To Tell a Story with Cloth: Impressions, Connections, and Memories: Word Impressions

Barbara C: Barbara's pieces focused on her memories of London, where she lived for over 20 years. She recently visited and was struck by how much she loved the architecture...and one building in particular...which she found out used to be the home of T. S. Eliot. She decided to include a poem by Eliot as part of her memory cloth series. On this piece, Barbara combined hand painted and hand stitched lettering along with appliqued fabric "bits".

The fourth theme we covered in To Tell a Story with Cloth: Impressions, Connections, and Memories was Word Impressions. For this class, I asked students to bring in poetry, personal correspondence, favorite family sayings or to choose words that appeared in their journal (for example...words from their Mind Map from Class #2). We talked about different ways to get words onto fabric including: writing with permanent marker (such as Micron pens), printing, applique and stitching.

There were so many possibilities that most students worked on printing techniques during Class #4 and stitching techniques in Class #5. I'm including both in this post and will feature finished work and works in progress in the next (and final) blog post.

Ann Z.: Ann used adhesive foam letter stamps for some of her words and incised others in craft foam. Her pieces focused on memories of the beach.

Printing techniques included carved Speedy Carve blocks, incised craft foam, embossed aluminum and freezer paper stencils.

Alice A.: A quote referencing a Mary Oliver poem. Alice used embossed aluminum.

Judith K.-P.: Japanese for "creativity"...part of Judith's continuing series on Japan. She used incised craft foam.

Jan B.: Jan's father was a math teacher. This was one of his favorite sayings! Jan used foam letter stamps.

Jan B.: While going through some old papers, Jan found this page of math problems handwritten by her father. The other side is a set of mimeographed word problems (also handwritten)!

Jan B.: Incised craft foam block prints based on her father's diagrams.

Judy M.: As part of her series about her grandmother and the cottage on Lake Michigan, Judy decided to reference some of the poetry that her grandmother used to read to her. This print is made from an incised craft foam block.

Karol L.: This is the title of the book that Karol's mother wrote. She is planning on including it as part of her piece about the Eastern shore (see the link to the post below on Significant Object Portraits). This was printed with embossed aluminum.

Karol L.: Karol also incised the book title in craft foam.

Stitching techniques included turned and raw edge applique and reverse applique. I made some samples to inspire the students.

Julie Booth: Turned and raw edge applique and reverse applique.

Barbara C.: Raw edge applique letters to spell London.

I also had fun working on some stitch samplers featuring different stitches. I'm continuing to work on more samplers. Lots of potential with stitch combinations!

Julie Booth: Words using different stitches.

Ann Z: Stitched words inspired by Rachel Carson.

Below are links to some of the other posts about this class.
Color Connections
Mapping Memories
Significant Object Portraits

If you live in the Washington, D.C. area, I will be teaching this as an evening class this coming fall (dates TBA). Please feel free to contact me.

To Tell a Story with Cloth: Impressions, Connections, and Memories: Significant Object Portraits

Jan B.: When Jan was helping her mother to move, she discovered that her mom had pressed leaves in many of her books. This is a piece that celebrates that discovery.

In the third session of, To Tell a Story with Cloth: Impressions, Connections, and Memories, we focused on Significant Object Portraits. We talked/journaled about how certain objects can have strong connections to memories. They can trigger a memory or be a touchstone. These can be actual objects...but also memories of  "lost" objects...those that no longer exist but still have a strong hold on us.

Ann Z.: Memories of the Beach. Ann used carved blocks, aluminum printing plates/stencils, and moldable foam blocks. Hand stitched details.

Students designed and created a number of print blocks to tell stories about these special objects. They made Speedy Carve Blocks (carved), adhesive-backed craft foam blocks and aluminum pan printing plates, then printed fabrics to use in their story pieces. The Memory Challenge this week was to complete a piece that featured an object that has personal meaning or significance.

Alice A.: The Marketplace. Alice carved a print block, then printed it on two fabrics simultaneously. This is a childhood memory about the marketplace (in Mexico)...the colors and objects and the people.

Alice A.: Alice continued work on this piece from Session #2 by adding stitching.

Jan B.: A carved block and print. Memories of the leaves her mom pressed in books.

Jan B.: Jan is also working on a piece to honor her father. She made some moldable foam blocks using tools, nails, screws and washers.

Jan B.: Jan also did some sun printing at home!

