pa. also , not sure of the exact date. :? :

HERE TOO AND ALEX, I PLAY THEN INSTEAD OF THE RADIO.

In a 2005 newsletter, a VT guild newsletter refers to an upcoming lecture Mary Ellen was going to be doing. In that article, it says she is 76. That would make her 81 now.

Here is her website.
http://www.maryellenhopkins.com/
She seems to be alive and well.

The site was last updated a year ago, with the last scheduled program being at Road to California last January. I hope somebody finds something current!

I looked on the Mary Ellen site which was updated in August 09 and it looks as if she is live and well. YEA. I really like her and wish she would show up on a quilting show somewhere..... :D

I received this today:


Hearthside Quilters Nook wrote:
"Mary Ellen is doing fine. She is living in Southern California spending lot's of time with family and friends."