Discover, Create & Connect

CREATIVITY IN BITE SIZE PIECES

Hey there! Ready to take your quilting to the next level?
Block Studies Collective is about tapping into your own brand of creativity, making time for play, and developing your unique creative voice.

The membership is not just about creating beautiful pieces, it's also about creating within a community, exchanging ideas and encouragement, and spending some quality time both at our sewing machines and with a group of like-minded folks!

Dive into a world of vibrant colors, learn new techniques, and create beautiful quilt studies that spark your creativity! I hope you’ll join me on this 6 month adventure! Read on below for all the details.

Membership runs from October 2024-March 2025.
You will have ongoing access to the course content after the membership ends.

Choose the subscription that's right for you

Pay $35 monthly, or pay in full and save!

All aspects of the membership are the same no matter which subscription you choose.

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WHAT'S INSIDE?

6 months of color palettes, block patterns and creative prompts delivered on the 1st of each month from October 2024- March 2025.

MONTHLY BLOCK PATTERN
Every month you will receive a technique focused block pattern and various creative prompts. The blocks are designed to grow your skills and can be made with precision or ruler free! The creative prompts are to help you practice the technique and play with different color and block variations. Techniques we will be exploring range from traditional piecing, to improv, no tear foundation paper piecing, curves, hand piecing and more!

CURATED COLOR PALETTE
Each color palette coordinates with the block pattern for the month. The palettes might range from just a few colors to more complex palettes focused on color interaction and value contrast.

Use the given palette or create your own, as this year there will also be monthly prompts to help you explore your own color choices!!

THE FABRICS -USE YOUR OWN STASH OR PURCHASE FABRICS ONLINE
Use the fabrics and scraps you have on hand, purchase fabric bundles form Tara or order fabrics from your local quilt store. Whatever works for you!

VIDEO TUTORIALS
Every month Tara will take you step by step through the block, giving you insights into the colors and values in the palette, tips and tricks for the block and ways to take the block of the month forward.

TWICE MONTHLY ZOOM MEETUPS
Get together for presentations from Tara and guest speakers. This is a place to connect in real time to share your thoughts, questions and progress. All meetings will be at 4 pm Pacific time, and will always be recorded for later viewing.

DROP IN SATURDAYS
One weekend day each month Tara will have open drop in hours, so you can ask questions, share your work and get to know other members.

GUEST SPEAKERS
Annabel Wrigley, Andrea Tsang Jackson and Amanda Nadig will be coming on to chat about their sewing practice and share their work!

A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF LIKE MINDED QUILTERS
There is nothing quite like being with a group of creative folks to get inspired and make new friendships! This is one of my favorite aspects of a membership- these are your people!! There will be a members only community on Thinkific, a private space to share our work, ask questions and cheer each other on.

NEW THIS SEASON:
• How to scale up the design for a larger throw size quilt.
• How to change and customize the monthly palettes.
• Palettes will be offered in Kona and Moda Bella solids.
• Monthly "office" drop in hours.

Here's what folks are saying about the Block Studies Collective

5 star rating

Mindblowingly A W E S O M E!!

Elizabeth Goldbaum

I watched segments twice, took notes, printed the written instructions and notated those.....so clear, concise and helpful! Tara, you are a natural instructor and your can-do, try-it-out, experiment philosophy - and the speed with which you tackle...

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I watched segments twice, took notes, printed the written instructions and notated those.....so clear, concise and helpful! Tara, you are a natural instructor and your can-do, try-it-out, experiment philosophy - and the speed with which you tackle what seems like insanely complicated techniques - helped build my confidence!

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5 star rating

Block Studies with Tara Faughnan

shelley paine

Tara Faughnan is an extraordinary artist. She shares freely and is incredibly supportive.the video tutorials breakdown each block and technique into great detail. I would recommend this class to anyone wanting to learn quilt technique and wants to...

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Tara Faughnan is an extraordinary artist. She shares freely and is incredibly supportive.the video tutorials breakdown each block and technique into great detail. I would recommend this class to anyone wanting to learn quilt technique and wants to launch into their own design work.

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5 star rating

Wonderful experimentation and play

Val Shewell

Lots of fun learning about MY color preferences!

Lots of fun learning about MY color preferences!

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5 star rating

Free your creative spirit in a supportive community

Debra Stoner

This course is a unique combination of structured freestyle quilting. I love it. There is plenty of instruction to put you at ease and vibrant encouragement to push you into experimenting. Thank you, Tara, you rock color and design!

This course is a unique combination of structured freestyle quilting. I love it. There is plenty of instruction to put you at ease and vibrant encouragement to push you into experimenting. Thank you, Tara, you rock color and design!

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5 star rating

An adventure in colour and improvisation

Cathie Delaney

This course was the first time I have ever been given a colour palette and a pattern, and then encouraged to make it my own. The course community page provided wonderful inspiration, along with Tara's discussions about colour and pattern

This course was the first time I have ever been given a colour palette and a pattern, and then encouraged to make it my own. The course community page provided wonderful inspiration, along with Tara's discussions about colour and pattern

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5 star rating

Inspiring and motivating

Sherry Keller

Tara, just finished watching all the month's videos and I have to say that I am raring to go and so impressed by the generosity and the way you share your ideas and process. AWESOME! Hope to see you soon.

Tara, just finished watching all the month's videos and I have to say that I am raring to go and so impressed by the generosity and the way you share your ideas and process. AWESOME! Hope to see you soon.

