Welcome to the last stop on the Fiber Art Connection Blog Hop! My class is also the last (but not least!!) of the terrific lineup that starts on March 15th, when registration closes. That's only five days from now!
I hope you'll feel as though you are sitting right in a real classroom with me. I've been busily getting ready, taking photos, and shooting videos that confirm my suspicion that I will never have a career in the film business.
If you've been reading my blog, you probably have a pretty good idea of who I am. But just for fun, let's pretend you're asking me the following questions and I'll answer them:-)). At the end of the blog post, you'll have a chance to win my giveaway. (no skipping down to the end!!)
What draws you to the fiber arts? Why do you work the way you do?
I love fiber arts because I can work with color, texture, and design without having to draw. My 7th grade teacher saw my picture of a tree, gave me a big C on it and told me I had no talent. End of drawing. My grandmother always had needles in her hand (sewing, embroidering, knitting, crocheting) and had a fabulous sense of color. I learned all from her!
I work the way I do because I can't be constrained by rules (and don't expect my students to be, either) and I love to play and experiment. There's a constant element of discovery and surprise when you work without patterns and trust your instincts.
It's work, but it is fun -- and if you can't have fun while you're working, what's the point?
Tell us about your studio! Where in the world is it? Is it clean or messy? Hidden away or out in the open.
I actually have two studios. One is my small sewing room/ office at home: a disaster area. Full Disclosure: It's not always this bad. Had just gotten home from a teaching trip (see suitcase?) and was doing a massive cleanup. It always looks worse before it looks better.
Truthfully, if I don't see it I forget I have it so most things have to be visible.
See this? It is so zen and neat and peaceful. I once feng shui'd my sewing room and I could only sit and stare into space. Couldn't create a thing till it was messed up again.
Truthfully, if I don't see it I forget I have it so most things have to be visible.
See this? It is so zen and neat and peaceful. I once feng shui'd my sewing room and I could only sit and stare into space. Couldn't create a thing till it was messed up again.
Below, the side that has already been neatened.
The other studio is my dye/print studio, which also has a 10' design wall. Yes, I do some sewing there, but I work at home nights and weekends, so I have fabric in both places.
3.What's your favorite color and why?
Ha - I like to wear beige, black, brown, and purple. Other than that - when it comes to fabric, I love lime green in little bits. It's such a wonderful pick-me-up. You didn't ask, but I don't like pink or baby blue. Why? Dunno. I'm just not a pastel person.
What's your least favorite thing to do when you're working on a piece?
That's easy: the quilting. I flunked every free-motion class I ever took and finally decided my work is not about the stitch. Once I switched to straight lines, about seven years ago, I stopped letting my almost-finished pieces sit around for a year before I quilted them.
If you could fly, where would you go?
I DO fly. Seems that I'm always getting on a plane to go somewhere. I prefer to let someone else do the work; I'm not much good at flapping my arms.
Tell us about the class you're teaching for The Fiber Art Connection.
What?? And spoil the surprise?? Actually, since everyone will be making an original piece of work, it will be a surprise. We'll be working with rectangles (strips and squares are rectangles, after all) and doing lots of experimenting on the way to making a small piece by the time the class is over. I promise fun!
What do you hope your students will learn from this?
That they can make wonderful, unique pieces if they throw away their patterns and rulers, experiment, and follow their instincts.
Where else can we find you on the Internet?
On my website, www.studio78.net, on Facebook and at Instagram
Ok, so now for the giveaway chance! The eight of us have assembled a FABULOUS basket of goodies that some lucky person will win!
SO -- Answer my question and throw your name into the ring! Good luck!!
COMMENTS ARE OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT, MARCH 14 - so go for it!
If you were taking this class (or any class) with me, what would you want to take away from it?
28 comments:
I would love to make a free form quilt that looked artistic but also planned to go together.
I've just read your Free-Form Quilts book cover to cover and am working on making one now. I would echo what Betsy said. I can follow the mechanics of what what to do, but how do I make sure that the quilt that will have an end result that will look good?
I'd love to be able to work more with more abandon and like the previous comment to have it work out and not look like a bunch of stuff just thrown together.
I'd like to add more surprises in a free style quilt. So often I simple add lots of plain fabric borders adn I need to loosen up! Thanks so much--I enjoy you blog posts.
Thanks for your comments on design. Makes me think I should dedicate a blog post or two to the subject, which is really hard to teach and even harder to write about. IMO, all the theory in the world is just that unless you have a hands-on experience.
