About the Quilt Artist, Avis Lyko

Quilt artist, Avis Lyko.

My name is Avis Lyko and I have been a quilt maker for the past 25 years.

During this time, I owned and operated a quilt shop and a mail order business - offering quilts, quilting supplies, and fabric. As a quilt shop owner, I have had the opportunity to attend many of the quilt markets in Houston, Texas.

I have been fortunate to take many quilting classes from well-known quilt makers of today; Mary Ellen Hopkins, Harriet Hargraves, Marty Mitchell, Virginia Avery, Debra Wagner, Darlene Speckman, Roberta Horton, Jinny Beyer, Jeff Gutcheon, Elly Sienkiewicz, Trudy Hughes, Betty Boyink, Nancy Martin, and many others.

Avis' quilt studio.

I have taught quilt making professionally as well as lectured and displayed my quilts at various organizations and clubs. I had the opportunity to have my work on display in the main lobby of the Digital Equipment corporate building in Marlboro, Massachusetts. I also exhibited my work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Commerce and Development.

My work has been juried and hung at the New England Quilters Image Show and has been on display at the library in Calais, Maine. Over the years, I have participated at many juried craft shows.

Avis' country home in Waite, Maine.

I moved after retiring in 1998 to my summer home in the rural town of Waite, a hunter's and fisherman's paradise, 40 miles Northwest of Calais, Maine. Visiting friends and acquaintances cannot get over how quiet it is here and how wonderful it is to take an early morning walk and come upon a deer crossing the road in front of you. We sometimes grab a fishing pole and walk to Baker Brook or Tomah just down the road.

After remodeling my home to withstand the Maine winters, I soon got back into my quilting. I am a member of the St. Croix International Quilt Guild of Calais and the Pine Tree Guild of the State of Maine.