May I have a drum roll please!

The winner is:

Congratulations Sherrie of Chelly and Me for winning Laura Wasilowski's new book Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts!


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A Color Theory Testimonial

As the current class wraps up and I get ready to launch the next Color Theory Class, I wanted to share a wonderful note from one of my students describing her experience with the online color theory class.

First, I want to thank you for the wonderful lessons and recommended book. I took my time with the lessons and really tried to understand the material. I am a bit embarrassed to say I have been sewing for 20 years and am just now taking the time to explore color- in the proper way. And really take a look at the color wheel and UNDERSTAND it's use. Not just pick it up and take it to the store with me. Very sad how much I have been missing.

I have dyed fabric for the past few years and am amazed at how much this class will help me as well.

I was most intrigued by how much I loved the burnt sienna palette and never liked these colors before. Seeing how they interacted with each other was really lovely. it was another lesson on how I must try colors and not just rely on the safety of certain colors.

I do again thank you. I would recommend this class to one and all. I was intimidated by the thought of painting but I shouldn't have been. Because that just isn't the point.

With much more enthusiaism for color and appreciation of a great teacher

-Colleen

If you are interested in joining the next Color Theory Class click here for more details.

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Welcome to the Fanciful Stitches blog tour!

If you are a fan of bright hand dyed fabrics, fusible applique and beautiful embroidered stitching, you have arrived at the right place.

Today, I am sitting down with my good friend Laura Wasilowski for a little chat about her new book

Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts
11 Easy Appliqué Projects 
to Embroider by Hand.

Please, pour a hot cup of tea and make yourself comfortable.

Laura seated in the infamous blue chair

Judy:  Laura, your pattern transfer process, where you trace the pattern piece onto the silicon release paper and then iron it to the fused side of the fabric, is brilliant!

I am guessing, that was one of those happy accidents that you discovered along the way of making fused quilts?

Laura:  Yes! It’s a miracle! Discovering how to transfer a specific shape to fused fabric by drawing the shape on silicon release paper was a happy accident. I had written some numbers on release paper, then ironed fused fabric to that same paper. Voila! The numbers transferred to the fused side of the fabric. I then realized you could use release paper and a Sharpie marker to transfer pattern shapes to fabric. 

Here’s a link to my recent blog post on how to transfer patterns:

There are so many great stitching ideas!
with easy to follow stitching diagrams.

Judy:  Do you have another great tip or technique that you always recommend to your students for fusing success?

Laura:  Thou shalt not kill the glue. 

Fusible web is a heat activated glue. Every time it feels the heat of the iron, it melts, and then re-solidifies. Exposure to too much heat for too long will burn the glue into the fabric. When that happens the fabric gets really stiff, may look like it has oil stains, is hard to stitch, and may no longer glue into place.

Practice safe fusing. Apply only 5 seconds of heat at a time while building your fused composition. When finished with your art work, steam set it to the batting for 10 seconds in each spot. The steam sets the glue.

Go here for more fusing tips:    

Judy:  What is your preferred method for hanging your small fused quilts?

Laura:  My favorite method of hanging small quilts is a little loop that is sewn into place on the back in the upper center. These quilts have a wrapped binding around batting and Timtex so they are rigid and have wavy edges. They hang flat and I don’t have to deal with a stupid rod pocket!

Here are directions for the wrapped binding.

Judy:  Have you come up with a theme song to go with your new book?

Laura:  Of course! It is sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic:

Mine Eyes have seen the glory of embroidery on quilts,

How a simple stitch can take your quilt from flat to fabulous,

Whether running stitch or French knots, or the mighty herringbone,

One stitch is all you need.

Glory, glory to the stitcher,

May your quilt tops look much richer,

Be proud of what you do for your work is artistry,

All hail embroidery!

Thanks Judy! May your edges be free yet stuck for ages.

Leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of Laura's new book! (sorry U.S. residents only, publishers request)

Be sure and check back Friday when the winner will be announced and in the meantime check out all these other fun stops on the tour.

The Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts Blog Tour! rolls on:

April 19  Annie Smith 
April 23  Melody Johnson
April 24  Jane Moxey 
April 25  Lyric Kinard 
April 26 Judy Coates Perez
April 29  Jane LaFazio 
May 2 Susan Brubaker Knapp 
May 3  Frieda Anderson 
May 4 Connecting Threads

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Online Color Theory Class

next class begins May 23, 2011

9 week online course $60

Did you know the color choices you make can transform an average piece of artwork into something spectacular? Be surprised and delighted by the effects and illusions you can create by understanding the mysteries of color. In this hands-on experiential class you'll learn key color concepts with visual examples, mix new paint colors, and create helpful charts, all providing you with the tools you’ll need to see color in a whole new light.

Click here to see the Supply List

As part of this class you will start a color journal and learn to mix color using textile paints, creating charts to address the different color theory principles.

Lessons include:

The color wheel

Color Schemes

Tints, Shades and Tones

Value Color Studies

Complimentary Color

Transparency

The class website is designed for students to work at their own pace with each lesson accessible at any time. The lessons include color diagrams and examples with explanations of the different principles for working with color. After each lesson you will make a useful chart, from color swatches that you create by blending different colors of paint, to help you understand the concepts being covered each week. An accompanying online discussion group allows students to share work, get feedback and ask questions through out the class.

a testimonial from one of my recent color theory students:

First, I want to thank you for the wonderful lessons and recommended book. I took my time with the lessons and really tried to understand the material. I am a bit embarrassed to say I have been sewing for 20 years and am just now taking the time to explore color- in the proper way. And really take a look at the color wheel and UNDERSTAND it's use. Not just pick it up and take it to the store with me. Very sad how much I have been missing.

