Workshops & Lectures

Program Chairman click here for more information /under construction. Please check back soon.

Coloring Your Quilts

Faux Applique...explore the beauty of quilts created and enhanced using textile inks and paints. Altered fabrics, enhanced traditional applique and complete designs created with Trish's faux applique method.

A Journey Through Time

Follow the progression of quilts through Trish's quilt journey. Basic Traditional Pieced quilts, Stained Glass quilts, Applique quilts, Landscape quilts, Faux Applique quilts, and Art quilts. Trish Stuart speaks with humor of her meandering path to the present and where she is headed, providing motivation for your own journey.

Check back soon for a printable version of workshops

Collage

In the morning collage a panel using a leafy branch, stamp pads, daubers and stamps. Create the larger base collage using the same leafy branch and foils. If desired add more depth using stencils with stamp pad ink, daubers and foil.The layering process creates beautiful imagery and evocative artwork. After lunch add depth and dimension with the use of decorative threads and free motion quilting as you complete the wall hanging.

6 hour class, beginner to advanced skill levels.

Threadwork, Angelina & Glitter

The workshop starts out using thread and water soluble stabilizer in a hoop to create delicate underwater ferns. Play with your favorite threads on water soluble stabilizer as Trish shows you how to create beautiful freeform images. Wash away the stabilizer and while it dries stitch the foundation of your design on stabilized fabric. Use silk threads, Tussah silk or wool roving, hand dyed laces, cheesecloth, and your newly created lacey fronds to build your own underwater scene. The addition of shimmery Angelina and the spark of ultrafine glitter on your project adds depth and dimension. Found objects can be added to complete your art.

6 hour session, beginner to advanced skill levels

Creating Batik & More with Fabric Inks & Textile Paints

It's fast and easy to create hand dyed batiks and fabric with subtle visual textures specifically in the colors and textures you need! Play with different effects on small panels of fabric using textile inks and paints. We use stamp pads to create rubbings from plants for soft, organic backgrounds. Learn to create smooth gradations of color and blends of one color into another with fabric textiles. This is a critical technique to have in your arsenal when creating skies, sunrises, sunsets and water in landscapes.The non-toxic, water soluble products we are using mean no harsh chemicals, no worries for those with allergies or breathing problems! And we simply heat set to make permanent, eliminating the need for multiple chemical processing.

6 hour session, all skill levels

Magnolia

Explore the beauty of traditional trapunto with the contemporary look of foil.

Learn to use the correct amount of foil adhesive with a stencil and stamp for successful foil work. Bring a stencil of your choosing to create the foil work shown on the black border on the left and a leaf stamp that you like to create the floating leaves in the background.

While the adhesive dries in preparation for applying the foil we will trapunto the center image. Fabric textile ink and/or paint is applied after the trapunto is completed. Raw edges are cut ragged to mimic torn paper, then black fabric ink is used to "border" the centerpiece.

This method of applying foil using a multiple application method allows you to create a blended and very soft finished product.

Layer the background with batt and backing and quilt. Lay the Magnolia centerpiece in place and stitch to the background to complete the wall hanging.

6 hour session, beginner to advanced skill levels

Coneflowers or Roses

Free motion work is used to create thread outlines for artsy, slightly abstract flowers and leaves. Using a medium to light low contrast batik with a tearaway stabilizer gives you great control and provides you with a watercolor effect without any effort on your part. Even if you are a spaz at free motion you can do this.The shapes are “loose” with no need to stitch on specific lines so is perfect for the beginner that just wants to get the hang of it and still have a beautiful project to show for the effort.

After you are done outlining basic flower and leaf shapes, color in the flowers and leaves with textile ink or paint and small amounts of water for a watercolor effect. Even if you are already skilled in free motion you will have loads of fun letting yourself color outside the lines!

Pressing with a hot iron makes the images permanent and ready for use in a future project of your choice.

