Hanging in Bloom

Picture a beautiful hanging approximately 9" wide by about 30" long decorated with flowers. All you have to do is come to this workshop for a day.

We will begin by choosing a suitable background fabric onto which we will place flowers shapes cut from fabric. Sylvia will discuss some design principles which will help you with your creation. Free motion machine embroidery will be used to define and embellish the flowers.

Class requirements: A working knowledge of free motion machine embroidery.

Sewing machine in good working order

Flowers by Design

In this one day class you will design a cushion front or long slim hanging. Included in the course will be basic design principles, simple paint techniques, and free motion machine embroidery.

Free Motion Machine Machine Embroidery - The Basics

You may not have a fancy embroidery machine but do not despair, you can create your own designs using the machine free hand to draw and fill in your own designs.

To get you started you will learn about the use of hoops as well as suitable fabrics, threads and needles. You will then be shown the different ways that the machine can be used in free motion in order to get different effects. Included in the day will be a simple non threatening drawing exercise.

During the workshop you will be shown how basic free motion machine embroidery can be used to create designs.

This is a technique oriented course.

Have Fun with Transfer Paints

In this fun class students will be introduced to Transfer Paints the liquid form of Disperse Dyes. Transfer paints work the best with fabrics having a high synthetic content. Fibreartists will enjoy the wonderful results which they can create. You will explore the effects of applying the paint with different items such as brushes and sponges, working with resists and printing. Transfer paints can produce lovely skies and colourful unpredictable backgrounds for your future embellishment. You will be shown lots of samples suggesting ideas for your own painted fabrics.

Class requirements: an open mind and a desire to experiment.

Picture a House

In this fun class you will use the theme of a whimsical house to make a picture about 12in square using collage and stitching.

In order to free the creative spirit the class will begin by creating some houses using torn papers. [This is very liberating]

Sylvia’s samples will show how she has abstracted a simple house both in paper and fabric and thread. Stitching lines will be used both to hold down the fabrics and to accentuate. These may be done in regular stitching or free motion. Topics to be covered include use of colour and design.

Picture a Landscape

Using landscapes as a theme you will make a picture using appliqué.

 The class will begin by looking at pictures of landscapes and how they can be simplified to use as a design for you to work with. Attention will be paid to design elements such as colour, texture, line and space. You will first make a paper collage, [very liberating] before beginning a picture using fusible appliqué. Ways of completing your work of art will be discussed.

Course requirement: sewing machine in good working order.

Playing with Texture

Create a small, abstract, textured collage inspired by details in the world around us.

The collage will include a variety of fabric scraps including sheers and nets plus beads and buttons. Free motion machine embroidery techniques will be used to blend the assemblage.

Course requirements: an adventurous spirit, a working knowledge of free motion machine embroidery.

Stitch a Landscape

This class will concentrate on ways of using stitching to create a stitched picture. Automatic stitches can be used as well as free motion machine embroidery or a combination of both. You will see how to create features such as grasses, flowers and trees.

Depending on your comfort level you can go on to make another stitched landscape. Design elements such as line, colour and space will be discussed.

Course requirements: sewing machine in good working order, darning foot.

Stitching Tulips

If you have learned the absolute basics of free motion machine embroidery and you are ready to go further then this workshop is for you. In this class you will make a lovely hanging approximately 14in square, on plain cotton, using tulips for the design.

Using free motion machine embroidery as thread painting the simple tulip shapes will come to life with different densities of stitching and thread colours. You will learn how to apply simple design principles such as the use of space, density and colour in order to create your masterpiece.