Passageways to a Deeper Dimension
with Esterita Austin
www.esteritaaustin.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 2 - 7, 2008

A Portal can be any passage that may lead to, or from, anywhere. It needn’t be made of stone. Starting with your own photograph as a leaping off point you will go beyond what is seen to what might be seen (suggestions on taking photographs will be provided). If you’ve ever had difficulty establishing depth in your work this class will demystify the process. By juxtaposing opposite values your image will “POP” off the surface. We will be fusing and adding paint to fabric to achieve greater depth. Your piece will become not merely surface design but a visual invitation to enter.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Esterita Austin's Passageways to a Deeper Dimension class.

Composition Quartet: Four Techniques for Fused Quilts
with Sue Benner
www.suebenner.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 9 - 14, 2008

A quartet of quilts! Challenge yourself with four different compositions and learn four ways of constructing fused quilts. Day one explores squares and rectangles, day two experiments with curvilinear shapes, day three works with collage-and-cut process, and day four deals with landscape. During the last day, students can either continue work on their four quilts or experiment with an idea of their choice. You will also learn fusible basics, working with non-traditional fabrics, quilting and binding. By the end of this workshop experience, construction ideas will abound!

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Sue Benner's Composition Quartet: Four Techniques for Fused Quilts class.

Around the Garden
with Karen Kay Buckley
www.karenkaybuckley.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 2 - 7, 2008

The bursts of color, the aroma of rich soil, the beauty of flowering plants, and the soft flutter of pollinating insects are the inspiration for this project. Several different methods of appliqué will be covered in this workshop including needleturn and the “Templar and Sizing” technique. You will learn how to achieve perfect circles, smooth curves, sharp points and to make dimensional insects – a yellow-jacket and a dragonfly. During this workshop we will take a break from sewing to do some designing. Don’t be afraid; it will be made easy for you. We will spend some time drawing block designs and looking at quilts via the projector followed by talk about selecting and designing the right borders for your quilt.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Karen Kay Buckley's Around the Garden class.

Shape Up Your Fat Quarters
with Debbie Caffrey
www.debbiescreativemoments.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 9 - 14, 2008

If you have beautifully coordinated bundles of fat quarters you don’t dare cut into, or have lots of fat
quarters with pieces out of them or want to change a pattern for a few fabrics into one for a scrappy look, then join this class where you will gain confidence to streamline the construction of a scrappy pattern, using your fat quarters to their fullest. While the class will strongly emphasize fat quarters, other small pieces are addressed, too: squares, strips, and scraps. During the process you will learn valuable cutting and machine piecing techniques, fabric selection skills, and get great ideas for completing the design, such as simple and unique settings and borders. Bring ideas (photos, magazines, patterns, books) for quilts you would like to make, choose one of the instructor’s many patterns designed for fat quarters, or come as a clean slate ready to design your own quilt.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Debbie Caffrey's Shape Up Your Fat Quarters class.

African Safari of Design
with Rachel Clark
www.rdkc.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 9 - 14, 2008

Join an African Safari! An introduction to elements of African designs for artistic expression, creating patchwork, piecing, appliqué, quilting patterns, embroidery, stamps and stencils. Students begin in Mauritania and then visit the Ndebele houses of South Africa with their intricate painting techniques. Next it is on to find the mud cloths of Mali, carved calabash designs on the Ivory Coast, and distinctive narrative appliqué in Dahomey. Be on the lookout for reverse appliqué as we pass through Nigeria and embroidered Kuba cloth in the heart of the Congo. Throughout the tour you will learn techniques for adapting African design to create a unique garment or quilt.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Rachel Clark's African Safari of Design class.

Illusions and Transparencies with a Celtic Twist
with Karen Combs
www.karencombs.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 9 - 14, 2008

Explore unique techniques for Quilts of Illusions and Celtic Pieced Illusions along with increasing your knowledge of the use of color. Visual depth has fascinated artists for centuries. Learn quick and easy rotary techniques that allow you to make quilts with a 3-D look. This is a favorite class because it is so easy to create truly amazing quilts of illusion. Secrets will be shared so you may become a master of illusion including transparency which involves the use of color to make your quilts look like one color is laying over another. In addition you will be designing pieced Celtic quilts. With simple blocks you can create unlimited Celtic designs and convert them to fabric in your own unique Celtic Pieced Illusions quilt.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Karen Combs' Illusions and Transparencies with a Celtic Twist class.

