I love to create.  For me this takes many forms with this blog mostly focussing on my life as a fiber artist.  My mother taught me to sew starting around the age of three or four (the details are a bit fuzzy!)  I learned to quilt first, then I started sewing clothes, and quilted clothes.  After that I entered a career where I spent a lot of time sewing clothing as well as other things.  I have recently returned to the quilt world, and I am excited to share my adventures with you.

Why the not so dramatic life?  Almost my entire professional life has been spent in the theatre.  And no, I’m not an actress.  I am trained as a scenic and costume designer, and have also spent many years working in various technical roles behind the scenes.  These experiences inform my overall design aesthetic as well as helping me to develop skills which allow me to execute (almost) anything I can dream up.

Vital Stats: Name: Cassandra Ireland Beaver

Education: MFA in Theatre Design (Specifically Scenic and Costume Design) from University of Connecticut

BFA in Painting (the Fine Art kind) and Drama: Theatre Design and Technology from Washington University in St. Louis

States in which I have Lived:  Ohio, Missouri, Utah, Kentucky, Connecticut, Indiana

Places I have Visited: 35 US States, Germany, France, Belgium (well, the bus tour I was on had a rest stop there so that counts, right?), South Korea

Q&A Time

What is your Quilting Style?  I identify myself as a contemporary quilter because I’m going to make whatever I feel like making, and I have no intention of plunking myself inside a box.  My quilts each have a particular style, but I do not.

Okay then, what style do your Quilts tend to have?  Most of the pieces I create would be classified as either Modern or Art quilts, although occasionally something more traditional may appear.

What is your Greatest Quilting Strength?  A rather neurotic tendency to insist on seams lining up perfectly and points being sharp

What is your Greatest Quilting Weakness?  Super regimented free motion quilting.  As much as I like precision piecing, I like my free motion quilting a bit wild- I think it has more energy that way!

Do you have any experience teaching what you discuss here?  I was a college professor teaching scenic and costume design for a few years, and I managed a university (theatre) costume shop for a couple of years before that.  I now regularly teach at Dabble and Stitch in Columbus, Ohio.  I am also available to teach and do trunk shows for guilds.

How can I contact you?  You can email me at:   cassandra(at)thenotsodramaticlife(dot)com

What about that theatre stuff you mentioned?  I don’t do as much theatre work now that I am more heavily involved in the quilting world.  On rare occasions I do some work as a scenic design assistant which mostly involves doing the drafting for a show.

What is the best piece of advice you can give to a fellow quilter?  Be fearless with your work!  Try a new technique!  Create an original design!  You are in control of the fabric!

Thank you so much for visiting!  Your comments are important to me, and I will make every effort to respond!

This information was last updated on September 1, 2018

13 Comments

  • Reply
    Aunt Brenda
    January 23, 2015 at 4:58 pm

    I am already a fan! Love you and love your work.

  • Reply
    anna brown
    July 20, 2015 at 9:32 am

    LOve the 2015 new blog hop …………..I really liked the cotton and steal tote you made ……ty for sharing your ideas……and thoughts….You was a busy girl…

  • Reply
    Janelle
    January 28, 2016 at 7:52 pm

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  • Reply
    karen swann
    September 14, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    I just commented on your great block for the Hop–and then I wandered around your blog. You are a wonderfully gifted quilt designer, Cassandra! Your completed quilts just blow me away. I’ll be following you (not in a creepy way, I promise) from now on. So glad I found you!

  • Reply
    Rencontre adultère
    September 21, 2016 at 4:09 pm

    Hurrah, that’s what I was exploring for, what a material!
    existing here at this website, thanks armin of this site.

  • Reply
    Mary Miller
    October 9, 2016 at 5:45 pm

    Cassandra…I tried to get you by phone. Are you available in 2017 to come and talk to my quilt guild in Springfield. We meet the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 pm at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Villa Rd. We would love to have you come and do a trunk showing or whatever you would think appropriate.
    Email or call me, 937-390-0258…thanks so much!
    Mary M.

  • Reply
    New Logo
    February 16, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    […] official logo was designed by Cassandra Beaver, and is based on her row-by-row-experience […]

  • Reply
    Kathleen Lewis
    September 17, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    Hello. I was just wondering if u repaired quilts. I have one of my grandmother’s quilts that is in need of a little help! Some of the patches has tares in them. Please email at ur convenience. Thank you.

    • Reply
      thenotsodramaticlifeadmin
      December 5, 2017 at 12:31 pm

      Hello! I don’t usually take quilt repairs. Older quilts often need very specific care, and I have not had training that would guarantee the maintained integrity of a vintage or antique quilt.

  • Reply
    Nancy Bayer
    August 23, 2020 at 10:02 am

    Cassandra, I just discovered you today (8/23/2020) and I love your work and your attitude/spirit! I also was involved in theatre costuming (first hand, cutter, sewer) for about 10 years. I now quilt and the past few months have made hundreds of masks. I will be following you!

  • Reply
    Ann
    February 17, 2023 at 5:51 am

    I just saw a photograph of your fabulous quilt, “Emergence”. WOW,! The detail is amazing. The combination of machine quilting, hand quilting, and embroidery is wonderful!!

    Well done

  • Reply
    Marie S Spodek
    March 27, 2024 at 2:26 pm

    Thank you for your most interesting commentary re: Quilt Con…Hoping that someday I can go to see in person…

    I notice that you have a CriCut device, especially for working with your hourglass cut outs….Can you tell me which model you have and why you chose it…

    Thank you in advance…

    • Reply
      thenotsodramaticlifeadmin
      May 25, 2024 at 12:45 am

      I occasionally use an AccuQuilt cutter for fabric, but my Cricut machine isn’t really intended for fabric. I do occasionally use it to cut out templates from card stock.

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