A November of Making

November is already here, and there are a few things happening in my little corner of the textile world that I wanted to share with you.

I always enjoy this time of year. As the days grow shorter and we begin to spend more time indoors, there is something comforting about making things with our hands. Whether it’s playing with colour and paint, stitching bits of fabric together, or finding new ways to use old textiles, there is always something to explore.

And I have a few opportunities coming up to do just that.

Two November Classes

I have two classes scheduled for November, and I would love to spend some time making things with you!

Monoprinting with Stencils and Masks – November 19th

If you enjoy playing with colour, experimenting with layers, and discovering what happens when you let go of the need to control every mark, this 3-hour class is for you.

Monoprinting is a wonderful way to create one-of-a-kind prints, and stencils and masks open up all sorts of possibilities. We will explore shapes, layers, and textures, building up our prints and discovering the unexpected results that make this process so much fun.

You never quite know what you will get, and I think that is part of the magic!

A Slow-Stitched Scroll – November 24th

This class is an invitation to slow down, explore, and enjoy the simple pleasure of working with fabric.

Using vintage textiles, lace, ribbons, and hand stitching, we will create a piece that can be rolled or unrolled, revealing little details and discoveries along the way. I love working with these older materials, giving them a new life and allowing their history and character to become part of something new.

If you have been wanting to explore slow stitching or find a different way to work with the fabrics and treasures you have collected, this might be just the class for you.

I also have kits available in my online shop for those who would like to continue exploring these ideas in their own time.

You can find information about both November classes on my website.

Looking Ahead to February

And to a new class that is slowly becoming a favourite. I am delighted to be teaching “Stories Folded in Cloth” – a concertina book class at Estelle Centre for Creative Arts on February 6.

Textile books have become such an important part of my own practice. I love the possibilities they offer: working with individual pages, combining different fabrics and textures, adding lace and other treasured details, and allowing a book to develop slowly through the process of making.

A concertina book is particularly lovely because it can be opened out to reveal the whole piece, or folded back into itself, becoming an intimate little object to hold and explore.

I’m looking forward to sharing this way of working and seeing what each person brings to their own book. Although we begin with the same idea, the materials we choose and the decisions we make along the way mean that every book will have its own character.

More details about the February class can be found at Estelle Centre for Creative Arts.

A Little Something from France

And speaking of textile books, I have been preparing something new for my online shop.

Over the years, I have collected vintage fabrics, lace, doilies, and all sorts of little treasures that I love incorporating into my work. Some of these fabrics have been waiting patiently for the right project, and recently I decided it was time to share a little of that collection.

I have put together kits of vintage French Provençal fabrics, each containing 28 squares measuring 5 inches.

The fabrics have such lovely colours and patterns, and I can imagine them being used in textile books, slow stitching, small patchwork projects, or simply as a starting point for something entirely your own.

For those who would like to add some thread to their collection as well, I have prepared a second version of the kit that includes six spools of WonderFil Spagetti No. 12 thread, in colours chosen to complement the fabrics.

I thought I would share a little photograph of a finished concertina book I made, to give you an idea of how vintage fabrics can be brought together in a textile piece.

Of course, you don’t have to make a book. These fabrics are simply an invitation to play, experiment, and see where your own ideas take you.

I have always believed that the pleasure is as much in the making as it is in the finished piece. Sometimes, all we need is a handful of beautiful materials, a needle and thread, and a little time to see what happens.

The new fabric kits are available in my online shop.

Whether you join me for a class, explore the new fabric kits, or simply spend a quiet afternoon working on something of your own, I hope you find a little time for making in the weeks ahead.

And if you have been thinking about taking a class, I would love to see you!

Thanks for reading. Until I write again, I am off to do some stitching of my own.

Ana