Reflections

“This class was amazing!  It went far beyond what I expected
and I learned many new things including how to self-critique.
Dena is the whole reason that this class was so amazing.  She was always trying to get
us to try something new or just take that leap of faith and make that quilt!”

Description:  Students learn how mirror-imaging can turn even simple sketches into fabulous works of art. They begin with directed drawing exercises.They experiment with reflection and work to develop meaningful compositions, and then seek ways to enhance the designs by breaking the symmetry.

Class includes positive critique and selection of a design sketch for interpretation during the remainder of the workshop. Students should be prepared to draw upon their complete repertory of knowledge and skills, as well as to learn some new and different techniques, to turn a working drawing into a complete art quilt.

Experimental construction, intuitive interpretation, and effective embellishment are encouraged.

Students soon realise that their subconscious minds are vast reservoirs of unacknowledged and perhaps unknown artistic resources; this workshop opens the tap.

Focus of Class: Design, critique, interpretation, machine sewing, embellishment

Number of Days: 1 or 2

Level of Instruction: Intermediate/Advanced

Maximum Number of Students: Approx. 20

Supply List (subject to change nearer the scheduled workshop date):

1 Day Class

• Adhesives:  1/2” cellotape or masking tape (optional)
• Adhesives:  Fusing agents like WonderUnder, Steam-a-Seam, Vliesofix (optional)
• Adhesives:  Glue stick (optional)
• Cutting Tools:  Paper scissors
• Cutting Tools:  Rotary cutter
• Cutting Tools:  Rotary cutting mat – 24″ x 36″
• Cutting Tools:  Sharp dressmaker shears
• Cutting Tools:  Thread snips (optional)
• Cutting Tools:  X-acto knife, blade #11, or other seam ripper (optional)
• Feet: 1/4″ foot (optional)
• Machines:  Straight stitch or zigzag sewing machine with regular foot
• Markers:  HB or softer lead pencil or mechanical pencil, eraser, sharpener
• Markers:  Needle point tracing wheel to perforate through up to 8 layers of paper (http://www.goldstartool.com/OSX/product_info.php?name=Tracing%20Wheel%20Needle%20Point&products_id=90) or other tool to make perforations (push pin, needle, straight pin)
• Markers:  Permanent ink, medium/fine tip black felt marking pen
• Materials:  2 yards or meters light/medium weight, stiff, non-woven fusible interfacing – Pellon 911 or Vilene H250 (not Pellon batting)
• Paper:  Inexpensive newsprint, sketchpad, tracing or brown wrapping paper, 24″ x 36″- 6 sheets
• Paper:  Inexpensive tracing paper – a dozen or so large sheets of tissue or kitchen greaseproof paper
• Paper:  Notebook (optional)
• Pins and Needles:  Extra sewing machine needles to replace any you break
• Pins and Needles:  Straight pins
• Tools:  Electric iron and board
• Tools:  Small re-useable trash bag
• Top Fabrics:  8-12 x 1/2 yard or meter pieces of solid color and/or print fabrics, loosely coordinated and in a wide range of values from very dark to very light
• Trims:  Embellishments like beads, sequins, found objects, cords, tassels, ribbons, trims, even scrap fabrics (optional)

2 Day Class Additional Supplies

• Adhesives:  Fabric glue for embellishments (optional)
• Backing Fabrics:  Fabrics to back, bind and hang the quilt top, preferably in a coordinated print which may be one of the top fabrics, 1-2 yards or meters (bring plenty)
• Feet:  1/4″ foot
• Feet:  Open toe foot (optional)
• Feet:  Zipper foot
• Hanger Fabrics:  Fabric to hang the finished quilt, minimum 1/4 yard or meter long x quilt width
• Markers:  Tailor’s chalk, soap sliver or other temporary marker
• Materials:  Craft size batting, 1/4″ thick, preferably cotton
• Pins and Needles:  Tacking gun and tacks, bent safety pins, or straight pins for securing quilt layers for quilting
• Rulers:  Rotary ruler – 6″ x 24″
• Threads:  Decorative threads (optional)
• Threads:  Invisible thread – good polyester, not cheap nylon (optional)
• Threads:  Matching threads
• Threads:  Neutral color utility thread
• Trims:  Optional selection of art supplies suitable for fabrics – acrylic fabric paints and brushes, dyes, crayons, rubber stamps and ink, in small quantities – whatever you have that will be easy and not messy to use

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