ABOUT ME IN A COWRIESHELL
Casandra L Allen is a quilt/fiber artist who resides in Antioch, TN. She is a retired Registered Nurse of 40+ years. She began quilting in 2005 after the loss of her youngest brother. Initially she used traditional patterns, but found her niche using Afrocentric fabrics and embellishments with cowrieshells and beads. Casandra exhibited her quilts in local art galleries and museums within Southeastern Connecticut (Artworks, Creative Artworks, Hygienic Art Gallery, Mashantucket Pequot Museum). She has participated in juried shows at the Museum in Charleston, Sc where her quilts were selected to be part of the traveling exhibit for a year. Casandra designed and donated 2 quilts for the Southeastern CT branch of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Alzheimer's Association, in memory of her husband, Alfredo Allen. She has taught classes for beginner quilters, (elementary students) and she volunteered at a local church teaching youth groups the art of doll making and fabric crafts. Her ministry at her church, New Life Christian Fellowship, was blessing expectant mothers with an original baby quilt for their newborn. She also has donated quilts for raffle to several KMM women's conferences and fundraisers.Her quilt topics vary from storied patterns to traditional patterns with an Afrocentric twist. When selecting names for her quilts, Casandra often uses uplifting messages. The quilts can be used as wall hangings, table toppers, and bedcovers and throw covers for sofas/chairs. Her quilts are said to warm your body and soothe your soul. Like cowrieshells, no two quilts are alike. Her quilts have also been on display at the Cornerstone Bookstore in Groton, CT. Her quilt titled A Leap of Faith was selected to be exhibited at The BrickFace Gallery in Sacramento, CA during Black History Month, 2014. Casandra had the honor of displaying her quilts at the local library in Waterford, CT in a solo exhibit during Black History Month , February 2021. She has participated in juried quilt exhibits- S.Charleston, SC for 15 years.Each exhibit with a designated theme. She was a member of the Thames River Quilters in Ledyard, CT and participated in 2 quilt exhibits. She is currently a member of Zuri Quilt Guild in Nashville, TN. In 2019, she designed a quilt for a raffle for "The Naturalistas" Hair Expo in New London, CT. She was a sewing/quilt instructor at the local senior center in New London, CT for a year. She is an online quilt instructor for quilters affiliated with Brown Quilters Create and Educate where most of her classes focus on Machine Applique and Quilt Embellishments.Currently she has quilts on display at the ArtBar 2.0 in Cambridge, MD.
Quilt Gallery