It's a lot of trial and error - and in the end, trusting your instincts. You just know when something doesn't look right or if there is one part that bothers you.
We'll talk!
To learn new skills and feel confident doing them. 24Tangent@gmail.com
I always look for partnerships and someone I can call or text and ask for opinion, suggestion, perspective and who just wants to take life a little easier. I'm doing this because I love the freedom and random moments of "well, what the hell. . . Let's try this . . .
BTW, I laughed out loud about your grandmother. My grandmother always had needles pinned on her dress bodice (like where you'd put a name tag on your shirt . . . Where your hand automatically goes . . .. That way she always knew where one was. She taught me all the rules and structure of fabrics and construction and now I love breaking them.
I am excited to be learning new things. Looking to have a little more freedom in my quilting, want to try new mediums, and meet new friends
When I take a class, it's ideas I'm looking for - a new technique, a new way of looking at something old, etc. I want to be able to use what I learn (or learn that I definitely do not like that way of doing things:). I'm very rarely taking a class because I want to make the project shown - I prefer ideas.
:) Linda
I'm so glad that I discovered your blog through this hop! This is my first visit, and I'll certainly be back. I love your color combinations and that's what I'd love to take away from a class with you - combining colors so that they dance together rather than just sit uncomfortably next to each other. Thanks for all the inspiration!
From your class, I'd like to take away your sense of color and how you use your straight line quilting to enhance your work. I used to be a very good home machine quilter, but since my stroke, I've had to focus on straight lines (as straight as I can get them) .so I am not satisfied by the quilting because I don't know how to plan it to show it in best light.
I like classes where I can take away inspiration and a technique but not a piece of "cookie cutter" art that is exactly the same as the tutor's piece.
I would love to learn to have just a bit of confidence that what I do is good! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to learn to have just a bit of confidence that what I do is good! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to learn to have just a bit of confidence that what I do is good! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to work with all of the inspiring artists in the blog hop line up, and the thing I most would like to learn in your class is new and exciting ways to approach the "getting started" and the deliberate focus on creating outstanding new work! Your colour sense, use of found materials, exciting line placement and the contrast between value is exciting. Make sure you focus in on that! Congrats!
Bethany
I have your books and read your blog. I love to create my own fabric but it often sits on the shelf because I don't quite know what to do with it. I think taking your class would unleash my hesitation in working with my dyed and painted stash.
I have two of your books, and read your blog. Through you, I learned about FAC, and signed up--actually, Desiree said I was the first to commit! I hope to learn more about putting pieces I've strip-pieced into a finished work. As you said in your free form book, strip piecing without too much thinking about it is relaxing, surprising, fun... I do it when I'm bored, anxious about something, or need inspiration. I have a box of squares and rectangles just waiting to be used for a quilt, bag, table runner, wall art, or whatever.
One of the best things I learned at a pottery conference: when asked why he didn't "score and slip" his pieces (which is one of the potters' ten commandments), the instructor replied, "For two good reasons: I don't have to, and I don't want to." Sometimes rules need to be thrown out.
I'm in dire need of confidence. I do not trust my own instincts or seem to KNOW when a piece is done or just right. Can you help???
Freedom to explore shape and color
thanks for the givaway
I'd like to gain more confidence in working without a pattern or plan. To go where the work takes me, refrain from making final decisions too soon, taking it one step at a time. I am much more comfortable with a plan/pattern, and would love to learn to loosen up and let that go!
your enthusiasm and perhaps a new perspective on color
and choices.....
thanks,
dorothy dorgoff@frontier.com
I would love to take away the freedom to make the lovely quilts that you make - I love to watch other quilters and artists work process, it is always interesting to see the start and finish of any project.
I have both your free form quilt book and the hand painted cloth book. I have learned so much. If I were to take a class from you I would love to learn how you seem to be able to take away any feelings of stress while working. It's a carefree attitude that i would love to channel from you.
I'd like to take away a solid repertoire of techniques I can combine in unique art quilt creations. Currently I get overwhelmed by the number of methods and techniques and don't feel I know enough about any one of them to feel confident about employing it.
I would love to be more confident in the artistic decisions I make - I think having a class with you would help me develop that confidence!! mumbird3(at)gmail(dot)com
Color and design freedom, to be more sure of my choices.
I'd love to make a free-form quilt. I'm always "up" for learning new techniques. I get bored making the same thing over and over, I guess that's why I've done several BOM.
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