Artful Improv: Explore Color Recipes, Building Blocks & Free-Motion Quilting

by Denise Vanbriggle

Overview

Learn simple design principles to create unique improvisational quilts. Without using patterns, learn 5 easy piecing techniques for your improvisational toolbox (including circles, blocks, and strips), and watch the art unfold before your eyes. Focus on color combos and negative space to discover your personal style, and then add dazzling texture with free-motion quilting. Includes tips to hang finished art quilts without a sleeve, plus tried and true improv tips to encourage creative play.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617452611
Publisher:	C & T Publishing
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	292,484
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Cindy Grisdela is an award-winning fiber artist with over 30 years of experience creating eye-catching quilts. She travels extensively, showing and selling her work, and her quilts have been published in books and magazines. She lives in Reston, Virginia. cindygrisdela.com

Table of Contents

How to Use This Book
What is Improvisation?
Getting Organized
Sorting by Size and Color • What to Do with Scraps • Saving the Leftovers
Creating a Color Recipe
The Color Wheel • Using a Color Recipe • Increasing Your Color Confidence
Elements and Principles of Design
Elements of Design • Principles of Design • Using the Elements and Principles of Design as You Work
Working Improvisationally
Creating a Design Wall •Auditioning Designs • Give it Time
Building Blocks for Improv
Angled Stripes
Improv Circles
Improv Blocks
Curved Strips
Inset Strips
Putting It All Together
Learning to Love Negative Space
Creating Balance • Adding Texture
Quilt as Desired
Hand Stitching • Machine Stitching • A word About Thread
Finishing Touches
To Bind or Not to Bind? • Facings • Dealing with Irregular Edges • Alternatives to Sleeve and Slat Hanging

Resources
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Cindy tends to work with bright fabrics and loves graphic designs and lines in her quilts. This allows for the improv aspect of her quilts to shine. Improv is not new, but for some it can difficult to know where to start. Cindy unlocks helpful design principles that allow the reader some direction as they work, and she also provides information about the mechanics of putting the pieces together so that you get the look you want. By mastering her techniques, you will become more confident in sewing without patterns. Quilting adds another layer of interest and texture, and this aspect is also covered in the book. Even experienced art quilters can use the ideas to experiment with colour and design.

Issue 25 Down Under Textiles

Cindy has put this book together to help inspire you to create your own quilts. She has designs that you can follow but she also gives you the inspiration to create your own. She teaches you simple design principles that help you create your own unique art quilts. She empowers you to let go of rigid rules and to make inspirational quilts. I love the fact she doesn't use precise measurements. This means you are able to create spontaneous designs that are more like art. It's so inspirational that she says it's okay to make mistakes and gives you the support you need to get better and better at making this artful quilts. The free design of the quilts and the idea of just going with it and creating something unique. Making a present is special but making a unique present is something else. Cindy takes you through the whole process and gives you everything you need for you to create your own amazing quilts. I love her use of colours and how you can uses small pieces of material to make an impact on a block of colour. Once you have read the different sections of learning how to design your own quilt, you can then go on to follow some of Cindy's instructions to create different parts of the different designs. Each of the types of design come with step-by-step instructions of how to create them. You can use them to create Cindy's designs or your own. The book is full of inspiration and colour. It's full of beautiful designs and support for you to create your own.

11/2016 crochetaddictuk.com

Do away with patterns and embrace your creative spirit with this vibrant and fun book. Using five piecing techniques and design principles, Cindy Grisdela encourages art through improvisation. Discover your own personal style by playing with negative space and creating color combinations with the use of a color recipe. Creating texture with free-motion quilting, sleeve-free hanging ideas, and other useful tips for art quilting make this book a useful addition to creative quilters' libraries.

December 2016/January 2017 Quilting Arts

Permission to play. If you love colour, design, surface stitch – you are in the right place. Explore and enjoy. This book includes chapters on colour, design, improvisation, building blocks, negative space, putting it all together, quilting and finishing. This book is full of fun. If you are feeling adventurous and bold, stop by here now. Gain colour confidence, get to know the principles of design, learn how to improvise. Then go ahead and make your own stunning quilts. Easy to follow ‘teaching sessions’ so that you can use your own creativity by learning the processes and adapting them to suit your purpose. Full of fabulous ideas and finished pieces. One of my favourite quilt books fo the year. Superb and highly recommended.

12/2/2016 yarnsandfabrics.co.uk

Quilting without a pattern is a no-brainer for some, but a challenge for others. This book offers 'recipes' for working with color, including design principles. Learn how to capitalize on negative space within a quilt using free-motion quilting. In addition, it offers five techniques for improvisational piecing—using angled stripes, circles, curved strips, inset strips and free-form blocks.

October 2016 American Quilt Retailer