Per Heidi, "In England we'll be making samples and learning from many teachers, making this a brilliant opportunity to create a block-based quilt!  We'll revel in compositional and technical freedom while sewing in and outside of our classroom!

• Learn about a magpie aesthetic that allows us to quickly see, filter, and depict the experiences that resonate with us while remaining lighthearted about our work.

• Discover ways of ethically sourcing inspiration from our cultural surroundings with appreciation and respect.

• Connect with intuitive ways of making that free us from decision fatigue, allowing us to work in collaboration and connection with the rhythms of travel. (aka: think less, sew more, and trust the process!)

• Acquire embroidery and hand piecing techniques that are quick and beautiful. 

• Sample many methods for creating quilt blocks and devise a plan to connect them with technical and aesthetic skill. (Each participant can select the dimensions and level of accuracy vs ruler-free approach that feels best to them. They can also be made and pieced 'vignettes' style in varying sizes, or appliqued to a large base fabric if you prefer!)

• Students will create a quilt top while in England! The guest artists and I will offer advice and model our approaches to storytelling and sewing.

Before we head to England, we’ll connect on Zoom to meet our fellow travelers. Students will receive access to a private class web page with videos of my favorite stitches, so that they can practice technique while anticipating the trip. Students will also access my on-demand Improv Hand Quilting class for support in turning their quilt tops into quilts after returning home.

While in England, I will offer instruction, guide students in one-on-one mentoring for their quilts, and spark some engaging group conversations about making, so we can expand on the poetry of our process and deepen our understanding of English fabrics and aesthetics."