Workshop Info - Learn how easy it is to apply color using colored pencils to a small, already quilted piece, ready for painting. You don’t have to be an artist, just try to paint what you see. Irena is not afraid of using bold colors and stark contrast to create a drama. Also learn how to do the shading in order to make your designs look dimensional. Irena feels very passionate about what she is doing and loves sharing her experiences, the good along with the bad, so you don’t have to go through the pain of learning the lessons the hard way... like she did. Lecture/Trunk Show Info - Making quilts for shows became a passion for Irena ever since she started entering quilt contests in May of 2005. Join her as she shares her experience in the struggle of making award-winning pieces. She will try to explain the best way she can, what it takes to make a winner the way she understands it. Find out what is so special about her work that is winning awards in many national and international quilt competitions and has been published in several quilting magazines. Listen to her critique of her own work and learn from her mistakes as she sees them. She loves the judges and has a deep understanding about how hard it is to pick the winners. Irena loves to inspire and encourage her students to try something they never thought possible. Entering shows and tough competitions keeps her motivated to try even harder. That is the only way to reach the peak of her own abilities as she sees it.
Skill Level: All Class Type: Hand + Trunk Show/Lecture Workshop Fee: $35 includes CD with information about materials and supplies, many images in color, box of 12 colored pencils, 1 oz plastic dispenser cup, 1 set of 6 brushes, 2 oz bottle of textile medium, 1 package of 12 paper patterns, one (1) - 11" X11" sample stitched on computerized system ready for adding color.
Supply List: All supplies needed for workshop are included in workshop kit.
Learn how to “draw” template-free curves with your rotary cutter and sew them with a minimum of pinning. These easy curves will create a feeling of rhythm and movement across the surface of the small quilt top you will produce in class.
Skill Level: All - Basic sewing skills required Class Type: Machine Workshop Fee: None
Explore ways to get your digital pictures out of the camera and onto fabric! Learn how to incorporate images into quilts and other fibre art pieces and how to make images that are soft, colourful, washable and lightfast. Techniques covered in this workshop include direct printing and a variety of image transfer methods. Students will have the opportunity to begin work on a small collage piece that features several images.
Skill Level: All Class Type: Hand Workshop Fee: $15 includes printable fabric, transfer paper, transparency transfers, gel medium, brushes and other supplies to print or transfer photographs onto fabric.
Bring your favorite outrageous fabrics (large florals, large conversation prints, stripes, dots, plaids, and textured batiks) to start this quilt. Cathie will help you with design and placement of your fabrics in your own “Wild and Crazy” quilt. Curves are handled in a quick and easy way in this quilt. Cathie’s original block provides movement by utilizing both curves and diagonal lines, and your quilt can be as “wild & crazy” as you can handle!
Embellish your blocks with decorative stitches built-in the Bernina sewing machine on loan to you for 6 hours. Bring all the fancy and heavy threads you have on hand and Cathie will show you how to add sparkle and pizzazz to your blocks with “bobbin work.” Cathie will also discuss additional “goodies” that are added after quilting for the maximum “wild & crazy” impact. Join Cathie for this day of fun. You will love this class!
Skill Level: All Class Type: Machine Workshop Fee: None Optional: $16 for 6-piece, acrylic template set; not required for class.
Folded Log Cabin quilts incorporate narrow, pre-pressed folded strips carefully sewn to a foundation. These strips stack, forming tiny “logs”. The result is a stunning wall quilt, with weight and depth, exuding subtle shading – or bold contrast! Table runners and pillow tops are also fabulous with the extra “body”! Sarah will provide her legendary trunk show of Folded Log Cabin quilts -large and small; some framed or uniquely hung from “found objects”.
In this 6 hour class, students will learn Sarah’s secrets for machine stitching blocks, determine their particular log cabin block pattern(s), and then the design process begins! In the afternoon, class will focus on block sizing and assembly, options for quilting and finish techniques. Students may expect to have 6-10 (or more!) blocks completed, and well on their way to a stunning Folded Log Cabin quilt!
