Your Gateway to
A Year-Long Improv Exploration
With Leading Improv Quilter Nicholas Ball
Open the door to a treasure trove of nearly 100 expertly crafted videos, guiding you through the enchanting process of design through to edge finishing in improvisational creativity!
You'll embark on a transformative journey filled with inspiration, innovative techniques, and practical insights that will elevate your skills and ignite your passion for design!
As you may know, not only is Nicholas Ball a world renowned Improv Quilter but he is also one of our most regular and popular CraftyMonkies teachers. We love the way Nicholas is able to share part of his process with our worldwide students. There is only so much Nicholas can share in any of his 3-hour Zoom classes, and he wanted to have more time to elaborate on his many processes. It’s for that reason we chose to collaborate with Nicholas on a year-long course through the CraftyMonkies VIP Member Cub in 2023/24.
It came to an end in May 2024, but was so well received and inspirational for so many of our students that we have decided to offer it as a permanent feature here on our platform for anyone who missed out the first time round! Now you can go on the same journey at the click of a button and at your own speed over a period of twelve months from the time you sign-up - a wonderful opportunity for anyone wanting to learn how to improv!
Read on for the FULL details!...​
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So, how does this creative journey work?
It's so easy! As soon as you press the 'Join Now' button, within minutes you will be able to sign into the 'Improv Exploration' page (found under the Clubs heading on our main menu). Just use your email and a chosen password, there you'll have the entire 12 months worth of videos listed, all in month-by-month order and in bite-size chapters to make it easy for you to dip into whenever you like! You can go at your own speed and go backwards and forwards as many times as you like.
Do I have to make the Butterfly? Is there a pattern?
No and No! Nicholas created his Butterfly in order to be able to teach you the many techniques needed to create an improv piece. Some people chose to make other creatures. Some people chose to use the techniques for other projects. There is no pattern and no requirement to make anything specific at all. The video content is there to teach you techniques via the Butterfly! What you do with those techniques is completely up to you, and that's the exciting part!
How long is the subscription?
It's 12 months from the date you CHOOSE when you purchase. At the end of the 12 months you will no longer have access to the Full-Access Improv Exploration page. If for example you want to purchase today, but start your membership in a couple of weeks (maybe you're going on holiday etc) that's fine. Your membership starts on the date you choose.
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How much does it cost?
The cost for this bumper content is just £99.00 for the entire year! That works out at just £8.25 per month, incredible value for hours & hours of carefully crafted content. In US Dollars this equates to approximately just $11.00 per month!
Can I join from anywhere in the world?
Yes! Just like any of the other content on our website, you can join from anywhere and pay in your own currency.
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Do I have to watch at set times?
No! Unlike our LIVE Zoom classes where you have to turn up at a specific time, this is all recorded content, so you can watch whenever you want! There are NO Live Zoom classes as part of this content, just beautifully filmed and edited recorded content for you to watch when you want!
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Can I reach out if I'm stuck?
Yes of course! We can pass anything onto Nicholas and he will answer your questions. Just email us hello@craftymonkies.com
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Is 12 months long enough?
Yes, there were many members who completed their Improv Butterflies well within the 12 months!
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What exactly do I learn? Do I learn some of Nicholas's famous techniques he teaches?
Yes! Please see under the three pictures below the entire 12-month course listing in full!
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Can I see an example of a video?
Yes! The video (see above) shows you an overview of some of the months, and the video below is the very first opening chapter, this might give you a good feel of what you can expect.
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What do other students say?
Amazing things! Here's some quotes from VIP Club Members who enjoyed this course in 2023/24:-
"I'm no longer afraid of improv! I can't believe how I can now choose colours, and use techniques I could never quite get to grips with. I could never have imagined what I can now do. It's been amazing!"
Sarah Whelbourne
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"One thing I've loved is being able to go backwards and look at the videos to re-practice. I now firmly understand the techniques I have been taught as I have watched them so many times! My confidence levels are through the roof!"​
Andrea Marks
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"I had only ever done a small amount of traditional quilting. I Googled improv quilting and found Nicholas Ball. I then found the CraftyMonkies VIP Member Club and took a gamble. I had no idea what to expect, but - Wow! It has been a very steep learning curve for me, but I'm very proud of how I have overcome my fears and now class myself as an improv quilter! Thank you Nicholas and Rachel, a brilliant, BRILLIANT course!"​
Julia Stevens​​​​
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Ready? To watch the very first chapter and gain a sneaky peak just click below!
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Ready to find out exactly what you will learn?
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Month 01: Introduction
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What will be doing?
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What are the learning objectives?
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What new skills will we learn? Breakdown the finished quilt and discuss the individual techniques.
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A look at tools and notions. Highlight what would be useful. Discuss thread, blades, needles etc.
Month 02: Inspiration
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What is inspiration and where to find it? Explore my many sources, the natural world etc. Look at other quilts as examples.
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Creating a mood board. Where to find images – internet, books, magazines, butterfly houses etc.
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Homework to find inspiration images.
Month 03: Scale, Size & Symmetry
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The nature of improv – no fixed pattern, no specific cutting list, no specific measurements.
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Discuss how the butterfly is better suited to slightly larger scale, due to the intricacy of the piecing.
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Explain how the quilt won’t be perfectly symmetrical.
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Take an inspiration image and make a copy using tracing paper to show how to create copies of the wings.
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Discuss the piecing order and how the quilt will come together.
Month 04: Colour & Fabric
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Choosing colours. Using a colouring sheet.
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Looking at fabrics – patterns, prints, scale, fussy cutting.
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Creating a swatch sheet.
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Discuss quantities of fabric and using scraps.
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Homework to curate a fabric pull.
Month 05: Piecing Slabs & Inserts
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Slabs are essentially larger pieces of tailor-made fabric. Show how to rough cut to size etc.
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Inserts – skinny, confetti, lots of variation with this technique.
Month 06: Piecing Curves & Rings
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Basic curves, deeper curves, arcs, wedges, using curves to round off corners etc.
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Rings – they don’t have to be circular.
Month 07: Making the Butterfly Wings
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Using the template to make mirrored copies.
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Filling in the space.
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Discuss adding background or having the perimeter of the quilt be the shape of the butterfly.
Month 08: Making the Butterfly Body
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Using the body to join the wings, like a central column.
Month 09: Completing the Quilt Top
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Ensuring you have adequate fabric for your background.
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Discuss adding antennae if wanted, although they can be quilted in.
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Positioning wings and joining the halves.
Month 10: Preparing to Quilt
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Basting – discussing various methods, pins, spray, thread etc.
Month 11: Quilting
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Quilting designs and what works.
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Using a diagram to help plan the design.
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Disscuss threads and weights.
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Behind the Scenes look at the creative collaboration between Nicholas and Trudi Wood; longarm quilter!
Month 12: Edge Finishing
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Discuss options – pillowcase facing, binding etc.
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Wrap up course with a Conclusion.
To gain access to the CraftyMonkies Year-Long Improv Journey simply click on the Join Today button below - this will take you to the next step, which enables you to choose a Pricing Plan sign-up & pay your subscription online for this fabulous, one-of-a-kind CraftyMonkies adventure!
