Born in 1953, Maria Chisnall (nee Maillis) grew up at Adelaide where, with no electricity or telephone, she depended on her treadle sewing machine for entertainment and relaxation. She learnt to sew at a very early age under the guidance of her mother and grandmother, beginning with doll clothes and her own garments and coming to quilting in 1980 while awaiting the arrival of her first child, Calliope. The birth of Catherine and Alistair in he next two years put quilting on hold until 1986, when she joined the budding Stepping Stone Quilters Guild. From then on, quilting has been a major part of Maria's life and, encouraged and supported greatly by her husband, Quentin, she has made hundreds of quilts for family, friends, charity and sale. The Chisnall's home has always been open to hosting quilting gatherings where many international quilters have enjoyed the chance to meet and exchange ideas, fabrics and expertise with Bahamian quilters.

Maria's work has been exhibited in several international quilt shows and has been noted in several publictions. Her article, "Quilting in Paradise" appeared in the September 1993 volume of "Quilting International" magazine. In 1994, she participated in the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington D.C. where her quilts, distinctly Bahamian in their fabric, colour and design, gained widespread appreciation. Her quilt, made for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, was presented to the Olympics Committee of the nation of Georgia. Four of Maria's unique pieces hang in Nassau International Airport.

While undoubtedly a talented and skillful quiltmaker, Maria's real art lies in teaching and promoting quilting. She is researching and preserving historical and technical aspects of Bahamian quiltmaking and is instructing others in traditional (and sometimes non-traditional!) quiltmaking. A graduate of the University of York (England), Maria studied Literature and Education and has effectively used both aspects of her training in passing on her quiltmaking skills and in writing about this subject which is her passion. She has taught teenagers through Queen's College and her Gambier Girls Group and numerous adults through her classes at the Creative Crafts Centre.(1992-1995). She has also held workshops in Green Turtle Cay and Marsh Harbour., Abaco and Fresh Creek, Andros and is greatly responsible for the revival of interest in quilting in these areas as well as in Nassau.

Maria's personal challenge is not only to excel as a quiltmaker, but also to see quilting recognized, practiced and valued throughout The Bahamas