Workshops and Lectures
- Rocks & Pebbles & Stones, Oh, My!
- Introduction to Transfer Artist Paper – TAP
- Make your Quilts Sing with Digital Imagery – Editing Photos in PowerPoint
- PowerPoint Demo – Merging Shapes and so much more …
- PowerPoint Demo – Creating Text and backgrounds
- Acrylic Skins – Workshop and Demo
- Monoprinting in Layers
- Sophisticated Monoprinting with Masks and Stencils
- Contemporary Fabric Art with Paintstiks
- Introduction to Fabric Painting
- From Sketch to Stitch with Inktense Pencils
- From Sketch to Stitch – vibrant colour and stunning backgrounds with Inktense Pencils
- Simple Landscapes with Stitch and Paint
- Text on Textiles – a Free-Motion Quilting Workshop
- Free-Motion Machine Quilting
- Feather Quilting
- "Moments" Workshop
- Curve Elegance – The Art of Stitching without Curves
- In a N.Y. State of Mind
- New York Beauties Blocks Made Easy
- Birds on a Wire
- Fabric Painting – Part II
- The Fibre Artist in Me: A Quilted Chronicle of my Affair with Fibre – Trunk Show
- Creativity Unveiled: Peeling Back the Layers – Lecture
- Creativity in Times of Covid (or stress) – Lecture
- Exploring the Spectrum: A Journey through the History, Theory, and Psychology of Colour – Lecture
- From Blueprint to Thread: Architecture as Inspiration – Lecture
Rocks & Pebbles & Stones, Oh, My!
Live / online
3-hour or 6-hour workshop
I was born in a small seaside resort and ever since I was a small child, I’ve loved rocks, pebbles and stones. Still at my age, I cannot resist going by a rock without looking at it and wondering if I can find an excuse to keep it. So it was natural to me to find a way to incorporate these rocks and small pebbles in a quilt.
Join me in this fun and relaxing class to make rocks, pebbles and stones and learn two different methods to incorporate them into your art pieces.
An optional kit comes with everything you need for class.
Introduction to Transfer Artist Paper – TAP
Live / Online
2-hour workshop online / 3-hour workshop in person
Welcome to a workshop where I share the secrets of a technique near and dear to my heart: image transfer. Join me as I tell you the tricks of the trade, revealing the method I swear by in my own work – Transfer Artist Paper, or as it is commonly called – TAP.
In this class, we’ll explore the art of image transfer onto fabric. I’ve experimented with various techniques, but let me tell you, TAP is unparalleled in its easy of use and success. Get
ready to unlock the magic as I guide you through the steps, sharing insights and tips that will have you transferring images like a pro. Let’s turn your visions into tangible art with the power of TAP!
An optional kit is available with images already printed on TAP for your use.
Make your Quilts Sing with Digital Imagery – Editing Photos in PowerPoint
Live Online – Demo
2-hour workshop
When I started using images in my work, I was looking for a way to edit the photos simply, without the use of photo editing programs that would take time to learn how to use. I wanted to be able to use imagery and layer to make a collage where the images would nestle nicely together and the text would wrap around the edges.
In this demo, I’ll walk you through using Powerpoint – a slide show presentation program developed by Microsoft (available for PC and MAC) – as a simple way of editing photos and preparing them for printing onto fabric, paper, or transfer paper.
PowerPoint Demo – Merging Shapes and so much more …
Live Online
2 to 3-hour demo workshop
In continuing to look for ways to work and incorporate images into my work, I started exploring merging shapes into images to create interesting images using photos and combining them in different ways.
In this demo, I’ll walk you through using Powerpoint – a slide show presentation program developed by Microsoft (available for PC and MAC) – as a way of creating interesting images and collages of images, . that you can add to your work.
There is a workbook to go with the workshop with step-by-step colour photos.
PowerPoint Demo – Creating Text and backgrounds
Live Online – Demo
2 to 3-hour demo workshop
I love text and font in all its forms and shapes. From legible to illegible, from formal to funky, and everything in between.
In this demo, I’ll walk you through using Powerpoint – a slide show presentation program developed by Microsoft (available for PC and MAC) – as a way of creating text that transcends the ordinary that you can then print onto cloth to use in your work.
You will also learn how to create backgrounds that match or contrast your images. This workshop opens up a world of possibilities for working with images and creating your own.
There is a workbook to go with the workshop with step-by-step colour photos.
Acrylic Skins – Workshop and Demo
Live / online
2-hour workshop
In this workshop you’ll learn to create acrylic skins to use in your work. These acrylic skins require few supplies and are fun and addictive to make and will add an element of surprise and interest to your artwork: quilts, sketchbooks, painting, collages, etc.
