NOTE:  GSQA (Gulf States Quilting Association) is a 4-state organization that provides opportunities for member guilds to participate in low-cost workshops with internationally known teachers. Cost of individual membership to GSQA is $30/year.   If you are not a GSQA member prior to the workshop  membership forms will be provided there and you can pay that day. To join GSQA prior to the workshop go to: http://Gulfstatesquilting.org 

Artful Improv with Cindy Grisdela Workshop

Learn to create your own original quilts with no pattern using improvisational piecing techniques. Cindy will teach us to let go of the “rules” and piece blocks in an intuitive, free form fashion and you may wish to begin with blocks or other elements left over from previous projects. She will explore contemporary Improv log cabin style blocks, Improv Curves, and Angled Stripes, plus Insets and Curved Strips. She will discuss color choices and using simple design principles to create an original dynamic composition. 

Basic sewing skills and a machine in good working order are necessary. Best for intermediate to advanced quilters ready to take the next step to creating original designs.

Artful Improv Supply List:

Choose a color recipe—for example, warm colors like red, orange, and yellow, or cool colors like blue, green, and purple. Or you can choose an “anything goes” color recipe and use all the colors! Include different values of your colors—lights, mediums, and darks—as well as several contrasting colors to add interest. Consider adding black and white too. Fabrics can be solids, batiks, small scale prints, or a combination.

This is a scrappy process, so you’ll need 8-12 fat quarters--18” x 22”—to explore these improv techniques—Improv Log Cabin style blocks, Improv Curves, Angled Stripes, Curved Strips, and Insets. You may also include scraps of various sizes. If you want to add negative space, bring 1⁄2 - 1 yd. of a background fabric. This can be one fabric or several fabrics that are similar but not the same—2 or 3 values of red, for example.

• Sewing machine in good working order with a 1⁄4” foot
• Rotary cutter and mat – I like the 60mm rotary cutter, but bring whatever size you like best, with a new blade
• Rulers—suggest 9” square and 6” x 12”
• Basic quilting supplies including straight pins, seam ripper, neutral thread, scissors and/or snips for cutting threads, measuring tape
• Batting or flannel to use as a “design wall”
• Notebook and pen or pencil to take notes
• Digital camera or phone to take photos of design options (optional)

*Optional but helpful—Artful Improv and Adventures in Improv Quilts by         Cindy Grisdela 

CindyGrisdela.com