"Facets" are the many sides of a cut stone or jewel. And this is what Sandi has named her new series of small quilts that she has recently created. A variety of simple techniques will also help you to create these "jewels." They are exercises in color and design, with wonderful results. A bonus in this class is that you end up with two pieces. This is a class for those who would like to do something experimental in concept. It helps quilters to move beyond the traditional block format. I spend time demonstrating some of my own approaches to strip piecing and playing with small units that are the starting point for many of my quilts. Since we design as we go, it allows a lot of freedom and spontaneity. We are talking about jumping in with fabric rather than using paper and pencil. Sewing with no templates or patterns, students are encouraged to experiment with both design and color - to try methods and ideas they may not have considered before. I will assist students in working through whatever concepts they would like to develop. This is a class that helps quiltmakers to gain the confidence and knowledge to work more freely and to thus create more visually expressive quilts. This class provides a very loose interpretation of the log cabin format to work within, but because we design as we go, it allows a lot of freedom and spontaneity. Sewing with no templates or patterns, students are encouraged to experiment with both design and color-to try methods and ideas that they may not have considered before. This is a great starting point for those who would like to move toward a more contemporary look. We explore a lot of ways to take each quilt beyond the ordinary and to make it more unique and exciting. I have taught this class in a one-day, two-day and three-day format. When I teach a two or three-day class, I spend time demonstrating some of my own approaches to strip piecing and playing with small units that are the starting point for many of my quilts. Many of these ideas can be incorporated into the student's piece in progress. Prepare to work. This is a day of demonstration and sample making for all kinds of techniques that can make your quilts more distinctive. Included, among other things, are irregular checkerboards, cutting double and strip insertions. Create small quilt hangings perfect for gift items or to keep. These are collaged and then quilted-not pieced. A bit of whimsy-easy, fun and fast to make while pushing that creative urge. You should be able to complete a small quilt in the class. This is a great way to loosen up and move away from all the rules. This is the most valuable technique I have ever learned and expanded on. A method I call cutting double is a fun and exciting way to make quilt squares with spontaneity! Use free-style cutting methods, either with straight lines or gentle curves. The great thing is you can be as simple or complex as you wish. This technique can be incorporated into traditional quilts to add interest, or you can move beyond that traditional square altogether for a more distinctive, contemporary look. I use it in my quilts all the time. Included among other things are two different kinds of irregular checkerboards and cutting double circles. Quilts can be based on all kinds of traditional blocks, but this one is based on a 6" freeform unit with inserted strips. You'll learn to make the freeform blocks and then learn new ways to put them together to create a feeling of depth, motion and space for a more contemporary look. Among other things, Sandi will show you how to use strip insertions and irregular checkerboards. Students will be able to infuse their quilts with their own individuality. This quilt is based on a familiar block, the Sawtooth Star. You'll make the star blocks and then learn new ways to put them together to create a feeling of depth, motion and space for a more contemporary look. Among other things, I will show you how to use strip insertions and irregular checkerboards. Infuse your quilts with your own individuality. This quilt is based on a familiar block, the Square within a Square. You'll make this block and then learn new ways to put them together to create a feeling of depth, motion and space for a more contemporary look. Among other things, I will show you how to use strip insertions and irregular checkerboards. Fun way to go modern. Make a small design study full of detail and interest from leftover scraps of a quilt. It's great. You've already done the hard part, which is selecting your fabrics. You'll be shown two design approaches, but neither requires any preplanning. There's an extra easy way to assemble, with little or no quilting. This is truly spontaneity with great results. My lecture provides a look at the work which members of my contemporary quilt group are doing, and also includes slides and commentary on my own work as a quilt artist. This talk includes some of my own reflections on working in a series, sources of inspiration and the courage to experiment. Length of lecture - approximately 1 hour