Workshops

Cardinal Applique Block

Create a beautiful cardinal in a machine appliqué block that can be used to make a table topper, block for a quilt, block for a bag or anything you should choose. Satin stitch appliqué will be taught as well as a free motion edge.

Create Appliques Using Inktense Pencils

Students put their adult colouring skills to work and play with inktense pencils to create flowers and leaves that will be cut out and used to create appliqués. This is a fun workshop where they will learn some of the tricks for colouring realistic images of their choice and then adding water to turn them into beautifully shaded fabrics. After the appliqués are created they will cut them out and fuse them to a background to start a block. Students can use my pattern for clematis or bring their own inspirations for flower or leaves.

Creating a 3-d Goldfinch From Thread

Students will learn to create appliques totally from thread. Free motion embroidery will be used to create a goldfinch. The technique can be later used to make realistic images of birds, flowers, or wildlife. All the tricks, from working with difficult threads to controlling distortion, will be covered. These can be used as focal points in wall hangings and wearable art.

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Flowers From Thread

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 lady slipper, iris, 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.

How Many Ways To Applique?

Create a beautiful block while learning many machine applique techniques. The student will learn how to use fusible web, freezer paper and dress maker’s interfacing to make the appliques. They will learn satin stitch, buttonhole stitch and mock hand applique to attach the appliques. Hints on speciality threads and needles will be given.

Landscape

Create a landscape using my pattern or design your own. This can be quilted or stitched and framed.  Design considerations such as composition, depth, choosing colours to enhance perspective will be discussed.

Painting Backgrounds For Quilts or Embroideries

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 appliques. Special effects techniques will also be explored. Reference notes provided.

Pet Portraits from Thread

Pet Portraits from Thread- You will drop the feed dogs on a regular zigzag sewing machine and learn to use your needle like a paint brush to create a portrait of your pet or favourite animal. You will use only free motion straight stitch and zigzag to create your masterpiece. It can be matted and framed or turned into a quilted wall hanging. Beginner to intermediate

Thread Painting One

Students learn the basics of free motion embroidery on their regular zigzag sewing machine to create  landscapes. They will complete a sampler (seen to the left) as they learn to make grasses, leaves, flowers, weeds, trees, etc.  They can spend the entire day perfecting their skills or  start a simple landscape. Comprehensive notes are provided.

Thread Painting Two

The student will build upon the knowledge gained in Thread Painting. Design considerations will be discussed and expanded. Students will construct a landscape using appropriate fabrics and machine applique techniques. Machine embroidery techniques will be quickly reviewed and students will be encouraged to individualize their landscapes both in the construction and in the free motion embroidery stages. Methods for quilting the landscape will be explored.

Three-D Thread Appliques

Students will learn to create appliques totally from thread. Free motion embroidery will be used to create either a black capped chickadee or a hummingbird. The technique can be later used to make realistic images of birds, flowers, or wildlife. All the tricks, from working with difficult threads to controlling distortion, will be covered. These can be used as focal points in wall hangings and wearable art.

Three-D Thread Appliques – Puffin

Students will learn to create appliques totally from thread. Free motion embroidery will be used to create a Puffin. The technique can be later used to make realistic images of birds, flowers, or wildlife. All the tricks, from working with difficult threads to controlling distortion, will be covered. These can be used as focal points in wall hangings and wearable art.