6 hour session, beginner to advanced skill levels

Perfectly Wild Geraniums

Create dimension, depth, transparency and the impression of movement as you learn the techniques to shade, highlight and blend these wild geraniums over a batik fabric. This is a four step process. Once you learn how to create depth and reflected light you can apply this method to many other types of images. It may even change the way you choose fabrics for your next traditionally pieced quilt! You learn to alter your batik (as I did with the smokey blue) to better enhance your flowers. In the final step we create shimmer and reflected light as you add fabric glitter for the final accent. Your art can be framed or used in a future project of your choice.

6 hour session, all skill levels

Mountain by the Sea

Negative space is used to create mist, depth uses value, and a soft sunrise sky is created with a technique for perfect blending. Learn the properties of creating water as you paint your sea, and explore how to use reflected colors to balance your art. Border fabric is pressed to fusible web and leaves from the border print are then cut out to create a Broderie Purse effect. While I used fabric with printed leaves, other textures and images could be used for your border fabric.

Time does not permit us to learn to use the edged piping or the bobbin work flowers but I will be happy to explain how it is done at the end of class.

6 hour session, all skill levels

To the Sea

Value makes the difference...as you basically paint by number. The pattern shows where to place your values. Depth is perceived by the use of value and color in this creek flowing to the sea. Value is used to make your tree trunks and branches appear rounded rather than flat. Present the illusion of banks, rocks, depth as you follow the creek out into the lake.

6 hour session for all skill levels

If desired a second day can be added for creating leaves, added dimension and visual texture as you thread paint over your art. Truly, threads add a wonderful variety of textures with the availability of cottons, rayons, assorted polyester threads, wool thread, and assorted weights. Spacial use of designs also have a huge impact on the end result of your project. Exploring and playing with your free motion feature can open up a whole new world of surface design to any quilter or fiber artist.

Second day is also a 6 hour session. Basic sewing skills required. The student should have some experience with free motion work, knowing how to set the feed dogs down and how to adjust tension on the machine, and having at least tried to do free motion prior to the workshop. You MUST HAVE a machine embroidery hoop to do the second day of this workshop.

The Iris Path

Use intensity, tone and luminosity as you stand at the beginning of this path to the lake. The breathtaking mountain scene gains it’s perspective and reflects the morning light as you learn these principles, creating a sense of distance. A distinct foreground and background are accomplished using intensity and tone and other concepts from this workshop.

6 hour session, all skill levels

In a two day session learn to paint with thread, adding texture and dimension to bark and flowers. Use a fine 60/8 needle with silk threads up to a 90/14 needle with heavier textured threads for texture, texture, texture! The sheen of silk, rayon, polyester, metallic, mylar, wool and cotton can transform your painting, no matter how clumsy you think it is, into a work of art.

Second day is 6 hours, see requirements for "To the Sea" workshop for skill level.

Bobbin Play

This is a comprehensive class on bobbin work....

In the morning learn the ins and outs of how to sew with specialty threads in your bobbin to add more dimension to your work. Top load and front load bobbins are explained as well as how to wind bobbins and which direction to wind different fibers. Learn about adjusting upper and lower tension. We will be modifying direction of thread in tension rods for different effects as well as for using different weights of thread, yarn or ribbon. Explore when to bypass the tension rod, how to start and stop, what to do when you run out of bobbin thread during your project. Trish discusses how to decide when and where to make a design continuous line. You will sew some small samples as you learn to adjust tensions and see the different effects that can be achieved related to the bypass slot.

The afternoon is spent stitching different designs (provided in your kit) on assorted fabrics and on layered (batting, backing and top) panels. We will use different types of fibers as you explore the textures you can create with your bobbin.

6 hour session, please see "To the Sea" workshop for description of skill level.

Contemporary Blue Poppy

This workshop is packed full of techniques for you to learn!

• Begin by cutting the gently curved pieces.
• Stamp, foil and stencil your fabric to add dimension.
• Piece the curves with a foolproof and simple method.
• Learn the pillowcase method of applique to create the blue poppy.
• Butt the two sections of the base together and join them with a decorative stitch.
• Then add shimmer by stamping adhesive to the poppy and applying foil. Trish will show you how to achieve a soft, blended effect.
• Use a pillowcase method (again) for quilting the project.
• Top stitch blended Angelina and roving to your quilt and add glitter.
• The black center and stamens are covered wire twisted into shape and tacked to the wall hanging.

