July is a big WORKSHOP month!!

But first

Let me share my ongoing project!

 My pal Professor Alan Miller, underwater photographer, gardener, member of the ginger nation, grew indigo and gave me some of the clippings! I’ve got a big blue vat of leaves and blue pigment floating, I’m clamping and stitching to get some designs going. I’m all buzzed stitching, folding, photographing.. so I’ll get that up in a bit.

Workshops

Scheduled workshops coming up are with the Creative Aging Network of NC, located in Greensboro and the Sawtooth School in Winston Salem, NC. Some of my favorite things to share! 

July 10, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Creative Aging Network on Summit Avenue, Greensboro join us to

make a Choctaw Elbow Basket. 

Supplies are included. 

We are using flat reed for most of this, round reed for a bit and as always, I’ll bring some fun stuff from my yard- grapevine, yucca leaves, curly willow. You can too!

I don’t plan to dye the basket reed but we can easily dye it after the basket is made.

July 11, 18 and 25, 6:30-8:30 at the Sawtooth School we are printing on

fabric. We did this at Taste of Art in a quick version.  

This workshop has the flexibility of three days so we can design our own blocks, discuss different ways to print on fabric, expand our color palette to explore more techniques and print in layers (we have drying time!!!)

July 14 and 15 we are dying with Indigo at Sawtooth School! On July 14 join us for a Taste of Art from 6-8 while we try a few quick shibori techniques. Come back Saturday from 10-3 (break for lunch, maybe blueberries?  Hmm) and we explore more techniques, with additional vat time for deeper and richer blues and a bit more studio time to enjoy this special dye opportunity. (Please wear art-friendly clothes! The dye is permanently blue)

July 20 and 21 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at Sawtooth School join us for details on how to wind a warp. One of the first parts of the process in hand weaving is measuring threads. We determine the size we want to weave our fabric, what types of yarns we want to use, how soft or firm our fabric needs to be and we count and measure our threads to be ready for the next step.Threading a loom is much easier if the warp is wound properly, and there are several ways to determine “proper”. Head into your next weaving class with the power to put your threads on with order, less chaos and more control of your process! 

July 22 from 10:00am to 4:00 pm at the Sawtooth School join us for a batik workshop. 

Using soy wax as a resist to the dyes, we

compose images using traditional tjanting tools, brushes, a collection of blocks and found shapes that we can use for pattern and visual texture. Soy wax melts and gives off some fumes, but is so much safer than microcrystalline wax. That said, feel free to wear a mask for the wax, or for any reason! 

We will break for lunch,  bring your own or visit one of the close restaurants in downtown Winston Salem. 

Our dyes are permanent so please wear art-friendly clothes. 

July 24 from 10:00am to 12:00 pm we are printing designs with natural objects at the Creative Aging Center in Greensboro. 

Printing is a great way to explore pattern, shape and color. All supplies are included and you are welcome to bring special items from your garden, nature walks, stash of cool collected things and I’ll bring things, too. Explore some different printing techniques using direct pressing and printing with gel plates. I plan to bring several samples that may inspire the group. 

August 9 and 16 from 6:00pm-9:00pm at the Sawtooth School I’m bringing my frame tapestry looms to use in class for those who don’t have one (yet!) - if you have your own, please bring yours if you’d like to weave on your own between classes. We explore several tapestry weaving techniques, a bit of history of tapestry weaving, then warp up the loom and weave a simple piece with yarns and any other items we choose to add. If you have questions about the class, be sure to ask me! 

It’s a busy summer! I”m looking forward to these workshops. I’m planning to post more images on my facebook page and instagram page as the month rolls along, including those of the workshops. Meanwhile, I’ve been uploading some of my past bits and pieces. 

I’m going to get back to these glorious blue leaves now… be sure and message me if you have questions about the classes. Sign up through the links above at the Creative Aging Center and Sawtooth School. I’ve spoken with a few other folks about workshops; as soon as they’re finalized I’ll post those too