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Quilt Festival: Fabric Postcards/Chunk and Jigsaw
One of the lessons learned is to get your class a good title AND a good class description. I clearly failed on the Chunk and Jigsaw Fusible applique! The class had only 7 students, but I opted not to cancel (I was given the choice), figuring getting paid for seven students is better than none, and they had already planned and prepped, and I had spent more money and time on kits and materials for this class than any other, so I might as well. In reality, the class is using fusing and other art techniques to make fabric postcards (or slightly larger) pieces in the class.
Well, it turned out we had a ball! I decided the best way to organize things was to demo the fusing first, have students fuse up a stash of fabrics (thanks to IQA for providing extra ironing stations in the hallways….due to electricity charges and wiring you can only have two irons in a classroom, clearly not enough for full classes!), then move to art techniques in the late morning and afternoon. I set up an “Art Smorgasbord” in the back of the room, with materials and supplies for various techniques at three tables / workstations.
At the end of the day everyone put their stuff up on one of the foam core sheets and we all took pictures (photo above). Among the techniques we tried were angelina (a hairy fiber that is sparkly which you can emboss with a stamp), making your own stamps from rope, glue, “stuff” (such as metal washers), foam sheets (I used Darice Foamies from Wal-mart…an adhesive backed foam that you can cut with scissors), painting on fabric, freezer paper stencils to stencil, couched yarns and other stuff, making your own cording from yarn, strips of fabric and whatnot, scrunching/texturing fabric…. and finally, my favorite finish for postcards: the couched-yarn edge. I made sure everyone tried every technique or had some of the materials to take home and try.
Here Auian made the most adorable reindeer…she had brought many Christmas fabrics, and I am totally in love with this guy!:
and her friend Tanyel made some wonderful postcards with her to-die-for selection of African fabrics:
Marie used both African and regular quilting fabrics and my Little Brown Bird pattern to make her own, slightly larger quiltlet… wish I could see this one when it is done! I was SO excited… early in the day I did a small exercise that helps folks understand that drawing really can be easy if you just break it down into basic steps and concepts…and Marie said she actually thought that now she might really be able to draw, and she never had before…WOOOOHOOO!!!!! I think what I love best about teaching is when I can help a student realize that the really CAN do it!
and
Our fantabuloso Janome rep (who helped with the machines, and tips and all sorts of fun stuff) got to join in the fun on Thursday since we were so few– it was truly a pleasure to have her in the classroom helping, she was everything you hope a classroom company rep will be!
Renee worked quietly over on the side of the room and boy did she cut loose! Her mom and dad are both artists, and you can tell she is comfortable in a creative, free-form environment. Plus, her taste in colors and fabrics and mine overlap a lot… I loved what she has done in these cards:
Mary’s frog and lily make me think of spring. I also shared in the class how to use some funky tape-yarn to “bind” or edge-finish a postcard.. that’s what Mary has done on the top edges here:
Stacia had fun with abstract design and Angelina:
I’m not positive, but think this one may be Stacia’s also:
Kitty said she likes to work in series, and this is part of her seasons series:
She also used the paintsticks and a stamp I had made of cardboard and glued twine (done in the shape of a tree) with the Shivas to color this cloth for future use:
Last but not least,one more beauty from Renee:
It was a great class to end my first teaching stint in Houston. Because the class was so small, it was very informal and we got to sit close and work together to do some truly fun stuff!
I’ve just sent in my application to teach again next year in Houston…here’s to hoping! Thanks to ALL my students, it was truly a privelege to be able to come teach and to have you in my classes.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Yes, definitely rename that class! It looks like it was great fun, I would have taken it if I could manage the cost of getting myself to Houston! You had some very artistic folks in there as well and that didn’t hurt the outcome of things either! They all did a fabulous job and if they need an address to send one of the post cards to you are welcome to give them mine! They all need to keep making art for sure!
November 18th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Looks like a whole lotta fun was happening!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I think it looks like a great class – maybe I’ll be able to sneak away from the C&T booth next Market to take one of your classes! Thanks for joining our Creative Troupe – your work is just lovely.