Presentations available virtually or in-person.
PRESENTATIONS
"What Were the Judges Thinking?"
Two presentations are available.
1) One-hour presentation, perfect for guild meetings:
If you have attended quilt shows filled with one great quilt after another and wondered how the judges chose the winner, this workshop explains the process. Learn how judges evaluate quilts using the judging pathway: general appearance, design, and workmanship. Observe a mock judging where I use quilts I have made or purchased. Get your questions answered, have fears allayed, and feel encouraged entering judged shows through hearing how positive the experience can be.
2) Half-day class:
This longer time period offers greater depth and detail through a Power Point presentation with many more examples. The workshop is a great starting point for anyone who is interested in judging, holding a judged show, or wants to enter shows more knowledgeably.
"Art Quilting Steps and Missteps"
I will lead you through the steps I followed in creating my most recent landscape quilts. Gardens, insects, and bridges were among my themes. I will share the inspiration for each quilt, the techniques and products I used, and how I sampled to find the best one.
The process does not always go well. Although I have a plan before I start, there are always problems I do not foresee. I will tell you about those times, too, and what I did to resolve the issues.
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Workshops
Six hours each unless stated otherwise.
Judging Workshops:
“Introduction to Judging: Two-Day Seminar”
Available as an in-person or virtual workshop.
Are you interested in learning to judge quilts and wearables? Are you coordinating the judging for your guild show? Do you enter quilt shows and want to better understand what makes a winning quilt? You will learn through a combination of discussion, power point presentations, and hands-on judging from a National Association of Certified Quilt Judges' Qualified Instructor. All aspects of quilt judging will be covered, including the job of judging, evaluating design and workmanship, categories and awards, judging systems, setting up the judging floor, and judging versus jurying. Discussion includes certification requirements for the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges, the only national certifying organization for judges.
The fee of $200.00 per student includes 7 1/2 hours class-time per day, a copy of the NQA's Quide to Judged Quilt Shows, and 80 pages of handouts.
This seminar is available virtually or in-person. If you are interested, please contact me for upcoming dates.
If you have a number of interested students and would like to facilitate this workshop in your area, please contact me to discuss the possibilities. Total cost is variable, depending on venue rental and instructor’s travel, lodging, and meal costs.
"Bars, Beads and Drizzle - and Then What?"
Add drama to your work with satin stitch bars, beads, and drizzle, all using a simple zigzag stitch. Learn how effective the drizzle technique lends itself to appliquéing sheer fabrics that are otherwise difficult to handle. Drizzle also creates strong texture across a quilt and can be painted after stitching for another effect. The class features a series of blocks featuring hearts or stars, which can later be stitched into a small wall hanging. An article featuring these techniques appeared in the March 2015 issue of American Quilter magazine.
May be a three-hour or six-hour class, with the six-hour class covering a greater range of techniques.
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"Transfer Techniques with Mistyfuse and Bobbinwork”
Transfer text and appliqué designs with Mistyfuse fusible without reversing them. Then use the transfer technique and learn how to stitch bobbin work designs on a quilt and around the borders. The class project is a small wall hanging 12” x 18”. I will also demonstrate how to take the bobbin work technique even further to stitch faces and figures from a drawing. The class expands upon an article published in the July 2014 issue of American Quilter magazine.
This is a six-hour class.
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"Cord Embellishments"
Add punch, whimsy or a touch of elegance with cords customized for your quilts or home-dec items. Cords are especially effective in a border treatment in place of a flange or as an edge finish. You can also incorporate cords into the body of a quilt to finish a raw edge. Several of my prize-winning quilts feature hand-twisted cords which I have couched down for flower stems. Corded stems are unexpected and add dimensional texture and interest and can be used in all kinds of quilts: traditional, innovative, and art. As a graduate of London City and Guilds design and embroidery programs, I have learned a number of hand and machine cord-making techniques. We will experiment with some of the many of threads, yarns, and fibers available today. I provide a large selection to work from for a small $15.00 kit fee, and students are encouraged to bring supplies they would like to try.
During a six-hour class, spend half the time on hand-made cords, such as twisted and round cords, while the second half features machine-made cords.
A half-day class focuses on either hand or machine-made cords.
Hand Embroidery Workshops
As a student of City and Guilds of London Institute, I completed over 200 samples of hand and machine work to demonstrate my understanding and mastery of a wide range of stitches and techniques. I offer two hand stitching workshops.
"Blackwork"
Blackwork embroidery is stitched with straight stitches in a thread color, usually black, that contrasts with the ground fabric, linen or a similar fabric. There are three different ways to stitch blackwork patterns: backstitch; double running aka Holbein Stitch; and running backstitch.
In the workshop we will cover some of the many Blackwork patterns available. You will learn how to take each one from simple to complex and create shading. You will then be able follow commercial patterns, or you can create your own designs, such as the two shown here.
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"Freehand Embroidery"
Freehand embroidery, unlike counted threadwork, is stitched without any consideration of the fabric’s weave. The workshop will encompass the most often-used stitches including, running, chain and chain variations, couching, buttonhole, back, satin, stem, darning, and straight. We will sample them in both traditional and experimental ways. Images show how a single stitch can be used effectively in both simple and complex patterns.
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"Tape, Texture and Textile Paint"
Learn how to use textile paint to design fabric for your work by painting, stamping, and texturing using a variety of tools. Decorate an apron as the class project then keep it for yourself for DIY work or give it as a gift. The fabric paints are provided as part of the workshop. The apron is available for a fee or students may bring their own fabric to paint on with PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric recommended.
Six-hour class
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