Who is Barbara Persing?

Born in New Jersey, Barbara Persing stepped into the world of fabric and thread over 30 years ago acquiring the love of quilting and sewing from her mother. Her journey in this arena originated in traditional quilting; but curiosity and creativity soon moved her outside and beyond the box of conventional quilting.

The new millennium reinvented Barbara from a hobbyist of quilting into a proprietor of her own Longarm Quilting business, addressing customers that longed for pieces that displayed individuality. She attributes embracing a self developed mantra “Listen to the Quilt” as a great contributor to her business’ success. Those four words empowered her to deliver unparalleled and personalized quilting to each and every project she acquired. Through the enormous diversity of her clients desires and needs Barb’s style of quilting expanded, opening the doors to an array of techniques. Her talent and expertise advanced; in 2006 she became known in the quilting industry for her unique design aesthetic. In addition, the year found Barbara partnering with her sister, Mary Hoover. Together they would establish a pattern company, “4th & 6th Designs," which has been featured in Keepsake Quilting and in many other national quilting magazines.

The term “quilter” does not define Barbara; she has proven herself an acknowledged fiber artist, designer, author, and teacher. Major accomplishments such as her fabric lines with Island Batik, “Pink Peony” the first place award winning quilt at AQS Lancaster, and her co-authored publication, “StrataVarious Quilt” and "Listen To Your Quilt" has demonstrated that venturing outside the box can bring incredible life changing events. As a Aurifil Designer, and producer of the signature “edge-coloring appliqué” technique this solo artist reaches out to new and seasoned quilters during lectures, classes, and publications nationwide. Her message to all those she encounters is simply this, “Never hold yourself to one style, or one technique of quilting; dare yourself to step outside your quilting box and become a one of a kind artist”.