From May 8-11 and from May 13-16 at the Musuem of the American Quilters Society in Paducah, Kentucky, Caryl led the same four day workshop for two different groups of students.  The workshop was called Creative Freeform Piecing and Design, and here are some of the things we did.

On the first day we chose strips of colored fabric and arranged them in luminous gradations.   Then we made small, luminous, compositions using "string piecing" on paper templates.  (see Creative String Piecing instructions in our internet store)  The first had straight seams, and the second had curved seams.  You won't believe how simple those curves were!!!

On the second day, we continued working with luminous gradations. This time two gradations intersected.  We learned to draw "flying geese" in a graduated curve, improvisational "spikey things","floaty things", and other variations on  designs requiring precision piecing.  (see Flying Geese in a Curve instructions in our internet store) We designed original compositions in which we used one or more of these design elements.Our compositions were pieced on paper, and came out great.  It's easier than it looks!!!

On the third day, we made a series of small doodles, and put them through the design process that allows them to become a full size pattern.  By the end of the day, most of us  had a full size drawing for a quilt.  On the fourth day, we began piecing our designs. 

All four days we had a community grab bag of colored fabric strips to choose from, so we always had the color we needed available, even if it wasn't in our private stash.

See the quilt Dot Porter Finished in June!!

During the two sessions, there were five advanced studies students.  They had learned the techniques in a previous workshop, and were able to start on their full size drawings immediately.  Here are pictures of two of them who made significant progress during the class.