The Nest: a new approach to surface design
For most folks who are in to surface design, the surface design is the goal. For me, the surface design is to create cloth to use in my collaged artwork. Rather than hunt (and hunt and hunt) for fabric that works, I make my own, using both my own hand-dyed fabrics and commercial fabrics, especially batiks. In my new class, The Nest, I teach this project as a way to learn several surface design techniques and get you started. I’ll be teaching this class for the first time (officially) at International Quilt Festival, Houston (class link here) on Thursday afternoon, Class 496.
I provide a kit (with a fee) with paint, brush; hand-dyed floss, perle cotton and cheesecloth; Sarah’s custom thermofax screen (yours to keep) and more. You provide the fabric and willingness to play! The class can be either half or full day; in Houston, it is a half day class.
Since Houston is THE big quilting event in the world, it pays to prepare, so thanks to my local peeps, I did a “test run” on the class to work out timing and make sure everything was clear. THANK YOU to my Coastal Quilters for helping me out…you were great, and the class helped me immensely (like I can only fit two projects, not 3, in a 3-hour class!).
While the paint dries on the Nest, you work on a “free play” exercise, then switch back and forth as the layers dry. You can make your own stamps (supplies provided), use materials I bring to share, or bring your own from home.
My thermofax screen designs are available at Fiber on a Whim, I’ll have some for sale in class, and Jan Girod and Kristin Rodriguez (who are Fiber on a Whim) will be vending in a booth on the show floor at Houston. Artists have my complete permission to use my screens in their artwork, including works that will be sold or exhibited (but of course you can’t copy my designs and sell them…you know how it works!).
So I hope you’ll be inspired by my local quilty friends–I sure am! And I hope you’ll be able to join me in Houston (or have your guild hire me to come to teach YOU at home!). See you in November!
July 30th, 2016 at 9:51 am
Awww-wish I could come play for that class! I’ll miss being in Houston.
July 30th, 2016 at 3:29 pm
Great! Did the students form the nest with paint or whatever?
September 4th, 2016 at 11:14 am
This looks like a super great class, Sarah. I wish I could take it! I will be in Houston, though, and hope our paths cross!
October 2nd, 2016 at 4:44 pm
[…] thrilled to be so busy and hope to meet many of you. Here’s a blogpost about The Nest, a new and totally fun half-day (or full day if a guild wants a full day) […]