This project can be completed in a two day workshop or you can learn most of the techniques, for the top only, in a one day workshop.

Surface Design with Fabric & Fiber

• Let your spirit free as you pleat, twist, scrunch, fold and tuck different types of fabric to create your own unique tree.
• Sew your image to PFD (prepared for dying) white cotton high thread count fabric on a tearaway stabilizer base.
• At the end of day one wet the fabric and spray with textile ink or paint. It will dry overnight so the following morning we can
• create woven land, dimensional leaves, and embossed velvet.
• Learn to apply foil so it is soft and blended, not chunky and thick.
• Use your piping foot with double needles on organza to create Spanish Moss and veins on leaves.
• Learn a wonderful method for sewing borders to the center with piping to define it.

Be prepared to be consumed with inspiration in a 2 day workshop while you learn these surface design techniques. Two days will allow you to learn the techniques but not complete the top. If you desire a finished project plan on a four day workshop to create insets with piping, stitch cracked bark as you quilt, use packing foam sheets with acrylic paints and heat to make dimensional bark and tree growths, create veins on layered organza & silk for falling leaves. If you wish, use a colored thread and a solid color backing so as you quilt you create another scene on the back.

12 hour workshop, all skill levels

Poppy

We begin this workshop with a brief discussion on choosing fabric & color theory. Enhance the background fabric applying foil with stamps or stencils. In the afternoon create the leaves using the pillowcase method. Add dimension and veins with the pintuck foot and double needle. The day finishes off with you cutting 3 pieces of the poppie's petals out and learning the simple method for curved piecing. In the 6 hour class you will sew two or three of the pieces together to make sure you fully understand the method. Once you learn how to sew with this curved piecing method you can complete the poppy at home. Instructions are included for the pieced border.

The supply list will provide you with the exact fabrics used in the petals so you can come to class prepared to sew, or by all means choose your own. While the class is sewing these Trish will try to spend time individually assisting each person in choosing from the assortment of fabrics you bring to help you create a beautiful gradation for your poppy. Because classes are usually large it is probably best if you come to class with 2 or 3 gradations already put together.

The techniques learned can be crammed into a 6 hour session but the workshop is best suited for two days of sewing and instruction. The added time allows a comprehensive study of using fabrics, incorporating color, value, visual texture, intensity, tone and scale.

6 or 12 hour workshop, beginner to advanced skill level

Fractured Iris

The iris is painted on the gold fabric. The stems and leaves on the multicolored teal/purple fabric is appliqued. This workshop not only teaches you to paint realistic flowers, but shows how to blend painting seamlessly with applique.

Learn where and how to highlight, add depth with shadows, and dimension as you learn Trish’s method for painting beautiful, realism on fabric. As you paint the Iris you will gain skill in creating a ruffled effect on the edges of your petals. See how to make your applique blend into your colored art (the fracture between painting and applique) as shown on the model. A checkerboard border completes the top.

6 hour workshop, beginner to advanced skill level

Hyacinth Vase

I can't image an easier project to learn!

Softly trace the image to your batik, softly color in the leaves, softly blend colors for the flowers and press. Then see how easy it is to use white ink to add highlights and create the illusion of folded fabric. Softly add some shadows and your top is ready to put a border on and quilt!

There's nothing "hard" about this. Quilting delineates the edges of the flowers and leaves as well as the vase and table cloth.

You should complete coloring your image in a full day workshop. If you desire to quilt this in class, add another day.

Multimedia Collage

This contemporary piece is a very nice way to learn basic surface design! The center piece begins as white prepared for dying (PFD) cotton fabric. Stamp pads that have ink created specifically for use with fabric are used to stencil, stamp, create background texture and color, and reverse stenciled images.

A decorative stitch around the edge bonds this to your background fabric. Then apply foil using a layered method with stencils and stamps. Complete the work by free motion stitching around selected areas and binding.