Julie's Fall 2021 Online Classes at The Art League School

Roberta A: Hot Springs (Color Connections assignment)

Registration for Fall online classes through The Art League School has already started! I'm pleased to announce that I'll be teaching two five-session hand stitching classes this fall. Both classes start on Wednesday, September 22 and run for 5 consecutive Wednesdays. The morning class (10:00 AM- 12:30 PM) this semester is Connecting to Memories: The Stitched Word. The evening class is my beginning Hand Stitching class (7:00-9:00 PM). Times are Eastern USA time.

In Connecting to Memories: The Stitched Word, I provide weekly journal prompts or exercises with  memory-related themes. Challenges focus on how these memories can be expressed in words using a selection of stitching techniques. The result is a series of expressive artworks reflecting student's memories. Below is a small selection of works created by students in the Winter 2021 class.

Themes covered include:

Color Connections

Gail S.: Lollipop Pink

Judy P: Grass is Greener

Amy B.: Blue

Family Saying or Motto

Myania M.: Shpatta

Sheila B.: Mr. Nobody Do?

Memories of a Special Place

Camilla C.: Pittsburgh

Amy B.: My Bed

Roberta A: Theater of Epidaurus Greece

Memories of a Touchstone Object

Judy J.: Enough

Students also have the opportunity to work on an ongoing (larger) project that can take the form of a Stitched Journal or working with family linens or other personal textiles.

Judy J.

Judy P.: Journal

Students will learn some finishing techniques and have the option of turning their pieces into an accordion-style book.

Judy C.: Book pages

Judy C.: Book

This class is open to all levels, though a knowledge of basic hand stitches is helpful,

Hand Stitching is my beginning level stitching class...though it is challenging enough to hold the attention of more advanced stitching students. I take a very experimental approach to basic hand stitches exploring their immense potential. Each week, the class will focus on a different theme. Students will learn stitches related to that theme. Students will create a stitch sampler during class time followed by homework, including journal prompts and a choice of interesting stitching challenges as a way to stretch creatively. Below is a small selection of student work from the Fall 2020 class:

Line

Vicky K.

Deborah M.

Pattern and Rhythm

Melinda L.

Vicky K

Karen R.

Texture

Kaaren C.

Julie M.

Layers

Rebecca S.

Sandy R.

Stephanie K.

Final Project

Sandy R.

Melinda L.

I hope you will consider joining me online this Fall for one (or both!) of these classes. Follow the highlighted links to register through The Art League School. I offer materials kits and supply lists for both classes. If  you have questions, feel free to email me at threadborn@gmail.com. Thank you!

Connecting to Memories: The Stitched Word: Dimensional Letters and Other Projects

 

Jill B.: "How" : Wool felt letters and cheesecloth collage

This is the last in a series of blog posts about the Fall class, Connecting to Memories: The Stitched Word that I taught online for The Art League School. I will be teaching it again during the Winter session starting on January 27 for five consecutive Wednesday mornings (10:00 am-12:30 pm USA Eastern Standard Time).

In the fourth session, I covered a number of dimensional techniques including Cording, Stuffing/Trapunto and Felt letters. I also suggested that students begin to think about a larger, more long term assignment that would involve stitching a letter (correspondence), recipe, list, poem or memento and to think about alternative ground fabrics such as vintage linens or clothing. I hope to see more results as students continue to work on projects.

Jill B.: "How/Who?": Off the Surface Trapunto

Jill B.: Cording and Trapunto samplers

Roberta A.: Planning a larger project: The Grocery List

Judy P.: A series of Haikus for her youngest granddaughter, Anne. Stitched on a dish towel

Judy P.: Brainstorming ideas for more projects.

Judy P.: Grandmother's Frozen Dough recipe transferred to tea-dyed fabric.

Judy P.: Thinking about stitching the recipe to an old apron.

Barbara B.: List of cooking times for dry rice and beans

Barbara B.: Stitching the list to Jed's shirt sleeve.

Barbara B.: Optional project: One month stitching journal.

Julie B. Booth: Felt and couched yarn letters with cheesecloth fabric collage. Honoring the Swedish Fish candies my maternal grandmother kept in her candy drawer.

Julie B. Booth: Stitched letter written by my Dad when he was just learning his capital letters. I included the erasures (white Running stitched letters). Stitched on a cotton handkerchief, the kind he used to carry in his pocket.

Connecting to Memories: The Stitched Word: Mapping Memories

 

Carolyn L.: Memories of her grandparent's farm

The third session of Connecting to Memories: The Stitched Word, focused on creating Memory (mind) Maps around a memory connecting to place. This was interpreted in many different ways...from memories of a "touchstone" place such as a family farm or the ocean (Atlantic and Pacific) to a more recent memory of "the debate stage".  

Carolyn L.: Mind Map about her grandparent's farm. Focus on color.

I demoed a number of different applique and reverse applique techniques and was excited to see how the students incorporated a number of these techniques in their pieces.

Here are some of Jill B.'s applique samplers...

Again...I just love how the challenges mined precious gems of memories and the stitched results. 

Bobbie D.: What is Home? Twenty-nine in 5 different states and 3 different countries!

Sue W.: Love of Cape Cod (same with me!) and her new granddaughter whose initials are SEA and whose middle name means "star".

Vicki F-L.: The calmness and inspiration of the Pacific Ocean

Debra L.: "Pool". Summers there and swim team.

Rebecca S.: The sound of the winter wind at night. 

Jill B.: Her father's giant garden and her more modest one.

Jill B.: The elements needed to grow the garden.

Roberta A.: On Safari in Botswana.

Roberta A.: Following the tracks to find the animals.

Judy P.: Jazz band camp...an extended family affair.

Judy P.: Jazz and Summertime

Barbara B.: Three pieces to represent the three debates (Shut Up Man!, Throwing Shade, So Cute). These were eventually sewn together into a final piece called "Leading Voices" (and yes, the fly made an appearance) that will be part of the Tiny Pricks Project.

I will be teaching this class again in the Winter session at The Art League School. Click here for more information and to register.