Off-the-Wall Improv Patchwork Pillow Workshop

Travel is done for the season.  I say it all the time, “Quilters are the kindest people” and everyone involved made this season particularly memorable.

I’m looking forward to some project time, both in the studio and around the house. A website for the studio is in the making and now comes the exciting bit of writing copy.  Open studios and workshops will be much easier to plan and execute with a system for sign ups.  For now I’ve just been doing it the old fashion way via phone or email.

It’s all about the baby steps right?

But I finished up some new Halloween flair a few weeks ago as samples for a design wall heavy improvisational workshop I’ve been thinking about. I wanted to cover some basics that students are always asking me about.  So I thought I’d just put it out there.

This workshop is really a reincarnation of the classes I taught when I started teaching, exception being that at the time we were in the smallest room ever with little to no design wall.  Now I have a fully padded room of design walls and the tools and machines students need, so why not a class?

In my opinion the design wall is the greatest design tool EVER when it comes to improvisational work, so this improv workshop will focus on building out a design there, breaking it down into sections and using various improvisational patchwork techniques to piece it all together.  Angle and strip piecing, “floating” patchwork, composition, creating definition and value are a few of the techniques and design concepts we’ll cover.

Over the years I found that working within a mapped out space helps us visual/kinetic learners.  So thinking small, like a pillow, wall hanging or even one block at a time is to our creative advantage.

Hammer girl thinks so.  She was my starting point.

and then bits were added for detail.

As I was working on the design wall another pillow started to take shape.  That’s often how it works.

I believe all the fabrics are Alexander Henry with the exception of the Essex linen I’m so drawn to currently.

They’ve nailed it with the facial expressions.

Perhaps some Christmas pillows are in your future?

I have room for three students per workshop.  Bernina sewing machines and all tools are provided, just bring your creativity, materials and an open mind;)

So here’s the dates/email me at sewkatiedid@gmail.com to secure your spot:

• Wednesday, November 11th, 10am-3pm (this is Veterans Day if you have it off) FULL
• Saturday, November 14th, 10am-3pm   FULL
• Thursday, December 3rd, 10am-3pm 1 spot left
• Sunday, December 6th, 10am-3pm 2 spots 

Happy Week Peeps;)