

Cindy Grisdela – Reston, Virginia, USA
Cindy Grisdela
Cindy is an artist, teacher, and author of Artful Improv: Explore Color Recipes, Building Blocks & Free motion Quilting and Adventures in Improv Quilts: Master Color, Design, and Construction. She travels all over the United States teaching and lecturing to guilds and groups about Improv Design. She has several online workshops on Creative Spark which are self-paced.
Cindy was raised in Gainesville, FL and learned to sew at age 10. She made clothing as a teenager and young adult, but there weren’t any quilters in her family, so she didn’t start quilting until she happened on a magazine article about quilts as a college student. She was immediately enthralled with the possibilities of making something beautiful and useful out of fabric and thread that wouldn’t wear out, or at least not quickly, and gave up garment making for quilting.
Cindy makes abstract designs in fabric with a focus on color and shape. The color is the first step, using fabric like paint to create intuitively without a pattern, like jazz music. Next, stitching lines provide texture, integrating all of the elements. She stitches the texture with a sewing machine, but the designs are entirely hand driven, without a computer or marking lines.
Cindy has a BFA in Art History from the College and William and Mary and an MBA from George Washington University. She used quilting as a creative outlet for many years while working as a financial reporter for Dow Jones News Service and then raising two children. She started out as a traditional quiltmaker but got tired of following patterns and began to develop her own contemporary style as an artist, inspired by the modern painters she studied in college, like Henri Matisse, Paul Klee, and Helen Frankenthaler.
Cindy’s work has won awards in both quilt venues and art venues and can be found in private collections all over the country. She is represented by the online gallery Artful Home, and she is a Juried Artist member of Studio Art Quilt Associates, as well as an associate member of the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association and the Art League of Alexandria, VA.
Cindy lives and works in Reston, VA.
For more information about Cindy’s work, visit her website and blog at www.cindygrisdela.com or follow her on Instagram @cindygrisdelaquilts.