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5 star rating

Inspiring

Debra Stoner

I was never comfortable playing with colors. I was a quilt kit person. Now I'm crazy about playing with colors. I trust myself to have fun and follow my intuition. It's freeing! Tara is a fantastic teacher. She encourages exploration and experimen...

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I was never comfortable playing with colors. I was a quilt kit person. Now I'm crazy about playing with colors. I trust myself to have fun and follow my intuition. It's freeing! Tara is a fantastic teacher. She encourages exploration and experimentation, then praises all the effort.

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Sign up now to grab the early bird pricing

You can join for just $35 monthly or pay in full and save! And don’t worry, you can cancel anytime if you need to.

Why join the Block Studies Collective?

The Block Studies Collective is your space to dive into new techniques, get creative, and connect with a wonderful and encouraging community of quilters.

  • YOU LOVE PLAYING WITH COLOR
    and would like to explore new palettes

  • YOU LOVE TO SEW
    but need some smaller projects you can actually finish!

  • YOU WANT TO EXPERIMENT WITH NEW TECHNIQUES
    and having videos to learn from is a great way to see how its done

  • YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED QUILTER
    and want to spend time exploring your creativity!

  • YOU ARE A NEW QUILTER
    and want to spend time exploring your creativity AND learn new techniques!

More goodies for members

  • Tutorials on wrapping small studies

    Tara will share her technique of how to wrap the studies on canvas frames to create gorgeous wall art and gifts

  • Bonus presentations on color and value

    Each month, Tara will go in depth on why the palette was chosen, what effect value has on the colors, and how you can take it in a new direction

  • Access to past Color Collective patterns not available to the general public

    Exclusive access to unreleased patterns from the Color Collective archive

FAQ

  • Do I need to buy fabric each month?

    No, you can use the fabrics and scraps you have on hand! You can always purchase fabrics from participating shops as well.

  • Can I cancel my membership at any time?

    Of course!
    Pay in full memberships ($185 one-time fee level) may be cancelled at any time and will be refunded at the $35/month rate.

    Pay as you go memberships ($35 monthly fee level) may also be cancelled at any time.

    Once you cancel, you will lose access to all content at the end of your current billing cycle.

    All refunds will be less any processing fees incurred by the payment service providers.

  • How long will I have access to the content?

    You will have unlimited ongoing access!! If you cancel your membership, you will lose access to the content on your renewal date.

  • Will I be making a quilt each month?!

    You can make the block for each month, and if you love the technique, guidance will be provided for creating something larger or a finished product like larger quilts, pillows, zip pouches, bags and wall hangings.

  • Will the Zoom sessions be recorded?

    Yes! It will take about 24 hours to make the recordings available after each meet up

  • Still have a question?

    Email me at [email protected]

Meet Tara

Tara Faughnan

I am a professional textile designer and quilter living and working in Oakland, CA. I started to quilt around 2001 or so, using a reprint of the 1931 edition of 101 Patchwork Patterns by Ruby Short McKim as my guide. I had no idea such things as rotary cutters, rulers or plastic templates existed, and spent many happy weeks tracing around cardboard templates and cutting out pieces with a pair of scissors. Somewhere along the way, my love of quilting led to school and on to a career in textile design, with clients including Michael Miller Fabrics, Riley Blake and Pottery Barn Kids.  I find inspiration in forms, shapes and the place where 2 seams meet. Color interaction is the key inspiration that drives me. It's that intuitive moment when you put two colors together, and then two more, and two more after that that I focus on. The explorations are endless and  I strive to try to walk the line of discomfort and still make everything work together as a whole.     I draw a lot of inspiration from the simple bold geometry of antique quilts, the gorgeous bright colors from textiles around the world, and freedom and spontaneity found in unconventional and improvisational quilts.  When I look at my current work, I see all 3 of these aspects represented.  I like to use simple geometry, complex color interaction and find the line the exists somewhere between harmony and discord.

Meet the Guest Speakers

Amanda Nadig

Guest Speaker

Amanda Nadig is a textile artist who finds inspiration in keeping with and breaking away from traditions in quilting. Her hand quilted compositions explore colors and shapes sourced from secondhand garments and home textiles discovered near her home studio in Chicago, IL. Her two young children and her high school art students have a great influence on her work; she explores balance, embraces chance, and experiments endlessly in her artistic practice.

Andrea Tsang Jackson

Guest Presenter

Andrea Tsang Jackson is a textile artist, quilt designer, author and educator. After working in various design fields and settings ranging from architecture to museums, the quilting medium called to her as a way to explore place, belonging, and agency. She holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was the 2017 Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. In 2016, she was awarded the Etsy Canada Award for New Talent. Her work has been published in Flare, Design Milk Everyday, Uppercase, and various quilting publications. Andrea’s first book, Patchwork Lab: Gemology, was published by Lucky Spool in 2019. Andrea lives in Kjipuktuk / Halifax with her husband and two sons.

Annabel Wrigley

Guest Speaker

Annabel Wrigley is a fabric designer, textile artist and author living in Richmond, Virginia.

Get ready!

Sign-ups will close soon, and will not reopen until fall of 2025.

Sign up now!
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Zoom Schedule

All Zoom meetings will be recorded and available to view on-demand.

OCTOBER: Tuesday Oct 1 & Thursday Oct 17th

NOVEMBER: Monday Nov 4 & Thursday Nov 21 (with guest speaker)

DECEMBER: Tuesday Dec 3 & Thursday Dec 19

JANUARY: Tuesday Jan 7 & Thursday Jan 23(with guest speaker)

FEBRUARY: Tuesday Feb 4 & Thursday Feb 13 (with guest speaker)

MARCH: Tuesday March 4 & Monday March 31