I have dyed fabric for the past few years and am amazed at how much this class will help me as well.

I was most intrigued by how much I loved the burnt sienna palette and never liked these colors before. Seeing how they interacted with each other was really lovely. it was another lesson on how I must try colors and not just rely on the safety of certain colors.

I do again thank you. I would recommend this class to one and all. I was intimidated by the thought of painting but I shouldn't have been. Because that just isn't the point.

With much more enthusiasm for color and appreciation of a great teacher

-Colleen

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The blog tour has begun!

The Fanciful Stitches, Colorful Quilts blog tour that is! 

My good friend Laura Wasilowski, has a new book. Lucky me, I got to see a preview copy and I can tell you, it's a keeper! Laura's work has such a wonderful whimsical quality, so bright and cheerful, just like she is.

To celebrate this momentous publishing event, Laura is giving away a free copy of her fabulous new book at each blog on the tour. So you have lots of chances to win!

Next week, be sure to stop by each blog and leave a comment, on the designated day of the tour, for a chance to get a copy of this delightful book in your hot little stitchin' hands.

Leave a comment Tuesday, April 26th 
for a chance to win!

The tour schedule is:

April 19  Annie Smith 
April 23  Melody Johnson
April 24  Jane Moxey 
April 25  Lyric Kinard 
April 26 Judy Coates Perez  Right here!
April 28  Linda Teufel 
April 29  Jane LaFazio 
May 2 Susan Brubaker Knapp 
May 3  Frieda Anderson 
May 4 Connecting Threads

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A little Inspiration at the Art Institute

Saturday my friends Frieda Anderson and Laura Wasilowski picked up my daughter Nina and I on their way to the Art Institute for a meet up with other midwest SAQA members. The plan was to see the current textile exhibit, but I was sidetracked by the amazing exhibit titled Kings, Queens and Courtiers: Art in Early Renaissance France. It was a fabulous exhibit of paintings, sculptures, manuscripts and tapestries. I love this period of art, renaissance manuscripts and tapestries were the inspiration for this quilt

Oh Deer, Look What's Become of Me

Seeing all of those beautiful paintings makes me want to paint!

At noon we met up in the cafeteria for a bit of lunch and a meeting.

What a great day!

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I'm a proud Momma

 My son Ty has been published again. Last year he was hired by Time Out Chicago to design an origami cocktail ring from a ten dollar bill for the cover of their issue on cheap deals in the city. Last month they contacted him to do a feature in their kids issue.

Over the last couple years Ty has gotten several jobs designing origami models for ad agencies, so in addition to the article the Time Out editors asked him if he could make two models to coincide with local museum exhibits. You can see the article and photos of some of his origami here.

You can also learn to make an origami flower by watching this video tutorial by my son Ty.

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A teachers work is never done

Over the last couple weeks, I have been preparing a lot of fabric for the workshops I'll be teaching in the next several months.  I have torn yards and yards of white fabric and handdyed a variety of light colors to use in the Tsukineko inks classes and also made tea colored painted fabric for the Tea & Ephemera classes.

The longer I have been teaching I have found that my students have the best class experience when I bring fabric for them to use. There are two primary reasons for this, one is if the fabric needs to be pre-colored with paint or dye as part of the process, there is just not enough time in a 6 hour workshop to accomplish this. The second reason is, there are a variety of different weaves in pfd cottons and for many of the techniques I teach, a smooth, light weight, tight weave fabric, like cotton sheeting, works best and not everyone has access to buying that locally.

For the Tea & Ephemera class, everyone begins with a peice of mottled brown fabric that has been colored with a diluted textile paint solution.

I like to create a variety of browns, reminiscent of tea stained fabric and used tea bags.

To make this fabric, I mix watery solutions of textile paint, this is a great way to use up the remainders of paint left in the jar. I make several browns, one of my favorite colors is made by combining buttercup yellow and purple, it's a gorgeous warm ochre brown.

I crumple peices of dry white pfd cotton fabric and dunk it in the paint solution.

 

 Then I squeeze out the fabric

 

and lay it on the table, partially crumpled, to dry. As it dries the pigment in the paint is drawn to the creases in the fabric.

After it has dried, I iron the fabric to reveal all the beautiful texture.

I've prepared tea fabric for half the classes I am teaching this year, later this week I will do another big batch to finish the rest. Then it's time to prep for the next class...


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Chicago Create Retreat registration is open now!

The Create Retreat class info is up on the website and you can register now to take 5 days of fabulous mixed media and artquilt themed classes. The retreat is going to be located in Lisle, Illinois, which is a suburb southwest of Chicago. You can fly into Midway (a smaller airport) or O'Hare, it's about the same distance from either.

I will be teaching two classes: Painting Fabric for Whole Cloth Quilts and Magical Metal Altars.

Painting Fabric for Whole Cloth Quilts (Wed, Aug 24, 6 hours)

Magical Metal Altars (Thur, Aug 25, 6 hours)

Both my classes have pretty small supply lists, which is always good when you are traveling by plane. I will be supplying the paint, fabric and metal, you bring paint brushes, rinse water containers, a paint tray and a few other things for the Altars class. The website shows the supply list for each class. For both classes, I will provide patterns to work from if you want to concentrate on learning new techniques or you can bring your own designs to work with.

There are many wonderful teachers you'll recognize from the pages of Quilting Arts and Cloth Paper Scissors magazines and many teachers from last summer are making a return this year, check out this great class line up.

Last year was a blast, click here, if you want to check out what it was like. I hope to see you there!

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