Appliquilting with Cristina Arcenegui Bono
I’ve got two completely different subjects this week, so you’ll see two posts. I took a class this week from Spanish quilter Cristina Arcenegui Bono. If that name is not familiar, I’ll bet this quilt of hers is:
Cristina has been quilting professionally for over 15 years and I met her at Houston in 2019. Her work has ribboned at a number of major shows including Houston and Paducah and she is now teaching internationally online. Cristina’s work is delightfully whimsical and I wanted to learn how to quilt more whimsically.
Cristina offered a class a Road@Home, Appliquilting, and I was excited to be in her class.
The process was straightforward, but Christina provided great tips to make it more whimsical and fun. She also showed the effect of a variety of batting choices and even foam. I forgot about using foam stabilizers like Annie’s Soft and Stable. I loved the way appliquilting looked on foam:
She also showed a few pieces using her technique that were quilted on various battings and it dramatically impacted the look of the quilt.
I was crazy busy that week and arrived in class late (I hate to arrive late!) and I had not chosen my fabrics – I was THAT student! So I dug into the “fabrics used for my book” bin and just haphazardly pulled fabrics. Fortunately they worked well together. We were a gregarious class and there was pleasant chatter and discussion among the students. We had a wide variety of experience levels and Cristina handled that well. There were students from 3 countries in class so that was fun too.
I was rocking along and started in with some red thread and I HAD to stop in my tracks – this reminded me of COVID! I could not let that be, so I ripped it out. I don’t normally rip stuff out like that but I could not stand having it remind me of COVID. I’m glad I did – I wanted this quilt to be happy!
I ended up with this and I am delighted! It was fun and so light-hearted. If I put my critical art eyes to work I see ways that I could improve it. But no, I like it the way it is!
I have a whole philosophy about the work I do in class. When I am a student, I embrace what the teacher is showing. I will do it his/her way for class and later, if I decide I want to change it, I do. But first, embrace what is taught.
The other thing I make a “rule” about is to not make it too precious. If I try to make something that will find a place on a wall or a show, I get too worried about each choice I make and it sucks the joy right out of the class.
I did not break any of my own rules for this class: I completely embraced Cristina’s whimsy and I am thrilled with the outcome. I look at this piece and it makes me smile. The whole class was so fun and I found Cristina to be a charming and creative teacher. It was a great day with an excellent teacher, making a fun and happy quilt. I love my little piece!
This week I’ll be sharing with:
Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday
and
Finished or Not Friday
Your piece is darling, so happy and uplifting! I am definitely going to try to take a class with her.
Love your philosophy about being a student and totally agree.
Linda you will love studying with Cristine. She is a delight.
Can you supply information about taking a class with Cristina
She does put her engagements on her calendar. Click on the link in the post and you’ll be at her website, then click calendar. You will enjoy her!
Just delightful! Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome Nancy! It was such a fun class.
It truly is a whimsical quilt!
Thank you Angela – I have to “work” to be whimsical!
Thank you for sharing. Your piece is delightful. I have a free motion quilting class coming up in February. I will definitely take your advice. I have trouble trying new things and tend to fall back to my comfort zone. Your rules should help me get past that.
I am thrilled that you find those “rules” helpful Donna. It makes class so much more fun and you will learn more with that approach. I hope you have a great class!
What a fun little quilt!! Thanks for sharing what you made in Christina’s class.
You’re welcome. It was super fun and i had to share!
Love it, Jenny! So fun!
It was pure delight to play like that Martha!
I’d say you embraced it!! what an amazing piece – and it looks like it was fun!! A little out of the box!! perfect!
It was so fun Alycia and sometimes I can be too serious. I love Cristina’s whimsical style!
Delightful piece! I agree with your approach to taking a class. It makes it really fun and easier to learn new things.
well you are the poster child for embracing new techniques Betty Jo! It was fun.
Love love love your whimsical quilt.
You make everything look so easy.
Thanks
Aw, thank you Lupe! Really, Cristina made it easy and fun. All the students made fun and whimsical quilts in the class!
What fun! I would never have thought to substitute puffy foam for batting, but it’s an excellent idea for a wall piece like this. I love your “class rules” and I agree — students who come into a class with preconceived ideas about “my machine only likes this thread” or “I only do it my way” severely limit how much they can learn and grow from the class. Even if I decide (after the class) that I prefer my original way of doing things for most scenarios, it is so helpful to have other methods and materials “in your toolbox” for when you find yourself in a situation where your own tried-and-true methods are not working. And OH MY GOSH, I need to make a giant sign for my studio about not every project needs to be “precious!” Because I never finish class projects during class, I already have a rule about class projects not counting as UFOs. I take classes to learn techniques, not because I necessarily want to make whatever the class project is. So I have no problem shoving an unfinished class project in a cupboard and letting it rot, once I’ve gotten what I needed out of it. At that point, I’m more excited and inspired to explore using the new skills and techniques on one of my own projects.
I love that attitude Rebecca Grace – your rule about class projects do not count as UFO’s. I’m going to quote you on that!