email: sujatashah450@gmail.com
The Root Connection - My Journey as a Quilter
While growing up in India rich colors, hand woven textiles and hand-crafts were part of Sujata's daily life. She learned to appreciate the irregularities and imperfections of handmade crafts. Her instinctive ability to work with colors and textures combined with education in graphic design has helped her develop a unique style as a quilt designer.
Inspired by the utilitarian quilts and handmade crafts from around the world, she developed an abstract form of traditional quilt blocks and subsequently published the book; Cultural Fusion Quilts.
Presentation includes a slide show of her travels in India as well as her journey as a quilter. Slide show is followed by the trunk show of original quilts. She will share how she connects the dots between the memories of the past, and today's creative process.
Stories in Stitches - The Journey Continues
Through
30 years of quilting Sujata has realized that the art of stitching, the
very thing she disliked growing up, has become her favorite way to
write personal stories onto quilts.
In this presentation Sujata will share her latest quilts in a slide show and the stories behind each quilt.
Workshops
I am offering virtual workshops due to stay at home order. Please send me an email sujatashah450@gmail.com
Stories in Stitches - Siddi QuiltLife is about one step at a time, one stitch at a time
A Kawandi is a utility quilt made by African Diaspora/Siddi community of India. A spool of thread and a needle, few scraps, and mindful stitching combined with a simple technique are the only elements needed for this age old art of quilting.
Learn the step by step process and unique way to make a small quilt. Through the experience of true improvisational process, you will discover how to harmonize your mind and body with the rhythm of stitching. Explore different ways of personalizing a quilt, to breathe easy, and write your own stories in stitches.
Improv Piecing with Freeform Blocks
This two-day workshop invites students to explore and construct a series of free-form blocks in a variety of sizes. You’ll learn Sujata’s layered cutting and organic piecing method—a process that’s unique, fast, and fun. By the end, each student will take home at least six well-constructed blocks, which can become a small sampler quilt or evolve into an art quilt featuring one of the blocks from class. Along the way, we’ll dive into the origins of these designs, the stories behind the quilts, and Sujata’s approach to color and texture. Students will also be encouraged to develop their own techniques further, carrying these ideas into future improv works. This class is as much about inspiration and discovery as it is about hands-on construction.
Free-form blocks:
Rail Fence
Toran blocks
Tiger stripes
Lattice
Half Square triangles
Flying Geese
Windmills/Winter
Class time: Full Day - 6 hours
Inspired by the windmills of Pennsylvania farms and my childhood memories of paper pinwheels, Windmills is a beginner friendly project. This class is designed to focus on cutting curves through multiple layers of fabrics and sewing curved seams with ease. Participants will also explore various block setting and layouts for the quilt.
Peppermint Pinwheels
Class time: Full Day - 6 Hours
Inspired by folk art applique flowers, Peppermint Pinwheels is a perfect spring or summer project. One might ask: is it possible to make a pieced block with curved flower petals without any patterns or template? The answer is, yes! This design focuses on cutting multiple curves through layers of fabrics and sewing the pieces into free-form flower blocks. Participants will follow instructions from the book Cultural Fusion Quilts and construct blocks resembling large appliqued flowers with appliqued centers. The process is easy to learn and quick to reproduce. I will share many tips on making free-form blocks and offer many suggestions for color combinations and layouts during the class.
Baskets on A Crazy Quilt
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Organized Chaos
Make an old favorite with a modern twist. Making a scrap quilt has never been so much fun. Learn about values and colors by observing everyday life. During the class I share how I see colors and interpret them into quilts. Creativity is not about having a lot to choose from but how to choose wisely. This quilts is a true scrap quilt. You will learn how sometimes self created limits provide the best results.
Class time: Full Day - 6 Hours
