Abstract Appliqué: Inspired by Mother Nature, with Jane Sassaman

Colorful fabric landscape with layered hills, blue water, a glowing sun, and patterned trees under a purple sky

5 Days Monday to Friday, July 19-23, 2027


Mother Nature is the supreme designer. In this class we will be focusing on some of those amazing details to create abstract fabric compositions. Bring close-up photos of bugs, butterflies, fish, flowers, leaves, sea shells, seeds, etc. From these we will extract patterns, colors and shapes and mix them into exciting nonrepresentational compositions. Eventually, these compositions will be transformed into appliqued fabric and thread collages.. This is a painless way to learn Jane’s very accessible applique technique and perhaps even try some of those unused stitches on your sewing machine.


This course strives to stimulate new ways to add energy and excitement to your fiber work through shapes, pattern and color. It will also supply you with a collection of unique motifs to apply later to your surface design or fiber art. Students should have a desire to develop their own design language and unique visual symbols, plus an interest in the history of decorative design.


Skill level: All


Materials Fee: None


All QBL workshops begin on Monday and end on Friday. Workshops are from 8:30 am to 4 pm daily. Students check in to their dorms and move into classrooms on the Sunday before the workshop begins. There is a welcome dinner with a lecture Sunday night.