2024 Sustainable IMPROV Quilting SERIES: Found COLOR
Improv Quilting with Sustainable Materials & Intuitive Color
Zoom Time, 2021, made from salvaged corduroy, velvet and satin, buttons.
Do we pick colors or do colors pick us? According to Pantone “researchers estimate that most humans can see around one million different colors,” but which ones do we actually pay attention to? And why?
Since the pandemic, I’ve been pondering the connections between color, sustainability and pattern making. The concept of finding or sourcing color within myself, in my daily life, and materially as a quilter from old clothing and bedding inspire me for these reasons:
I recognize the miracle of seeing color in the world and the way color connects me to who I am in the present moment, my past through memory, and through the lens of emotion, all revealing my “true colors” so to speak.
Old clothes and family linens are alive with stories, color, shape, history and mystery of the people they formerly belonged to. They connect me to the human community, to culture and eras.
Quilting exclusively with store bought designer cottons off the bolt, with this season’s “fashionable” colors… well… it just gets boring after awhile.
The depth of color and juxtaposition of different textures and sheen that are possible when you mix materials types opens an entirely new pathway of pattern work and meaning!
There is the excitement of serendipity when a purple velour hoodie, a pair of cobalt blue corduroys and an orange and pink paisley skirt from the 70’s just shows up and ignites your imagination. Each piece singular and not to be repeated. It’s a gift, an alchemy, a newfound community waiting to be remade into a brand new quilt.
It’s a spiritual process. An afterlife experience, making new quilts out of old clothes. It’s a restorative practice on so many levels.
FOUND COLOR…in patchwork as in life… is about finding our true colors, joy and agency in the face of systems in need of repair.
This is what I hope to share and explore with you through this new series of improv quilting workshops in 2024 on the theme of FOUND COLOR!
Émilie Trahan was a guest speaker for last year’s series on Modern Improv Curves. While sharing her amazing work with curves, I was equally blown away by the fact that she salvaged 100% of the vibrant colors for her stunning quilts from the material waste stream (13’00 in the video).
Quilters are attracted to colorful fabrics. Yet many quilters still perceive old clothes as dingy, difficult to piece, and definitely not available in the full range of colors available at a quilt shop. In reality the world of color waiting to be salvaged from the waste stream far surpasses what’s currently fashionable and available to buy new off the bolt. If you doubt this - definitely sign up for FOUND COLOR!
FOUND COLOR 2024 Improv Quilting Workshops
Are you ready to immerse yourself in the vibrant world of FOUND COLOR?
Over the course of six improv quilting classes, delve deep into the various aspects of color, including value, intensity, and hue. Using eco-friendly materials, explore how color can evoke emotions, memories, and a sense of place in your quilting projects. My hope this series will inspire you to incorporate old clothes into your existing quilting stash, adding new colors and textures that will ignite your creativity!
If you are a regular up-cycle quilter, or you are new to the concept of sustainable quilting, this abstract piecing series welcomes everyone who wants to explore the transformative power of color and sustainability in their quilting journey. Through guest speakers, demos, hands-on sewing, and group discussions, we will cultivate a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Bring your questions and your experience to share.
Unleash your creativity and discover your intuitive connections to color through memory, mood, and place. Let's transform old clothes and our quilting stashes into stunning works of art that reflect the magic of color we carry within and shine out!
FOUND COLOR Guest Speakers
Our six guests are all trailblazers at transforming color from repurposed materials into quilts that tell stories of truth and beauty. Their role is to inspire the learning community with their perspectives on the theme and get us thinking in new ways. Be a part of this vibrant conversation on FOUND COLOR and the impact of living and creating sustainably.
As modern quilters, we have a tradition of turning simple leftover pieces of fabric into beautiful and functional quilts that bring comfort and care to our communities. We understand the significance of our connection to resources better than anyone. Let’s bring sustainable quilting practices home and beyond to the creative communities we engage with.
I hope you will join fellow makers, our guest speakers, and me for the 2024 Improv Quilting Series on FOUND COLOR!
FOUND COLOR Class Schedule
7 WORKSHOPS • 14 DAYS • 6 GUEST ARTISTS / Sign up for the Season Pass for a 10% discount, easy access to all six workshops, the FREE warm-up Scrap Play Class on January 6, PLUS a Sustainable Materials Convo on January 17, available first and live-online to season pass holders.
(individual workshop registration opens November 1)
2024 Scrap Play
Free Improv Quilting Class
Save the date! Start the series with the 2024 FREE Improv Quilting Scrap Play class on Saturday, January 6th, from 11am to 1pm Eastern Time. Free registration is now open.
