Upcoming Exhibitions, Sales and Classes

Set in one of the country's most beautiful and creative communities, Fredericton's edVentures summer program is Atlantic Canada's largest and most diverse vacation learning program in craft and culture. To register go to www.edventures.ca or phone 888-850-1333

Students will learn to paint using Pebeo Setacolor fabric paints on cotton fabrics. This is a hands on painting workshop where students will mix colours and produce fabrics suitable for landscapes, yardages and appliqués. Special effects techniques will also be explored. Reference notes provided.

The student will spend the morning making a reference work of free motion embroidery stitches to make grasses, leaves, flowers, trees, water etc. In the afternoon they will make a simple fabric landscape and quickly stitch it in place. This is the background on which they will "paint with their sewing machine" to give the landscape three-dimensional life. Hints will be provided on using the appropriate aids; correct needles, threads, stabilizers and hoops. Design considerations such as composition, depth and perspective will be discussed.

Students will learn to create vibrant flowers both wild and the garden variety totally from thread. Free motion embroidery will be used to create flowers such as  iris, goldenrod, rose, lady slipper, fireweed, foxglove, calla lily, goldenrod, astilbe etc. Students choose which flowers to master. Methods for using them in quilts, artworks, cards and wearable art will be demonstrated.

Day 1 The day would begin with the class walking along the beautiful Saint John River trail in the downtown area and photographing potential scenes for their painting on fabric. (Tips on composition and photography would be included). After having films developed or prints made from digital images, the afternoon would be started by viewing the various compositions and deciding on the chosen scene. Design considerations such as composition, depth and perspective would be discussed and reference notes provided. Students would start their paper drawings of their chosen piece or pieces. In case of inclement weather, the instructor would have photographs from which to work.
Day 2 Paper drawings would be perfected and then transferred onto white cotton fabric. The techniques of, preparing the fabric, mixing paints, painting wet on wet and wet on dry using cotton fabric as the medium, would be practiced and then painting of the chosen piece would be started.
Day 3 The paintings on fabric would be completed. Students would then learn to drop the feed dogs on a zigzag sewing machine and produce a reference work of free motion embroidery stitches to produce water, flowers, weeds, trees etc. Hints would be provided on using the appropriate aids; correct needles, threads, stabilizers and hoops.
Day 4 Free motion embroidery would be started on the painted backgrounds.
Day 5 The free motion embroidery would be continued working towards the finish of their textural masterpieces.

Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival Amherst, N.S. Learn to paint using pebeo fabric paints to produce fabrics for landscapes, yardages, embroideries and appliques. Fee $75 ( includes supplies. First Baptist Church 90 Victoria St.E Amherst NS For Registration contact kathy Tidswell 506-363-3560 or kathy@kathytidswell.com