I will show you different ways to create the acrylic skins. Part of this workshop will be a demo on different products you can use to prepare the skins, how to finish them and how to apply them to your work.
Monoprinting in Layers
Live / online
3, 4 or 6-hour workshop (the 6-hour workshop shall be divided into 2 – 3 hour sessions on the same day with a break in-between)
Monoprints combine the spontaneity of printed paints and fabric, creating a surface that is unlike any other. It is the most painterly method among the printmaking techniques. No two prints are alike.
Students will learn to use water-based paint on Gelli Plates or other surfaces, utilizing various techniques: masking, multiple drop printing, colour mixing, etc. Students will play around with textures and random materials to create several pieces that can serve as underpaintings for future work or stand alone as a body of work.
The first part of the class will be spent making rubbing plates to use in the monoprinting process.
Beware! It is fun … and very addictive.
The fee for this workshop includes a booklet with instructions.
Kit fee (optional) that includes supplies to make the rubbing plates.
Sophisticated Monoprinting with Masks and Stencils
Live / online
3-hour or 6-hour workshop
Monoprints combine the spontaneity of printed paints and fabric, creating a surface that is unlike any other. It is the most painterly method among the printmaking techniques.
Discover a world of possibilities with this monoprinting technique that gives you the ability to print any shape you’d like.
A monoprint is a one-of-a-kind print so each design will be unique. The irregular nature of the shapes comes from using stencils and masks together in the same print.
Contemporary Fabric Art with Paintstiks
Live / online
3-hour or 6-hour workshop
Discover the joy of creative expression in this class where you’ll learn to make your own rubbing plates to use with Paintstiks. Join us for a fun and relaxing time as we explore the fascinating world of fabric embellishment and personalized prints.
Paintstiks, with their creamy and thick consistency, offer a user-friendly medium. Throughout the class, you’ll learn various techniques to use them, unlocking the potential to transform fabric into unique masterpieces.
Caution: This experience may be highly addictive!
Kit fee (optional) – kit includes supplies to make the rubbing plates plus textures to use with the Paintstiks
Introduction to Fabric Painting
Live / online
6-hour workshop (the 6-hour workshop shall be divided into 2 – 3 hour sessions on the same day with a break in-between or on two different days for online workshops)
This workshop will focus on the basics of painting on fabric, shading, highlighting, and blending.
The workshop fee includes the PDF pattern and painting map plus colour photo of the project for reference.
From Sketch to Stitch with Inktense Pencils
Live / online
3-hour workshop
In this class, you will use a sketched design to free-motion quilt it on the fabric as if you were sketching on a sketch pad. Free-motion techniques will be demonstrated. Once the design is fully quilted, it will be coloured using Inktense pencils. Different techniques will be demonstrated.
From Sketch to Stitch – vibrant colour and stunning backgrounds with Inktense Pencils
Live / online
6-hour workshop
In this class, you will use a sketched design (provided) to free-motion quilt it on the fabric as if you were sketching on a sketch pad. Students will learn how to create stunning backgrounds using stencils and a ruler.
Free-motion techniques will be demonstrated. Once the design is fully quilted, it will be coloured using Inktense pencils. Different techniques will be demonstrated.
Simple Landscapes with Stitch and Paint
Live / online
6-hour workshop
Sewing machine required.
In this workshop, students will work on a wall hanging small wallhanging. They will learn how to cut and sew simple curves to prepare the background, without marking or pinning. Once the background has been finished and the basic landscape sewn, the design is drawn on the fabric. The piece will then be quilted in preparation for painting. A quilting demo will be offered with different background fillers.
Painting techniques – including shading and highlighting – will be demonstrated.
The fee for the workshop includes a PDF with written instructions and optional designs to paint on the landscape.
Text on Textiles – a Free-Motion Quilting Workshop
Live / online
6-hour workshop (the 6-hour workshop shall be divided into 2 – 3 hour sessions on the same day with a break in-between or on two different days for online workshops)
Do you like letters, font, typography? Would you like to add your favourite quotes, lyrics or words to your work? Then this process-oriented class is for you.
In a relaxed atmosphere, and with the use of free-motion quilting, you will learn to add text to your quilt, including how to space the lines, what effect different spacing has, how to mark the quilt and finally quilt the text.
This workshop has an optional kit fee with images printed on TAP (Transfer Artist Paper) to add to the work to learn how to quilt around shapes.
Sewing machine required.
