2-Day Workshop @ Shirley's Sewing Room

I'm so excited to announce that I've been asked to run a 2 day workshop in Moosomin, SK for Shirley's Sewing Room. 

* * * UPDATE * * *
These weekend workshops have been booked up to capacity and wait-listed...  Thank you!

This will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 5th and 6th, 2013.  If you live in the area, I really hope you can make it.  Here's the deal:

- - - Basic Threadpainting - - -

Day 1 - Saturday October 5th, 2013

10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Lunch is provided. 

(Gluten free is available - let Shirley know when you register.)

max. 20 participants

In the past, my Threadpainting class has always been 3 hrs, with no one ever having finished the project (though everyone gets a good start by learning the basics).  With this longer class, we will see the project to the end and look at some finishing and display techniques.  There will be discussion on applying threadpainting to quilts as well.

Machine Threadpainting class at Annette's in Watrous

I will cover specifics about needles, top & bottom tension, stabilizer options, thread choices.  Handouts are included for future reference.  Then we work on skills.  I bring lots of fabric to practice on.  It's very easy - and that's what I want to show you.  We start with free machine doodling, then sketching, and then coloring in.  There's lots of practice time before you begin the main project.  I think it's the perfect class for the totally intimidated.  No artistic skills are necessary.  : )  I provide everything but the sewing machine just to make it that much easier.  : )  8" hoops are option.  I have lots of those for use in class too.  I even have a shipment of the right thread color sample spools for the project, provided by Wonderfil Canada.  How sweet is that?

You can see some of my threadpaintings HERE. 

Class sample.  And yes - her machine's name is 'Oscar' : )

* * * Shirley will open her store just for us on Saturday night to do some shopping! * * *

(insert happy dance here)

: )

- - - Creative Quilted Postcards Workshop - - - 

Day 2 / Sunday, October 6, 2013

10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Lunch is provided.

max. 20 participants

(Gluten free is available - let Shirley know when you register.)

This will be 'fun day'.  I have been teaching this particular class since 2009.  (I can't believe I just said that!)  My original class covers construction and creation of 4x6 quilted pieces of art based on a theme.  Again, you bring nothing but the sewing machine, accessories, thread and any other tools you might like (Shirley has all the info for you when you sign up).  Everything else will be provided:  fabric, stabilizer, fusing, glue, thread, embellishments, marking pens and rubber stamps.

texture sampler

Last year I developed an 'advanced postcards' class that covers more about texture and creative sewing (bobbin work, thread options, creative borders, machine couching).  It ends with display ideas for you art cards.  THIS six hour class will cover it all.  I can't wait.  I personally love teaching this class.  I get so inspired by the great ideas people come up with!

Please come with an open mind as every class is given a theme to inspire your creativity.

Beautiful samples of themed Postcards I've received from around the world!

* * I usually ask that people not bring their own fabric because it's something they've seen over and over and that minimizes inspiration.  However, with a group this big (max 20), I think it might be fun to have a big free-for-all scrap swap pile.  So if you want to bring a little bag of scraps to donate, that would be fine.  It'll be like a fabric potluck.  Oh - and by scraps I mean 1" strips to 8" pieces.  FQs are way too much fabric.  Remember these projects are small.  Please only bring fabric that you don't need back.

postcard swap theme:  Use Real Leaves

You have the option of taking one class or both.  If you do take both, then the second day will give you an opportunity to put your thread sketching and thread painting skills to work on your postcards.

Please call Shirley's Sewing Room at 306.435.3633 to register and to inquire about fees & location.

THANK YOU SHIRLEY!

You can view my 2013 postcards THERE.

Learn as I Teach. Teach as I Learn.

