“Quilt Labels to Love!” with David Owen Hastings

Jan 16th, 2025 to Jan 16th, 2025

Program: 10:00 on Zoom

I combine computer-printed custom labels with a woven logo label on my quilts to give them a professional finish, and to record important details for posterity (or for the recipient). Quilts are a wonderful art form, and you should sign your work with a distinctive label. It’s a great opportunity for you to consistently brand your quilts, especially those you gift to others at holidays or other special occasions.

It’s also an opportunity to weave in the story of your quilt, so the story doesn’t get lost. Was the quilt made for a special occasion? Was it made from a pattern, based on tradition, or is it a unique design? Who were the makers, and where was it made? Are there special fabrics used that require particular care? Imagine someone seeing your creation in the future: what would you want them to know?

I will walk participants through the steps to create these beautiful labels and will share alternate labeling methods that draw from my graphic design background.

Inspired by Architecture with David Hastings

Jan 17th, 2025 to Jan 17th, 2025

Workshop: 9 am to 3 pm on Zoom

$60 for SRQG members

$70 for Nonmembers

David will guide you through a creative process for designing your own modern abstract quilts, taking inspiration from architectural photos to develop dynamic and unique quilt designs.

MONUMENTAL INSPIRATION WITH UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES

6 hours: Working from photos of architectural elements, David will guide you through the steps to design a mini modern fabric quilt… inspired by architecture! You will learn the quilt-as-you-go method, sewing the top pieces, batting and backing simultaneously. You’ll then add texture and complexity with David’s unique approach to walking foot machine quilting where the quilting lines become a major design element. Learn to connect multiple quilted units with a great gusset join technique, then add a simple face binding for a modern finish.

Trunk Show with Suzanne Starjash

Feb 20th, 2025 to Feb 20th, 2025

Program :10:00 am in Person

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My mother was my first artistic influence, and I am grateful for her encouragement. I enjoyed sewing in high school and took art classes in college. I loved seeing colorful fabric in sewing stores, but knew I would never make a garment with them. During the time I spent in the working world, weekend gardening and cooking were my main creative outlets, but I have carried an innate creativity with me throughout my life and always hoped to explore further opportunities to work with images and colors.

I didn’t begin working with cloth artistically until I retired and moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Republic of Panama. My original hope was to paint with watercolor or oil on canvas. I located a fabric store before I found art supplies, however, and I had included my sewing machine in the items shipped to my new home. Since no one needs a quilt in the Central American tropics, I decided on decorative wall hangings for my new creative journey.

The native Cuna Indian women of Panama make wonderful handstitched molas with layers of fabric that depict local flora, fauna, and special events. Their bright tropical colors and fanciful subjects were an immediate inspiration for my first designs, and the jungle environment, quilting books, and input from friends soon followed. As I discovered more fabric stores with prints I liked, and learned more techniques, I invented new methods for each new project.

After returning to California and moving to northern Sonoma County, I connected with other quilters and started to learn the vocabulary and standard procedures of quilting. The classes I took were helpful and inspirational. My one concern was not to be overly influenced by teachers and lose my originality.

To stay spontaneous, I like to make each wall hanging quite different from those I have previously done. Trial, error, and perseverance are part of my creative process with every art quilt I make. I am ever watchful for new inspiration and enjoy learning new techniques.

            Suzanne Starjash

 sstarjash@gmail.com

Playing with Colors with Cindy Gresdela

Mar 20th, 2025 to Mar 20th, 2025

Program : 10 am on Zoom

Cindy Grisdela is an award-winning artist who’s happiest in her studio surrounded by piles of colorful fabrics. In this lecture and trunk show, she’ll use examples of her work over the last 30 years to take away some of the mystery about choosing colors effectively for your quilts. Not sure what colors “go” together? This is the lecture to reduce your stress about color!

Improv Puzzle with Cindy Gresdela

Mar 21st, 2025 to Mar 21st, 2025

Workshop: 9 am to 3 pm on Zoom

$50 for SRQG members

$60 for Nonmembers

Create Improv Log Cabin style blocks in a variety of sizes and put them together into a unique composition–like a jigsaw puzzle. You don't have to use a ruler for cutting unless you want to and each quilt will be unique. We will discuss color choices and using simple design principles to create an original dynamic composition. Basic sewing skills and beginner to advanced level.