Crazy Times 5
with Alice Allen Kolb
www.alicekolb.com/
This class was part of seminar week: March 2 - 7, 2008

Five crazy blocks or five rows by five columns of crazy blocks...you decide. Focus on crazy blocks with endless machine threads and stitches. Make yours with old fashioned fabrics or current choices to create blocks uniquely yours. Then, if you choose, combine with assorted other favorite blocks, buttons and trims – or just keep making crazy blocks. Think of the best memories, the best treasures and the best stitches...all in Crazy Times 5.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Alice Allen Kolb's Crazy Times 5 class.

Mastering Machine Raw Edge Appliqué and Quilting
with Sue Nickels
www.sue.nickels.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 2 - 7, 2008

Using this new pattern, combine machine appliqué and machine quilting to create a great small quilt. Learn a fused and stitched raw edge machine appliqué technique. Basic machine quilting skills will be reviewed and then students will mark, baste and begin quilting their quilt. You will be provided the beautiful feather pattern that is on the border of the project and time will be allowed for learning to machine quilt feathers. The focus will be on learning great technique with quality workmanship to create an heirloom project on the home sewing machine!

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Sue Nickels' Mastering Machine Raw Edge Appliqué and Quilting class.

Better Than Basics: A Superb Foundation
with Laura Nownes
www.dianaandlaura.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 2 - 7, 2008

Using Q is for Quilt as a textbook, you will learn the basics of quiltmaking including terminology, fabric selection, proper use of cutting tools, quick-cutting and strip piecing techniques, precision piecing, appliqué and quilt assembly including borders, backing and binding. Students will make a sampler quilt that includes a variety of quilt blocks. Although this workshop is designed for entry-level quilters, all quilters can benefit from clear step-by-step instructions while fine-tuning their skills. If you’re self-taught, you’ll very likely learn lots of hints to simplify the process and add to the pleasure of creating quilts.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Laura Nownes' Better Than Basics: A Superb Foundation class.

Machine Felting Quilts: Creating a Lush Surface
with Paula Scaffidi
www.fiberella.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 9 - 14, 2008

Spark your creativity! Come dive into the pure fun of machine felting. You will participate in a wealth of innovative techniques within an effective learning environment, connecting fibers, fabrics and you to your muse. Develop working techniques in a personal sample book and learn to naturally evolve a design series from a simple source of inspiration. explore and focus your theme through mini compositions made with totally fresh approaches to quiltmaking: shaded appliqué, seamless piecing, and surface design without liquids; “coloring” already pieced fabrics, 3D embellishments, tinted wholecloth and more. Expand your favorite composition and techniques in a small wallhanging.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Paula Scaffidi's Machine Felting Quilts: Creating a Lush Surface class.

Options Galore: A Studio Class
with Karen K. Stone
(no website)
This class was part of seminar week: March 2 - 7, 2008

In this very relaxed class we will begin where most wonderful quilts begin – with fabric. Work interpretively to refine color, texture and character choices. Using the masterful palettes that result, students may elect to work from any of the instructor’s patterns, delve into strange and fabulous technical diversions, follow their own muse, or do any number of combinations thereof, in a cheerful atmosphere of supportive encouragement.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Karen K. Stone's Options Galore: A Studio class.

Magical Colors & Sensational Quilts
with Joen Wolfrom
www.joenwolfrom.com
This class was part of seminar week: March 9 - 14, 2008

Color is magical and allows you to create unbelievable quilts! This workshop offers you the opportunity to explore color and its many nuances. By week’s end, you will have a strong color foundation from which to create sensational, colorful quilts. You will discover the mysteries of the most exciting color illusions—depth, luminosity, luster, shadows, highlights, and transparency. You will engage in a variety of color exercises and activities to maximize your learning. In addition, you will transpose the color ideas that most interest you into fabric, as you work on your own quilt project. You choose your project’s design, the technique you want to work in, the colors to be used, and the illusions to be featured. At the end of the workshop, your brain will be swimming with new ideas for future projects, and your individual quilt project will be an exciting step in your personal color journey.

The image, left, shows the close-up detail of the class sample. View the larger image for Joen Wolfrom's Magical Colors & Sensational Quilts class.