Pinata

Flash Scarf
Shop
Products all link to Cindy’s shop on her site or on Etsy:
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Large Star Pillow
All Products, Americas, Blue, Celestial, Colorful, Cotton, Decorative, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, For Kids, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Niche, Pillows, Provenance, Quilted, Sewn, USA, White, YellowLarge Star Pillow$110.00 -
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Contemporary Circles Table Runner PATTERN
All Products, Americas, Colorful, Dots, Elements, Floral, Modern, Patterns, Provenance, Supplies and Tools, Under $30, USAContemporary Circles Table Runner PATTERN$10.00 -
Artful Improv Book
Americas, Art Journals and Books, Home and Office, Provenance, Under $30, USAI'm happy to offer signed copies! If you want your copy personalized, please tell me the name to use in the comments section of your PayPal order.$27.95 -
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Red Stripe Patchwork Quilted Pillow
All Products, Americas, Colorful, Cotton, Decorative, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, For Kids, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Niche, Pillows, Provenance, Quilted, Red, Sewn, Stripes, USARed Stripe Patchwork Quilted Pillow$110.00 -
Splash of Color Scarf
Accessories, All Products, Americas, Boho, Colorful, Elements, Fiber, For Women, Materials, Method, Niche, Printed, Provenance, Purple, Scarves, To Wear, USAA printed scarf based on one of my art quilt designs.$45.00 -
Jazzberry II
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Blue, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Purple, Quilted, Quilts, Red, Sewn, Stripes, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary Art Quilt for the Wall$495.00 -
Color Slices
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Black, Blue, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Pink, Provenance, Purple, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$350.00 -
Fire and Ice Scarf
Accessories, All Products, Americas, Black, Elements, Fiber, For Women, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Printed, Provenance, Scarves, To Wear, USA, WhiteA printed scarf based on one of my quilt designs.$45.00 -
Flash of Insight Scarf
Accessories, All Products, Americas, Colorful, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, For Women, Green, Materials, Method, Niche, Printed, Provenance, Red, Scarves, To Wear, USAPrinted scarf based on one of my art quilt designs.$45.00 -
Color Vortex
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Grey, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$1,500.00 -
Crazy Nine Patch Baby Quilt PATTERN
All Products, Americas, Colorful, Elements, Patterns, Provenance, Supplies and Tools, Under $30, USACrazy Nine Patch Baby Quilt PATTERN$10.00 -
Buttercream Swirl
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Pink, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtSmall art quilt for the wall.$160.00 -
Beach Glass
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Beach, Resort, Water, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Grey, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$1,495.00 -
Windows
All Products, Americas, Architectural, Art Quilts, Black, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Grey, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$295.00 -
Starry Night
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Blue, Celestial, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Stripes, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$395.00 -
Journey Home
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Beach, Resort, Water, Blue, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Stripes, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$3,300.00 -
Island Hopping
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Beach, Resort, Water, Blue, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Stripes, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall Art, YellowContemporary art quilt for the wall.$1,375.00 -
Yellow Marbles
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Colorful, Cotton, Dots, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall Art, YellowContemporary art quilt for the wall.$495.00 -
Small Wall Quilt with Appliqued Cupcakes
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Blue, Colorful, Cotton, Dots, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Niche, Pink, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Stripes, Textile, USA, Wall Art, YellowSmall Wall Quilt with Appliqued Cupcakes$250.00 -
Salimugundi
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Beach, Resort, Water, Blue, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$525.00 -
Raspberry Lemonade Wall Hanging PATTERN
All Products, Americas, Colorful, Elements, Modern, Orange, Patterns, Pink, Provenance, Purple, Supplies and Tools, Under $30, USA, YellowRaspberry Lemonade Wall Hanging PATTERN$10.00 -
Adventures in Improv Quilts
Americas, Art Journals and Books, Home and Office, Under $30, USAThe book is here! Order a signed copy with free shipping in the US only. What they're saying: "Fantastic book . . . It’s a perfect intro to improv quilting and new challenges for those of us who’ve been at this a while." Plus, "It is very helpful to see actual samples of quilts incorporating some prints next to the same designs using solids only." Jane from CT "I just received your latest book and it is fabulous! (I also have your Artful Improv book.) The exercises are really appreciated. The quilts are so beautiful." Dawn from PA$27.95 -
Dream
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Colorful, Cotton, Decorative, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, For Kids, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall Art, WhiteContemporary art quilt for the wall.$350.00 -
LIttle Gems
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Black, Blue, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$350.00 -
Create
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Colorful, Cotton, Decorative, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, For Kids, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, USA, Wall Art, WhiteContemporary art quilt for the wall.$350.00 -
Partly Sunny
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Grey, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall Art, ZenContemporary art quilt for the wall.$1,595.00 -
Blue Moons Scarf
Accessories, All Products, Americas, Beach, Resort, Water, Blue, Celestial, Elements, Fiber, Floral, For Women, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Printed, Provenance, Scarves, To Wear, USAA printed scarf based on one of my quilt designs.$45.00 -
Spring Scarf
Accessories, All Products, Americas, Boho, Colorful, Elements, Fiber, For Women, Materials, Method, Niche, Printed, Provenance, Scarves, To Wear, USAA printed scarf based on one of my art quilt designs.$45.00 -
Green Shoots
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Green, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Pink, Provenance, Purple, Quilted, Quilts, Red, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall Art, ZenContemporary art quilt for the wall.$3,500.00 -
Blue Maze
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Beach, Resort, Water, Blue, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Mission Style, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Purple, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$1,325.00 -
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Bright Patchwork Quilted Improv Pillow
All Products, Americas, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Green, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Nature, Niche, Pillows, Provenance, Quilted, Sewn, USA, YellowBright Patchwork Quilted Improv Pillow$110.00 -
Intersections
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Blue, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Green, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Nature, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, USA, Wall ArtAutumn Forest - an autumn inspired art quilt for the wall.$1,375.00 -
Lime Medley
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Green, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Stripes, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$1,595.00 -
Playing with Crayons Wall Hanging PATTERN
All Products, Americas, Blue, Colorful, Elements, Patterns, Provenance, Red, Supplies and Tools, USA, YellowPlaying with Crayons Wall Hanging PATTERN$10.00 -
Tumbling Marbles
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Red, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtContemporary Art Quilt for the Wall.$495.00 -
Flying Saucer
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Black, Celestial, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Purple, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, USA, Wall ArtContemporary art quilt for the wall.$350.00 -
Small Wall Quilt with Appliqued Coffee Cup – “Cafe Latte”
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Brown, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Folk Art, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Niche, Provenance, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall ArtSmall Wall Quilt with Appliqued Coffee Cup - "Cafe Latte"$195.00 -
Improv Patchwork Quilted Pillow
All Products, Americas, Beach, Resort, Water, Blue, Colorful, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Floral, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Niche, Pillows, Provenance, Quilted, Sewn, USAImprov Patchwork Quilted Pillow$110.00 -
Neutral Squares Quilted Patchwork Pillow
All Products, Americas, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Grey, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Pillows, Provenance, Quilted, Sewn, Shabby Chic, USANeutral Squares Quilted Patchwork Pillow$110.00 -
Playing with Colors Wall Hanging PATTERN
All Products, Americas, Colorful, Elements, Patterns, Provenance, Stripes, Supplies and Tools, Under $30, USAPlaying with Colors Wall Hanging PATTERN$10.00 -
Sailing
All Products, Americas, Art Quilts, Beach, Resort, Water, Black, Cotton, Elements, Fiber, Home and Office, Materials, Method, Modern, Niche, Provenance, Purple, Quilted, Quilts, Sewn, Sports, Textile, Textiles, USA, Wall Art, WhiteContemporary art quilt for the wall.$195.00
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