Learn how to use free-motion straight and zig-zag stitches to create photorealistic images entirely from thread (or improve your skills and learn some tips!) Ideal subjects include pets, birds, and other animals, landscapes, and flowers. Most students will complete one 8 ½” x 11” thread-painting and begin a second. On day one, students will start by learning the basics: how to make a quilt sandwich for thread-painting; balance your unique sewing machine’s tension for thread painting; practicing free-motion straight, zig-zag stitching, and color blending; and analyzing line and color in a source image. Students will be working on individual projects with the instructor providing one-on-one coaching through the week. Each day, special topics will be presented to add to your thread-painting tool kit. Examples include: animal eyes, deciduous and evergreen trees, sky and water, minimizing distortion, addressing serious distortion, simplifying complex or cluttered backgrounds (colorwash backgrounds), and more.

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betsyhabich.com

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The focus of this workshop will be to create a beautiful landscape full of movement and direction. Diagonal lines bring energy and movement to a design, and when the light is just right, commonplace subjects are transformed and become noticed. The first step will be to paint two different sky fabrics that harmonize together. Then you will be shown a technique to combine sections of hand painted sky with areas of strips placed at an angle. Once you have created your stunning sky, the foreground and other details will be added. You will have the choice of adding a dark outline around the edges of some areas to add more contrast.

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glorialoughman.com

Class full. Waitlist only.

Have you always wanted to free motion your own quilts with joy and confidence? Jenny will help you get there! She will meet you where you, are no matter your style or experience level. Each morning and afternoon will begin with a short lesson covering a variety of techniques, design strategies and fills, striving toward the end result of “Your quilts, your way!" Each student can then work on their own project and Jenny will provide advice, support, and direction as well as suggestions for students without a project in mind. Her style is encouraging and light-hearted. Chocolate will be involved.

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quiltskipper.com

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Learn how to make a portrait quilt by focusing on one square at a time. This workshop is for quilters who wish to recreate a photo in fabric. Favorite pets, cute kids, and wildlife photos are all popular subjects, but the technique is not limited to those. Timna will break down the construction process into bite-size manageable steps so that students will come out of the workshop with the knowledge of how to approach and complete pictorial quilts. Participants will learn how to prepare a photo, make templates, choose fabrics, and the basics of machine applique. Color, value, and pattern are important parts of the process and will be a key focus of the workshop. While this prepared edge appliqué technique is best for intermediate quilters, one does not need to have an art background to make a successful portrait quilt! Bring a large color print (approx. 18”x24”) of the photo you wish to use, lots of scraps of fabric, and a willingness to experiment and learn from each other.

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timnatarr.com

Class full. Waitlist only.

This is a rare opportunity to take David's very popular Inspired by Architecture workshop in a multi-day retreat format! Working from photos of architectural elements, he will guide you through the steps to design a minimal, modern fabric quilt… inspired by architecture! You will learn the quilt-as-you-go method, sewing the top pieces, batting and backing simultaneously. You’ll then add texture and complexity with David’s unique approach to layered walking foot machine quilting where the quilting lines become a major design element. Learn to connect multiple quilted units with a great gusset join technique, then add a simple face binding for a modern finish. Includes in the week will be a special one-day unit on Composing Modern Quilts from Architecture — a great way to build on your composition skills!

davidowenhastings.com

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The sky has the potential to be the most exciting element to enhance and energise any landscape. With its endless capacity for change, it is the most flexible compositional tool that you can experiment with. Rhythm is defined as a combination of elements repeated but with variation. In this workshop we will play with repetition and pattern, decorating our sky to add movement and interest. We have permission to play. On day one of the workshop, participants will construct a small wall hanging where the pattern is provided, and the emphasis will be on colour choices, creating perspective and becoming familiar with the construction process. We will then move on to create our skies by overpainting some interesting commercial fabrics and then decorate these areas with a series of repeated shapes. Once the sky is constructed and quilted, we will add our foreground with a number of techniques for creating landforms, areas of water, rocks, and trees outlined.

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glorialoughman.com

Class full. Waitlist only.

Nature is an endless source of inspiration. In this class we will begin by studying the characteristics of your favorite flora and then go through a series of exercise to simplify and exaggerate it to capture its essence and energy. Then you will learn Jane’s techniques for Appliqué Collage and translate your fabric shapes in a dramatic quilt top. Drawing skills are not needed but participants should have a strong interest in developing their own design language and unique visual symbols. This class is especially beneficial for the drawing impaired and the tragically literal.

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janesassaman.com

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David Taylor’s quilts are often mistaken as paintings, and that makes him very happy. His works are adapted from photographs, and his technique evolved from his love of jigsaw puzzles. In this workshop, students will learn the secrets to his craft. Topics include his unique pattern drawing method and freezer paper appliqué technique. A strong emphasis is placed on fabric selection (bring as much as you can to the class) and using those fabrics wisely. Students are required to submit image options in advance of the workshop.

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davidtaylorartquilts.com

Class full. Waitlist only.