Hand work is really taking off in my life right now.  I am so grateful.  More and more people & groups are asking me to teach.  I love a needle and thread like a painter loves a brush and paint.  I spoke to a dear friend this morning about how we start off as artists and then somehow we shift into the realm of teaching whether we plan it that way or not.  It was a good conversation.

packing supplies & samples for a class

When it comes to teaching, I don't have a lot to go on.  I have been teaching creative sewing classes for three years now, but haven't attended a lot of classes myself.  I was terrified of teaching large groups (8+) but after leading a couple workshops for groups of 15+ in Manitoba, I found that it is indeed possible!  Still, I often wonder if I doing this right.  I got some wonderful positive feedback in my last Postcards class which really helped.  I asked for clarification and it sparked some great conversation - things I'd never considered.

 

Like art, once you start, more and more people want you.  Word gets around.  I find it a struggle to juggle teaching and art creation time.  Fortunately, once you put a class together it's always there.  You don't have to start from scratch every time.  That's a big perk.  I know the same will be true for video classes, but I am concerned about the initial amount of work in putting something like that together.  That's the exact reason I dropped out of going to Denver at the last minute for Craftsy last year.  I need to get over that.

"Come for Tea & Stitch with Me" in Winnipeg was my pilot attempt at teaching a class on basic surface embroidery stitches.  Already I'm getting booked for it three more times in the next month!  That's crazy great!  One is in Winnipeg again, one will be at Creative House in Saskatoon (details coming soon), and one will be a 3 hr module for a 6 day long workshop lead by Elizabeth Babyn.  I met Elizabeth over a year ago at USCAD's Experimental Fibre Art II class.  She went on to do some part time teaching with the University's art & design program.  Now she's offering this through her own art studio.  See Elizabeth Babyn's blog post about the Experimental Textile Workshop HERE.  It's six days long!  WOW.  She's doing it because she feels there's a need for it.  Awesome.  I'll be doing my workshop for her class on the morning of Sunday May 26th.  THIS time I will make sure to bring my camera!  : )

So - I took some time to reflect and ask myself this:  as a teacher, what am I learning?

I answered: Lots.  (Monika - please elaborate)

I am learning:

- Students love to see samples of finished work.

- Students really love to see samples of techniques of work in progress

- Showing things that didn't work & explaining why are equally great ways to learn (learning by MY
mistakes)

- Students appreciate prepared kits so they don't have to go mega shopping for an unspecified project.  I was told this one over and over...  I want coming to my classes to be easy.

- Always make a point of spending a bit of time with the quietest ones who don't ask for anything.  ; )  They often have a lot on their minds and many questions they are shy to ask about.

- I will likely always need to keep a point form schedule of planned things to cover in class or I will forget important things / stray...

- Their creativity is spurred when I supply fabrics and fibres for them so they aren't always staring at their old stash.

- Tips - I am full of them!  I see how the simplest of tips make enjoying the process of creating so much less stressful (like threading or tying off... really basic pointers are really helpful).

- Show & tell is golden.  Because the results in-class projects are not based on patterns, everyone ends up with something different.   I like the students to take a break and look at each other's work - whether completed or in progress.  They learn so much from each other.  This point in the class is often a real creativity booster.  You get a lot of, "OH!  I never thought of that!" and everyone is generally quite impressed. : )  I am right in there with them squealing, "WOW look at that!".  : )

- Students are sometimes nervous to be there too.  I did not know that before.  One woman giggled at my disclosure of being nervous, and said, "You are nervous!?  How do you think we felt coming in to this class?"  I really had not contemplated that.  But yes - I do recall going to a class and being completely terrified of messing up or being put on the spot.  Even going around to introduce yourself is highly intimidating for some.  (I hated that part - but as a teacher, I always do it!  Should I be??  Do you hate this part at the beginning of classes?)

- As a teacher, I'm always learning and thankfully that will never end : )  I am blown away by people's creativity!

- I still consider myself an artist first and foremost, and want to remain that way.  That will keep priority as there is so much more I want to create.  I have ideas pouring out of my ears and some days it drives me mad!

Do you teach?  Are you a sewing-class-aholic?  What's your feedback on your experiences?

...linking up to WIP Wednesday @ TN&TN - since teaching is what I'm workin' on. : )