It is always such a pleasure to return to my hometown, Columbus, Ohio to conduct a workshop for QSDS (Quilt and Surface Design Symposium). The setting is ideal ... the Columbus College of Art and Design. Participants stay in the dorms, eat in the cafeteria, and have 24/7 access to the most perfect studio space ever!
Originally, this workshop was written for a four-day experience. I thought long and hard about what had to be cut from the agenda. Finally, I decided to cut only my own Power Point presentation! This meant that I had to really "watch the clock" and seriously "push the envelop" to get everything accomplished!
In two days, everyone managed to make greeting cards from old, cut-up artwork, magazine images, upholstery scraps, and a selection of 1973 wallpaper samples. I brought the note cards, envelops, and professional "crystal clear" bags that seal ... in two different sizes. Everyone made at least two wooden thread spool ornaments too. I brought 11" x 14" mats with "crystal clear" bags and plenty of fusible fabric straps. These things became an instant design challenge as well as a ready-to-sell piece of artwork. Old keys were tagged with an inspirational word ... and shadowboxed into existing frames. Lots of yarn was zigzag stitched into cording ... and cording was stitched into a fiber vessel. (The finished vessel went to one of the participants ... randomly! But, the most exciting part of the workshop was the process of turning a table filled with "found objects" into a small mandala.
Thankfully, Steve came along on this trip. He did all the driving and helped unload all this "stuff" into the classroom. Yes ... we brought EVERYTHING used! It's a lot but it is so worth it! Participants didn't have to bring anything ... which is a good thing! At least two of the participants flew to Columbus. They needed their suitcase space for themselves, not for the items on a lengthy supply list!
For two days, I really pushed the workshop forward. It was exciting and fun. In the meantime, Steve went to the Columbus Art Festival, the art museum, and the zoo. He also visited our old stomping grounds, the Ohio State University campus. Then, we packed up. The return load was a lot lighter because everyone in the workshop did such a great job of using the provided supplies!
Unlike many fiber art workshops, I set up the room a bit differently. Participants don't have individual tables. They sit and stitch together. This allows more space around all the "work stations". It also means that conversations are easy and friendships are made! I really hope to see these great people in the future!
By the end of Sunday, two of the participants had their mandalas totally stitched, removed from the first stretcher bar, stapled to the smaller/finished stretcher bar, and ready to hang on the wall. The others weren't far behind. Personally, I finished the one Found Object Mandala that I brought already stitched ... as a demo for the finished presentation ... plus, I finished the one I started as a "how to" example ... plus, I finished my next piece too. I'll be blogging them soon. By the way, I'll be conducting this workshop as a three-day experience at AYA Fiber Studio in Florida this coming November 30 - December 2, 2022. It will happen directly after a two-day HOT workshop, November 28 and 29! Come play with me!
1 comment:
aha, so you've converted some quilter/sewers into looking at found objects in a different way - and it looks like it was a success ...
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