Skill Level: Confident Beginner to Advanced Workshop Fee: None Class Type: Machine
This workshop will give the confidence to use a extensive range of threads for your quilting! The workshop will begin with a brief session where I will teach you how to use specialty threads, how to work with your machine tension and correct needle usage. I will have a variety of quilts with me to demonstrate different threads and techniques. You will be treated to an “Open Thread Bar” where you will have a large selection of Superior Threads available to use. You will start on a practice panel where you will learn how changing your machine tension affects the stitch quality on each of the decorative threads. You may work on this for the day and you can learn how to thread play on provided floral panels. I also bring supplies to create your own thread fabric. I will be there to help with any questions or concerns regarding threads, needles, tensions, etc. I would like to emphasize that this class is NOT a commercial. I am here to educate you on how to use any and all types of threads in your machine. I do not bring products to sell but refer you to your local quilt/fabric store. If you do not have a local store that supplies your threads, you are always welcome to purchase threads on-line. If you have threads that you are having difficulty using, please bring those too and we can do some troubleshooting during class.
Skill Level: All Class Type: Machine Workshop Fee: $10 includes pre-marked/assembled practice panel, thread painting floral panels, batting/backing packets, unlimited use of all threads and handouts.
This third in a series of Crazy for Landscapes workshops is fun, easy and just way too addictive. Part of the workshop fee includes custom printed background fabric plus a drawing overlay acts as a guide for you to thread paint your way to success. So come be Mother Nature for a day and create a small landscape vignette. Straight and zigzag stitches are simple to learn and will start you on your way to your own thread painting adventure. So come spend a few hours learning how to create landscapes in thread – it’s fun, simple and oh, so addictive!
Skill Level: All Class Type: Machine Workshop Fee: $13 for one (1) preprinted design, background fabric, pattern and fusible stabilizer.
Learn appliqué design with a surprising “two for one” twist, there’s no waste in this technique with fusible web and students choice of fabrics. Find out how to create positive and negative blocks with one design and a range of layout options for exciting design possibilities. Give and Take Appliqué will become an important design concept for future exploration.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Class Type: Machine
Workshop Fee: None
Machine Requirements: Open toe embroidery foot (or foot suitable for machine appliqué/zig zag stitching) and ¼" seam piecing foot.
Ink-Lique is the unique process Sherry used on her quilts Tribal Fusion and Lollapalooza that have taken numerous ribbons and accolades over the past year. Learn the new technique that is taking the quilting world by storm!
If you like to color, then you are going to love this in-process workshop. In this class, you will learn Sherry's design process and all of Sherry's secrets to inking success. Sherry will provide a pre-quilted "inkling" to all her students and a rainbow of ink will be provided for use. Sherry will go over each step of this technique with you and bring oodles of inspiration to lead you down the inking path. Sherry will provide a PowerPoint presentation and a trunk show of all of her Ink-lique quilts.
Skill Level: All - No quilting experience required! Class Type: Hand Workshop Fee: $20 materials fee includes a 12" X 12" quilted and prepared sample and class materials.
This class is intended for the quilter who is comfortable with their machine quilting skills but would like to take it to the next level. Topics to be covered include what thread to use and when, the order of quilting, using a hoop, outlining, using water soluble thread, and transferring images to fabric. Students will create a fiber art piece of a lotus flower, bud, lily pads and water entirely out of thread that will measure 15” x 24” when complete. We will also discuss how to make the piece two-sided.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Machine Quilter Class Type: Machine Workshop Fee: $9 for custom template
This class is for quilters who have mastered their own appliqué technique. I will demonstrate how to adapt a photograph or drawing into a quilted wallhanging, using hand and machine-piecing, appliqué and quilting techniques. Students should not expect to have a finished piece at the end of the class. Detailed art quilts can take months to produce. Students are encouraged to bring multiple designs to choose from and may contact me by email in advance of the class to discuss their choices.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced Class Type: Design/Hand Workshop Fee: None Optional: $30 Quilt Top Kit (See Supply List for more info.)
Easily create texture on fabric using Texture Magic™. Then use the fabric you have created to add eye-catching accents to this masculine table runner. The blocks are assembled using time-saving, easy methods — no curved piecing involved! Note: Architexture pattern includes instructions for twin/full quilt as well. Class participants may make quilt instead of table runner if desired.
Skill Level: All Class Type: Machine Workshop Fee: $20 includes Architexture pattern and one half-yard package of Texture Magic.
