The fee for each workshop is $10, and workshop participation will be determined by lottery. Each workshop will have its own lottery. The lottery will open for each workshop the day the workshop is given, and people may put their name in each workshop lottery from the time the show opens that day up until 15 minutes prior to the start of the workshop. Participants may put their name in each workshop lottery only once, but may put their name in as many different workshop lotteries as they choose. People must be physically present 15 minutes prior to the assigned workshop to hear if their name is called. If the person isn’t present, unfortunately their spot will be forfeited and another name will be called.

I’ll be teaching a class Friday, the 29th from 12 to 1. I’ve got a fun new project to share with whomever takes the class: earrings!

I’m calling the class: Sketching with Scissors: Making Ear Candy

Escape from tracing and patterns; learn how to sketch with scissors. We will work on free-cutting bird shapes until you’ve learned to make a unique bird that reflects your personality. Then, using pre-fused hand dyed fabric, you’ll make either a pair of earrings or a necklace that features your newfound sketching skills!

What do you think? Look like fun? Want to join me?

Make it University is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

First up, I sold Scoutie-bird’s House #1 from the art gallery the day after I hung my show, so I made another to take it’s place:

(I’ve since sold Angie-bird’s House #1 and have not replaced that one…just too busy!)

Scoutie-bird House # 2 is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

After marking out the size with pins in the corners (I had some stretcher bars to make a piece 30″ x 40″ on hand, so that’s the size I decided on) I sketched out a couple of funky trees. My 1st try (not shown) had curvy branches, but I wanted more angular branches to go along with the angular shapes of my houses, so this is what I ended up with:

I originally was going to use a navy blue from my Jewel Tones palette, but I didn’t have a big enough piece. Plan B: some pretty multi color hand dyed fabric with lots of the same Jewel Tones in it (bonus: already fused!) I slapped those paper patterns down and traced around them with  my rotary cutter:

Although I really liked the look of the white paper trees, I was too scared to go with no color for a big piece like this when I was committed to getting it hung like the next day…so I say okay to the crazy tree’s and move on!

Next, add houses! I love my mod house ornaments, so I pretty much cut out one of each of those:

Then, it was time to add the birds and quilt the details! Here it is hung on the wall in my family room for a 3 minute photo shoot:

and then it was down to the gallery to hang my show! Seriously, I was wrapping and stapling this quilt at noon, and in the gallery hanging it at 1. I got a few pix, I’m not too happy with them…but it’s all I had time for. Talk about last minute art!

I’ll have more details on the installed show tomorrow!

Newest Large Art Quilt: Welcome to the Neighborhood is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

As a reminder, this bird is made from a pattern Terry Grant of “And Sew it Goes” published in Quilt Scene magazine last year. Her birds are FANTASTIC, and I’m so happy to be jumping into the 3-d world.

One thing I’m very sure of – this bird needs some pals…I think these will look great in groups!

I’m not only thinking about birdhouses, but bird cages, branches for them to perch on, I really love to see birds sitting on a wire – I’ll have to see where this takes me.

The jasmine of 2 days ago is busting out all over!

I’m gonna share this with some friends over at Amy’s!

It’s a bird – more pictures! is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern

I’ve really wanted to expand my birds to that 3rd dimension. You saw a bit of that in  my 3-d birdhouse I was in a rush to make last week:

I’d like to make some birds with real character though. So I thought I’d share that journey with you here! This bird is made from a pattern Terry Grant of “And Sew it Goes” published in Quilt Scene magazine last year. Her birds are FANTASTIC, and I’m so happy to be jumping into the 3-d world. Now that I understand a bit about how a 3 dimensional bird is built, I’m hoping to develop my own style of bird. But here’s my very 1st little 3-d bird, waiting for a house!

I’m off!

I’m sharing this with my buddies here:

It’s a bird! is a post from: Candied Fabrics New in the shop: Versatile Messenger Bag Pattern