Carroll Kelly

Carroll Kelly, Quilter, from South Hempstead, New York, living in Humacao, Puerto Rico.

My passion switched from sewing fashion to modern quilting after attending the 2016 International Quilt Festival in Houston.  I gather fabrics while exploring the world, including trips to Asia, South America and local thrift shops. I experiment in techniques, preferring applique, thread painting, free-motion quilting and landscape embroidery.

I have attended classes from internationally recognized fiber artists including David Taylor, Kathy McNeil, Kathy Wylie, Melinda Bula and Dee from Pixelquilts. In Panama, instructors from the Kuna tribe taught me their unique reverse-appliqué art form used to create molas.
Creative inspiration comes from the beautiful place where I live and the amazing tribe of artists know as the East End Art Guild.

My work has been shown and sold in Puerto Rico galleries and various venues. In 2025, I received the most votes for this region of the world in the American Quilters Society Worldwide Parade of Quilts for MY JACKIE, which is a 58” x 58” pixel quilt. It began with a photo of Jackie, who was rescued from a beach, then transforming the photo into pixels with a computer program, followed by sewing together over 5,000 squares of fabric.

My goal is to continue exploring fiber art techniques, as well as inspire others through hands-on instruction in sewing and the creative process.