Mini-Group: AQSTL – Collaged Abstraction

Our October Art Quilters St. Louis (AQSTL) meeting was a double-header. First, we displayed our Mini-Group Challenge Quilts, “Sewing Idioms.” Then Jane Baumstark, one of the original founders of our mini-group (and such a talented mutli-media artist) presented her original art quilt technique called Collaged Abstraction, using fabric scraps, thread couching on embellishments like ribbons, cords, yarns, and free motion quilting. (No pattern, no measuring, no rulers…art quilter heaven!)

Collages were designed on a heavily fused background; free-motion quilted; juushed (art quilting term) with thread, yarn, and ribbon; cut up and placed on a grid design. You’ll have to stay tuned to next month’s follow up to see what we created. But here’s a peek at our “Sewing Idioms,” which will hang in Fanfare of Quilts next year.

From top left: Mary Ann Barr – Knotted Up Inside; Kay Strebeck – A Biased Opinion; Donna Depenthal – Frayed at the Edges; Carol Lovelace – Bursting at the Seams”; Trish Busby – Tie Up Loose Ends; Christine Ortbals – Patch Things Up (back and front views!); Amy White – Spinning a Yarn; Rene Zar – Hem and Haw; Lori Feldman – Sitting on Pins and Needles; Barb Tucker – Fell Apart at the Seams; Harriett Zipfel – On the Fringes; Debbie Reynolds – Threads of Hope

Thank you Jane for the new technique and Harriett for creating and coordinating our 2026 Challenge.

Lori Feldman, AQSTL Co-Coordinator