BIOGRAPHY

Casandra L. Allen is a fiber/quilt 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, Norwich, CT, Creative Artworks, New Haven, CT, Hygienic Art Gallery, New London, CT and Mashantucket Pequot Museum, Mashantucket, CT). She participated in juried shows at the Museum in N. Charleston, South Carolina, 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. She also designed a quilt for The Alzheimer’s Association, in memory of her husband Alfredo Allen. She 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 providing expectant mothers with an original baby quilt. 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 are used as wall hangings, table toppers, and bedcovers. 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. One of Casandra’s quilts, titled “A Leap of Faith”, was selected to be exhibited at the Brickface Gallery in Sacramento, CA during Black History Month, 2014. She had two of her quilts accepted into another juried exhibit, titled Sankofa, which were on exhibit in South Carolina in April 2021.She was a member of the Thames River Quilt Guild of Ledyard, CT and exhibited her quilts in 2 exhibits. In 2019, she designed a quilt for raffle for the Naturalistas in Southeastern CT. In February 2021, Casandra had the honor of displaying her quilts as a solo exhibit at her local library in Waterford, CT for Black History Month, titled “The Color of Love”. Currently, she is teaching virtual classes for Brown Quilters Create and Educate. She has quilts on exhibit at Dorchester Center for the Arts in Cambridge, MD. and the ArtBar2.0. Recently, Casandra served as the Sewing/Quilt Instructor at her local Senior Center for ~1 year. She is an active member of Zuri Quilt Circle in Nashville, TN.recently elected to the Board as their secretary. She played a role in planning their annual retreat. In 2024, she was invited to be a speaker & present a workshop for the Quilt Africa Fabric International Summit. Casandra recently completed a course titled ‘ From Grief to Gratitude’, through the Institute of Professional Grief Coaching (IOPGC). She is officially a Certified Grief Coach. For further information, Casandra can be contacted at www.casandrasquilts.com/contact.