This weekend, I taught a new workshop at The Art League School called,
Patching, Stitching, Weaving: Creating Healing Cloth.
This is a concept I've been thinking about for a while now. The act of mending cloth (patching, stitching, darning) can also mend or be healing to the maker or can serve as a means for them to create a piece that could heal another. I was inspired by two events. The first was meeting
Gene and Sue Greer, a husband and wife quilting team who create memorial quilts. I was deeply moved when they told me that they work together to create special butterfly quilts for terminally ill children. A comfort for the children and then eventually for their families. The other event was designing a hamsa for my friend, Martha and after her death having the opportunity to create
peace flags using her hamsa symbol. I found the act of printing and hand stitching the flags very cathartic and meaningful.
I wasn't sure that my deep connection with this idea would translate well into a class. I took a chance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgUF_xoKrUmO9JUUbaU_peTNnVHr16Pye1dowJ6i2Er4WUEAysC1p2DvMn3RtsUhfT0JEXl7HA7whhzVne_NpMYai5BLoBIOyJV5jp6AAQ7KpfbEsR6QVT62oOSjpBUBKb2CyfjQ0aq_3/s1600/saaraliisa+1.jpg) |
Saaraliisa Y. |
I was so fortunate to have a group that was willing to take a chance with me. For two days we stitched and shared. I'm hoping that they got as much out of the experience as I did!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEq69DCORlwf3bibSdwdatQIQS6ksH6eXYR4tATOb15v53OyauT5sbLRUAFfQ_hxL98zxx5EK3nT4pl0HAxO-38F9GWskzNRn3YCplKkCVVrzr_Mz3esTCFPdAK3CSOwhiqy53oSqcKNQI/s1600/susan+1a.jpg) |
Susan P. |
Thank you Susan, Amy, Zita, Saaraliisa and Lisa.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOO-ukJKk4flI743Tb1cZkQzILlouZ63UYNZwW9o3QesFBCkgUuPrrH-Zkr4EShGUrVwKc-bf2-dPu0lKBsjFjCewpA7aMax9FSB-WVO5stGkoS7oVkVNbg4R_YrCm_8dNla3r7N4rzLto/s1600/zita+1.jpg) |
Zita S. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGZZqou_MwdtnYroxIPVLr_E41ARRS2fMRxw_s_6Sl1i4B_wp_MzL9-NARFY5INIDL8QCREJahyb2DOoHCLF2B-_aqVUp78b4e7stmy4pDRLmzv8oVmn6opxjW3L1A1W_dSby8WRDVgsb/s1600/Amy+J+1.jpg) |
Amy J. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyopEd4yxQl8ETS0SjPmfYSquQNt_2uET5hxSGjq6yasTJHNfKpB2Y-5M47saByMHNE637lK72Vo8BhFpoyAv19iqs5VTRlclF3bSpdga9Gt3yuAKQ3gIsjpXm9QtHsngKLZminAMIHH50/s1600/Amy+J+2.jpg) |
Amy J. (detail) |
(All works are in process)
So...when are you teaching this class again? A weekend class, is it? Hmmm...
ReplyDeletePerhaps this fall...don't have next year's Art League Schedule together yet. Or...if a group decided they'd like me to teach it...any thoughts? I'll let you know if something materializes. I would love to see what you'd do!
DeleteWould be interesting. I'd say that if you have a good curriculum, you can propose it just about anywhere that has a fiber program.
DeleteIt sounds like a wonderful class for so many reasons!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol- This idea was(and is) so close to my heart and so a bit scary to put out there into the world. I was so lucky to have a willing first group of students who just dove right in. I'm looking forward to teaching it again.
Delete