Free-Motion Machine Quilting
Live / online
6-hour workshop (the 6-hour workshop shall be divided into 2 – 3 hour sessions on the same day with a break in-between or on two different days for online workshops)
Students will focus on simple free-motion motifs and straight lines.
The 12-hour workshop (12-hour workshop to be divided into 4 – 3 hour sessions on the same day with a break in-between or on 4 different days) will cover the basics as above, and will add some more advanced background filler designs and simple feathers.
Sewing machine required.
Feather Quilting
Live / online
3-hour workshop
Have you ever seen those quilts covered in gorgeous feathers and thought “I wish I could do that”? Well, now you can learn how. With a few tips, a few tricks, and I’m not going to lie – a lot of practice, you can master these beautiful designs.
From traditional to modern, they are one of the most difficult motifs to master. In this class, you will learn the tips and tricks to start your journey into quilting beautiful feathers.
Sewing machine required.
Some free-motion quilting experience recommended
“Moments” Workshop
Live / online
2-day or 3-day Workshop
Please note this is a design class – Students will work on their own original designs.
The workshop is based on the techniques used to make my art piece “Moments” which appeared in Quilting Arts Magazine February/March 2008
Day 1:
Each student will work on its own piece to be finished at 17” x 24” approximately. The focus of the first day will be to design the piece based on a favorite object of inspiration (a photo, a leaf, shell, feather, piece of wood, cup, etc.). Once the design has been finalized, the piecing technique will be demonstrated.
Day 2:
Continue working on piecing the top. Quilting techniques will be discussed, as well as thread painting and embellishment: Paintstiks, Angelina fibers, tulle, stencils, fabric paint, stamps, splattering, beading, etc.
Day 3:
A continuation of Day 2, it allows time for the piece to be completed (depending on design and complexity).
Sewing machine required.
Curve Elegance – The Art of Stitching without Curves
6-hour workshop
Take an extraordinary journey into curve elegance by learning how to construct stunning pieces without the hassle of sewing traditional curves. During this workshop, students will learn the basic technique to construct this piece and learn how to sew curves without sewing any curves.
Sewing machine required.
The fee for this workshop includes the pattern and instructions.
There is an optional kit available that includes all fabrics and fusible interfacing to piece the top, threads, batting, backing and binding.
In a N.Y. State of Mind
Live / online
1-day or 2-day workshop
The New York Beauties Block is one of the oldest blocks, and many versions under many names can be found. The name came about in the early 1900’s and many like to think that the spikes allude to the crown on the Statue of Liberty.
Unlock the secrets of elegance with this class, where we explore the world of New York Beauties blocks. Though they may appear intricate at first glance, these stunning blocks are simpler than they seem.
Discover a few tips and tricks to master foundation paper piecing, curved seams, how to break into borders and use of colour to make this a stunning quilt.
This workshop has an optional kit that includes the printed foundation papers, pattern and written instructions .
New York Beauties Blocks Made Easy
Live / online
1 or 2-day workshop
New York Beauties blocks are beautiful and seem very intricate and difficult to piece, when in truth they are quite simple once you learn a few tips and tricks. In this class, you will learn a technique to ensure that these blocks are all the same size and perfectly square. The class will cover paper piecing and impartial seems. Students will work on a 20″ cushion top.
In the one-day workshop, students will have time to make a few of the blocks. There will be a demo on assembling the pillow top.
The 2-day workshop will cover finishing the pillow top, free-motion machine quilting basics, and assembling the pillow.
The workshop fee includes a PDF booklet with colour photographs and step-by-step written instructions.
There’s an optional kit with all fabrics for the pillow top and a kit with the foundation paper piecing arcs printed on Fun-dation. Each sold separately.
Birds on a Wire
Not available at this time
Live / online
2-day workshop. For online, this workshop will be separated into 3 different 3-hour sessions. The first two sessions can be done on the same day with a break in-between, or on separate days. The third 3-hour session will be scheduled a few days after the first two sessions to give students the time needed to finish piecing, quilting and appliqueing the top.
In this class you’ll work on a wall hanging using foundation piecing and a stitch and flip method to end up with a background that resembles a landscape. The fabrics used will all be white, white on white, and light colored, in cotton and cotton-poly, different textures, different patterns. This is an interesting class as the final results are somewhat unpredictable. Once the top has been pieced, it will be fully quilted using white cotton thread. The shapes will be appliquéd using the free-motion foot. Basic free-motion machine quilting designs will be covered.
On the second day, the quilted top will be placed in a dye bath. A demo will be shown on how to prepare the dye bath, products used in the dyeing process, etc. Different samples will be shown.
