03/21/2026
Our March meeting was absolutely bursting with creativity! We had the pleasure of welcoming Allie McCathren of Exhausted Octopus, who delivered a program full of color, personality, and inspiration.
Allie shared her unique journey into quilting - starting as a marine biologist and discovering quilting as a complete beginner during the pandemic. Like many of us, she found comfort and creative expression during a challenging time, and that spark quickly grew into something truly extraordinary.
Her work focuses quilts created through thoughtful use of scrap fabrics and intentional color placement. She walked us through her creative process, showing how each fabric choice contributes to depth, shading, and personality in her pieces. It was fascinating to see how she transformed small scraps into bold, expressive works of art.
During her trunk show, Allie gave us a behind-the-scenes look at her quilts, sharing the ideas and decisions that each one brought to life. Her approach reminded us that creativity doesn’t have to be perfect - it just has to be authentic and fearless.
More than anything, Allie encouraged us to get out of our own heads and trust our instincts. Her story—and her art—were powerful reminders that creativity can guide us through life’s ups and downs and help us find joy along the way.
We left the meeting feeling inspired, energized, and ready to dig into our own fabric stashes with a fresh perspective.
To learn more about her journey, please visit her website: https://exhaustedoctopus.com
To see more photos from her presentation, please visit our website and go to Calendar of Events-> March Meeting Recap. https://fortworthmodernquiltguild.com
