Summer Classes

Our summer newsletter is on its way to you! It's so full of new classes that we're sure you'll find something interesting. But, because it's so full, I didn't get a chance to say everything I wanted to about the new classes I'm teaching this summer. So here's my chance!

The Color of Your Stash
Thursday, September 8, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

If I had a dollar for every time a customer said to me, "I'm no good with color," or "Color is the hardest part of quilting," then I'd be rich. Not just comfortable, but rich enough to live on some tropical beach where I could sew and paint all day and occasionally pick a lemon off the lemon tree to flavor my iced tea. That's how common it is to feel less than confident about choosing fabric!

Since I haven't been collecting those dollars from my color-challenged customers (but maybe I should start!), next best thing is to offer a class that will help them become more comfortable with color.

If you look at any fabric, you'll see that there is a lot going on: color, value, scale, motif, and texture all interact to tell a certain "story." The story one fabric tells influences what other fabrics go with it. Once you can tell what one fabric is "saying" then you can make informed choices about what other fabrics to use.

In this class, you'll learn the principles of color and fabric choices while playing with your stash. We'll work through a series of simple and painless exercises that will help you understand each fabric's story and how to choose other fabrics that complement it. We'll also play with using a color wheel to guide your decisions.

You'll walk out of class feeling more comfortable about color, or I'll give you a dollar!

Locker Hooked Log Cabin
Thursday, July 21, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Isn't it funny how the simplest things can become your greatest obsession? This is especially true when you are least expecting it.

A couple years ago I bought a Locker Hooking kit. It sat in my studio. And sat. And sat. I just wasn't inspired. So one day, in a fit of cleaning, I decided it had to get out of my house. I brought it into the shop to figure out what to do with it. It only had to sit in the shop for a couple hours before inspiration struck. In a fabric frenzy, I grabbed bright orange, purple, and pink batiks and began cutting narrow strips. Before I knew it, I had the design sketched on the rug canvas and started locker hooking.

Within five minutes I was addicted! There was something very compelling about the simple act of pulling up loops of fabric and then locking them in place. I loved how it felt like crochet. And I loved the texture of the fabric loops. And it felt like I was always making progress. In a matter of days I had my first project complete.

So of course, I needed to share my newest obsession with you! Join me to get hooked on locker hooking!

Painted Nine Patch
Thursdays, August 4, 11 & 18, 6:00-9:00 p.m.

If you've been reading my art blog, you know that last summer I started making paper-cloth, using paint, glue, paper, and fabric. I then began using the paper-cloth in art quilts, like the Painted Nine Patch above. It's not something I ever thought of teaching as a class, but when I brought this to stitch at the Block of the Month workshop in March, I got many requests to make it a class! So here it is.

Oh this is going to be fun! In the first class, we'll make paper cloth, using fabric, paper, glue, and acrylic paints. (Make sure to wear clothes you wouldn't mind getting paint on!) In the second class, we'll cut up our painted paper-cloth and stitch a block design. And in the third class, we'll design borders to enhance our quilts.

Summertime Strip Wrap
Tuesday, August 9, 6:00-9:00 p.m.


This wrap is inspired by a picture I saw in a British sewing magazine. (I never know where I'll find inspiration!) It pre-cut strips to make a reversible, light-weight, summer wrap in a snap! The left-hand one is from a Robert Kaufman solid strip pack and the right-hand one is the Hoffman Bali Pop from this year's Block of the Month.

X-Blocks
Wednesdays, August 10 & 24, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

This isn't an entirely new class, but it is one I wanted to highlight again because I have the sample done! X-Blocks takes ordinary blocks, like a nine-patch, and makes them fascinating by trimming with an twisted ruler. This class is great for diving into your stash because the more fabrics you use, the better the quilt looks.

Other Classes
Check out the shop website to see a complete list of our quilting, knitting, and crocheting classes!