Cindy is the author of Artful Improv and a new book, Adventures in Improv Quilts, available Fall 2021.

For more information, please visit Cindy’s website and blog at www.cindygrisdela.com or follow her on Instagram @cindygrisdelaquilts

Cindy Grisdela – Zoom Lecture
Anatomy of an Improv Quilt

Tuesday, January 25, 2022
6:00 pm CST via Zoom
Guest tickets are available for $10

Cindy Grisdela, from Reston, VA, is an award-winning fiber artist with over 30 years’ experience creating eye-catching quilts. She specializes in Improv piecing and design and using color fearlessly in your quilts.

Cindy has been teaching and lecturing in person since 2014 and online since April 2020. Her classes use Improv techniques to engage student creativity and encourage making original quilts without patterns or templates. There’s no way to make a mistake!

She comes from a long line of women who have expressed themselves using a needle and thread, although curiously there weren’t any quilters in her family. Creating with various forms of fabric and thread has been a part of her life since childhood, and she is self-taught as a fiber artist, with lots of experimentation along the way. 

Iceberg Sightings (pictured) was featured in the Winter 2019 issue of Canadian Quilter Magazine

“Icebergs were often nestled in the calm waters of the bays we trekked – quiet and stoic reminders of the cold and windy coastal winters. Spotting one was always a great reason to pause for a snack as we watched them rock back and forth or traced their paths down the coast.”

Learn more about Cristina and her quilting, visit her website: Ships & Violins and follow her on instagram @shipsandviolins

Cristina De Miranda – Zoom Lecture

Thru-Quilting: My Journey Thru Modern Quilting

Tuesday, March 22, 2022
6:00 pm CST via Zoom
Guest tickets are available for $10

This trunk show will showcase quilts designed by Cristina De Miranda of Ships & Violins. The journey begins with a look at her improvised patchwork pillow covers inspired by a thru-hike of the East Coast Trail, and continues through her designs as a burgeoning modern quilt pattern designer. The show will include details about her inspiration, her approach to design, and how pursuing a creative business is not so different from a long walk in the woods.

This is BNMQG members only
In-person workshop

December 4, 2021
9 am – 3 pm CST
$22

Lori L is having a Sew Together Bag workshop for BNMQG members on December 4, 2021 from 9 am – 3 pm at Christ Lutheran Church. Bring your lunch or plan to order one.

Supply list and Before Class Prep

Purchase a workshop ticket for $22.

Patterns

Everyone needs their own pattern for this workshop. Patterns cannot be shared at this workshop.

Purchase a pattern for the Sew Together Bag for $11.75 (this price includes S & H) Patterns will be delivered at the workshop.

Modern Mystery Quilt Challenge
January 2022 – January 2023

The Modern Mystery Quilt Challenge will focus on characteristics of modern quilts and will provide the opportunity for members to build their modern designing and quilting skills along the way. Participants will have a monthly modern “block” to complete, post progress, be eligible for monthly prizes and a grand prize at the end of the challenge. BNMQG members can join at anytime during the challenge but will only be eligible for monthly prizes when they complete the monthly “block” by the deadline and must catchup and complete the entire challenge to be eligible for the grand prize.

“Blocks” will have directions, resources, deadlines, and many have videos. Participants will choose their own color palettes and have the ability to decide how big their final quilt will be. Mystery Mondays will be available for participants via zoom for participants to see live demos, ask questions, and sew with other participants. A private Facebook group will be available for challenge participants but it is not mandatory. Contact Nancy P. for questions regarding the challenge. Cindy Grisdela’s workshop (see info below) would be helpful for this challenge!