Artist, Teacher, Author of Artful Improv and Adventures in Improv Quilts

Cindy Grisdela – Artist, Teacher and Author

Welcome!

I’m Cindy Grisdela – an Artist, Teacher, and Author from Reston, VA.

Color and texture are the driving forces behind my contemporary art quilts. Browse my site to see how I combine line and shape, then add stitching lines to create texture and dimension – a process I like to think of as painting with fabric and thread.

See the headings below for information on my books, Artful Improv and Adventures in Improv Quilts, my lectures and workshops, and my on demand classes.

I've recently begun offering Independent Zoom workshops that run for three 3 hour sessions over 3 weeks. Sessions are recorded for later viewing. Current classes are Fabulous Freehand Curves in April/May 2025 and Log Cabin Color Grid in June 2025. Visit the Shop for more information and to register.

 

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Books

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

Adventures in Improv Quilts: Master Color, Design and Construction

Workshops & Lectures

I’m passionate about helping others find the creativity I believe lives inside each of us, just waiting for permission to come out and play.

Online Learning

Take a class on your own schedule in your PJs if you want to! Class content includes video, text, and still photos that give step-by-step guidance to create your own designs.

Latest News From Cindy

Amazing Galapagos Adventure!

Note: This is a non-quilt related post. My husband Phil and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this month with a trip to the Galapagos Islands about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in part because of its unique diversity of plants and animals.…

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So Much Fun with Abstracting from Art!

Last week I taught my Abstracting from Art workshop to a talented group of quilters from Needlechasers of Chevy Chase in Maryland. It was so much fun I’m still buzzing from it! The main idea behind the class is using an inspiration source–photo, piece of art, graphic design, home decor or clothing–to jumpstart your creative…

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Thoughts on QuiltCon 2024

I’ve been collecting my thoughts for a few days about the whirlwind that was QuiltCon 2024 in Raleigh, NC. QuiltCon is my favorite quilt show–there’s so much energy and excitement, the quilts are spectacular, and it’s such fun to see so many artists and makers there. I was only able to go to QuiltCon last…

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