Workshops

Sketch For Success

From Sketches To Stitches - A Journey Worth Traveling
2 Day

Working with basic step-by–step techniques the participants will sketch and stitch gaining confidence with each proven exercise: to put thoughts and ideas down on paper before beginning to stitch. Sketching helps to develop a sense of control and oneness with the designs we create, captures the essence of our topic and allows for a variety of colour combinations to emerge.

Discharge Dyeing Techniques & Shiva Paintstiks

2 Day

This project uses bleaching and dyeing techniques. Starting with dark coloured fabric, the student will begin the resist process by using one of several methods. Dipping, painting, and printing techniques will be explored.

Depending on the colour fabric being discharged, the treated areas will cover a wide range of tones from very pale to almost bone white. Black fabrics will react with many exciting subtle changes. These discharged areas may be re-coloured with Shiva Panitstiks & Procion MX dyes. Discharge adds another dimension to your fabrics. After the fabric has been rinsed and a colour added , the stitching can begin!

Beyond Borders

2 Day

A series of three to five analogous coloured fabrics are joined together forming the background on which to create one of a kind work of art. Each participant will design and develop an arrangement using different threads and edging techniques.

Colour, proportion and scale, along with repetition, negative space, and shape will all be discussed and implemented during this workshop. Combining fabrics, shisha mirrors, beads, along with metallic, cotton and silk threads each individual will communicate their personal message. From traditional embroidery stitches to contemporary methods we will stitch and experiment.

Encaustic on Canvas

2 Day

Bottomless Blue Beads - starting with artists canvas and Encaustic paints you will uncover the ancient techniques, dating back to the 5th century BC, when melted beeswax first was combined with resin and pigments. The luminosity, rich surface, and the beauty of the beeswax forming the surface to embroider upon, give the student a colourful choice to create a one-of-a-kind work of art. Using design and colour studies each student will develop their own cutting edge creation. Waxes, pigments, tools and methods will be discussed along with techniques on how to achieve smooth, textured and scraped surfaces.

Just One Stitch

2 Day

A stunning, thought provoking cushion will be the finished embroidery work. Using one of the many ancient cross symbols as inspiration, students will create a repeat pattern using the straight stitch in many variations. Simple basic techniques combined with an image as old as time will give the embroiderer an opportunity to explore how exciting it is to work with Just One Stitch. The finished work will measure 10” x 10”.

Wise Woman

Contemporary Tassel Design
2 Day

Create a one of a kind giant tassel using hand made painted and papered beads. Using an aboriginal theme, and the number nine (the highest single digit). The number nine represents universal wisdom, and love, and teaches us how to accept each other. Students will learn to make their own colourful beads and attach commercial beads, bells and other found objects such as bone and shell embellishments.

Indigo Wears Shisha

2 Day

Inspired by the Indigo fabrics of Indio, students will create a background whole fabric from four or five different Indiopatterns. Shisha mirrors will be stitched in a traditional tree of life pattern or the student may choose to design her own contemporary style. Shisha (the Hindi word for “little glass) embroidery is also known as mirror-work or abla embroidery. Approximate finished size 9 inches by 12 inches. The piece may be framed or used in your next art quilt.

String Block Making

2 - 4 Day

Design and create a pattern that can be applied to your own hand dyed fabric or to a purchased fabric. Using foam core as a base the participants will apply a medium thickness, tightly twisted string to create their own “one of a kind” pattern. Jacquard Textile colour will bring your creation to life! You can use these printed blocks and pattern ideas to add jest to your traditional and contemporary quilt “works of art.” Each workshop participant will be able to take home a length or two of cloth ready for stitching.

Print Roller Magic

2 - 4 Day

Print rollers adapted specifically for printing on fabric and paper, precision cut from grannies old rolling pin these flexible, light weight tools allow for endless creative opportunities. Students will experiment with applying a variety of paints to make pattern, off- prints. Motifs can be layered or stand alone, like building blocks of colour. The added visual value will give you the quilter an artistic advantage as you create and stitch.

Domestic Arts

Darning - Mending - Patching
4 Day

Throw off the confines of the traditional image and lets make those old woolen blankets hum. Gather all the old woolen blankets you can find and we’ll redesign them into works of art. Manipulation techniques will hide or enhance the worn patches, moth holes will take on a new meaning and those burn spots from the campfire will be the envoy of your classmates. Darning, mending and patching will bring back memories to laugh at (all those white bobby socks) The hand embroidery stitches support the suggestion of work, like life, some worn, some faded and stained and with the holes made by moths as these blankets lay unused for so many years only to be brought back to life.

Lectures

Stitched Splendor – 1 Hour

The Textiles of Northwest India and the Empowerment of Women Through Stitch.
Power point presentation, lecture and presentation of Indian quilts, fabrics & garments.

“The lives of my family hang from the thread I embroider.” Enjoy a view into the colourful and varied heritage of Northwest India. We will visit artist studios, look at silk shawls from Bengal, Muslim women doing piecework by oil lamp, a silk screen factory, and examine Megward embroidered purses made in Rajasthan. Indigo pits, mud resist techniques, loom weavers in Gujaret, weaving, dyeing and the knot tying of the warp and weft threads of a Sari. Camels and elephants all will wrap you in the magical journey as you watch the pictures and examine the quilts and hand made works of these wonderful women. You will want to rush home and experiment with Shisha mirror work in your next project.

Time Management for Creative Stitchers – 1 Hour

Time is constant and irreversible. Your overall performance to succeed is made up of: Attitude, Energy, Goals, Priorities, and Organization. There are exactly 1440 minutes in a day, no more no less. If you’re going to get anything accomplished today, these are the 1440 minutes you have to work with. For the artist in all of us we need to be organized to be creative. What to do when you get that blank feeling – where do I begin, how can I create a work of art that will get into a juried exhibition? Let’s get started and lets create it in time to meet those deadlines.