Amy L.: "My piece is about my grandma's pink fuzzy bathrobe and her great hugs! I have really fond memories of her staying with my mom, sister and I when all the guys in our family were hunting or sleeping over at her house. She'd always have her pink fuzzy bathrobe and matching slippers. "

Judith K.-P.: Memories of Japan. Judith has strong memories of the fish market in Tokyo. This piece has many layers and textures. There is crocheted lace (representing coral) hiding under a layer of organza and stitching.

Judith K.-P.: A carved block that Judith is turning into a memory piece about flowers.

Judith K.-P.: Aluminum pan printing plate print of a teapot.

T.T.: Fabrics using print blocks and resists.

Karol L.: Memories of the Eastern Shore. Karol found that trips to the Eastern shore (Delaware and Maryland) renewed her during difficult times and was also a place where she spent many good times with family. 

Karol L.: Karol is putting all her memories together into a piece that she will be able to fold like a book.

Karol L. : Detail showing painted and printed fabrics.

Karol L.: In process. This panel will feature part of the boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach.

Judy M.: This piece is about Judy learning how to sew from her grandmother. She made her first outfit...a blouse and shorts. The fabric surrounding this memory is reminiscent of the lake near her grandparents' home.

Judy M.: A piece of painted and printed fabric that Judy is planning to turn into a memory cloth. We talked about the possible imagery we saw in it. Looking forward to seeing where Judy goes with this fabric!

If you would like to see student work from the first two classes:
Color Connections
Mapping Memories

I'll be teaching this class again this fall (evening class-TBA) at The Art League School in Alexandria, VA. If you'd like more information, please contact me.

To Tell a Story with Cloth: Connections, Impressions, and Memories: Mapping Memories (and More)

Ann Z.: Memories of a semester abroad in Spain and a trip to Cuevo de Altamira. Ann stitched and painted on an actual map that she saved from that time.

This is the second blog post about my five-session class, To Tell a Story with Cloth: Connections, Impressions, and Memories. The theme for week two was Mapping Memories. Students were asked to create a "map" of a memory or memories. We started the class with a journaling exercise...creating a Mind Map (web) of a memory. From there, students had a choice of mapping themes...including.. a Journey/Travel Map, a Treasures Map (Where to find...), a Neighborhood Map, or a Senses/Impressions Map. We covered texture printing techniques including printing directly with textures, creating hot glue, cardboard, adhesive-backed foam and moldable foam texture blocks. We also covered applique and reverse applique techniques and building applique bases using patchwork, collage and weaving.
A lot to pack into five hours!

Here are some of the fabrics created in class...

Alice A.: Fabrics printed with an assortment of blocks: Adhesive-backed foam, moldable foam and cardboard.

Barbara C.: Brick textures on sheer fabrics.

Jan B. printing.

Jan B.: texture prints over her resist and painted fabric.

Judith K.-P.: Printing over resist and painted fabric.

Judy M.: Rubbings using blocks made with thumbtacks and hot glue.

Karol L.: Moldable foam block prints.

T.T.: Assorted block prints including hot glue, adhesive-backed foam, string on cardboard, moldable foam.

Here are some different "takes" on mapping by some of the students. Other students are continuing work on their pieces and I will be posting more about them when they are complete.

Jan B.: Jan was the director of a multi-acre organic farm. After a particularly stressful day, she stepped outside to regroup...she was awed by the beauty of the farm.

Jan B.: An aerial view of the farm and the river running through it.

Judith K.-P.: Judith's Impression Map of Japan (in process). It includes temple arches, hanging prayers and geishas.

Judith K.-P.: Detail.

In addition, some students continued with the Color Connection exercises...

Ann Z.: Color Association exercise.

Ann Z.: Color of Emotions.

Alice A. : Color of Emotions

Alice A.: Color play using reverse applique and pleating techniques.

Alice A.: Color Memory: Alice spent her childhood in Mexico. She has very strong memories of walking through the marketplace. These are the colors she remembers...along with the billowing tent-like fabrics.

Ann Z.: Color Memory: Ann spent time living in Honduras. These are the colors that remind her of that place. She found it interesting that they were some of the same colors she picked for her first color association exercise (see above).

Judy M. created this cathartic piece ...that truly is a healing cloth...expressing her anger and sadness about the recent death of a close friend and the tenth anniversary of her husband's death.

Judy M.

We are having so many fascinating discussions in class. I am learning so much. That is teaching at its best...when you are learning along with teaching!

The next Story Cloth installment will feature Significant Object Portraits. Stay tuned!

If you are interested in taking this class and live in the Washington, D.C. area...I will be teaching an evening version in the fall. Dates TBA.