This workshop has a kit fee (optional) that includes the silk velvet for the appliqued birds plus some different white on white fabrics to add to your collection.
Fabric Painting – Part II
Not yet available online
1-day or 2-day workshop
The one day workshop will cover background painting, shading, highlighting, blending, watercolor techniques, etc.
The two-day workshop will cover the contents of the 1-day workshop plus the piece will be quilted, embroidery stitches will be covered to add texture to the piece, and the basics of pillow making will be covered. Sewing machine required for the second day of the 2-day workshop.
This workshop has a kit fee (optional).
The Fibre Artist in Me: A Quilted Chronicle of my Affair with Fibre – Trunk Show
1 hour lecture
This talk covers the story of by beginnings in the quilting world and the progress from traditional quilting to art quilting and surface design.
I invite you to embark on a visual and narrative adventure, as we explore various milestones in my quilting journey. Through a showcase of diverse examples of my work, I’ll weave the tale of how a simple passion for quilting blossomed into a dynamic exploration of artistic expression.
In this talk, I aim to convey the profound significance of nurturing one’s passion and the transformative power of constant experimentation and play. My hope is that by sharing my experiences, I can inspire others to add some of the techniques I talk about to their own repertoire.
So, sit back, relax, and join me on this colourful expedition through the world of quilting.
Creativity Unveiled: Peeling Back the Layers – Lecture
1 hour lecture
An inspiring journey into the fascinating realm of creativity. Creativity often appears elusive to many. We’ve all heard statements like “I’m not at all creative” or “I’m not talented.” It’s time to challenge these notions and embrace the inherent creativity within each of us.
In this presentation, we’ll explore the multifaceted concept of creativity, debunking myths and shedding light on what creativity truly is – a skill that can be cultivated and nurtured by anyone. Drawing on insights from leading experts, we will navigate through the misconceptions surrounding creativity and provide practical tips to seamlessly integrate creative practices into your everyday routine.
Creativity in Times of Covid (or stress) – Lecture
1 hour lecture
Covid-19 has changed our lives. We have been enveloped in a tsunami of news about the virus. We’ve had to self-isolate, social distance, wash our hands, etc. All that, on top of everything else that’s going on in the world, has taken a toll on our creativity and motivation.
Step into a transformative exploration of creativity and motivation amidst the chaos of the Covid-19 era. In this lecture, we navigate the unprecedented challenges that the pandemic has thrust upon us, disrupting our lives and dampening our creative spirits.
We explore insights and practical tips that not only address the toll that the pandemic has taken on our creativity but also emphasize its profound impact on our overall well-being and mental health.
Through my own experiences, I share ideas that go beyond the challenges of the times, enabling you to stay connected with your innate creativity and empowering you to chart a course towards a brighter, more inspired future.
Exploring the Spectrum: A Journey through the History, Theory, and Psychology of Colour – Lecture
1-hour lecture
Embark on an exploration of colour where we delve into the fascinating history of colour. From ancient pigments to the modern colour wheel, we’ll trace the captivating journey of how humanity has perceived and harnessed the power of colour.
Uncover the secrets of basic colour schemes and discover how they influence art, design, and our daily lives. We’ll explore classic combinations like complementary, analogous, and monochromatic, showcasing real-world examples that bring these concepts to life.
As we navigate the spectrum, we’ll delve into the psychology of colour, unraveling the emotions and associations tied to each hue. From the calming influence of blues to the energetic vibes of reds, gain insights into the profound impact colour has on our thoughts and feelings. Explore intriguing facts about each colour, revealing hidden meanings and cultural significance that may surprise you.
Join us for an immersive journey through the kaleidoscope of colour, where history, theory, and psychology converge to paint a richer understanding of the world around us.
From Blueprint to Thread: Architecture as Inspiration – Lecture
1-hour lecture
Join me on an inspiring journey through the intersection of architecture and textile art, delving into the captivating world of architectural structures that can serve as a wellspring of creativity for artists.
Explore various types of architecture, from the timeless beauty of historical landmarks to the sleek lines of contemporary structures. I’ll spotlight the visionary work of a renowned architect and share the genius behind his designs and the unique elements that lend themselves seamlessly to textile interpretation.
Moreover, I’ll share a glimpse into my own artistic endeavours, unveiling how architecture and its diverse features have become a boundless source of inspiration for my own work.
Embark on this artistic voyage as we bridge the worlds of architecture and textile art. Be inspired, as we explore two seemingly distinct worlds, unveiling the limitless possibilities when architecture meets the artistry of textiles.
