What I've been up to... Marie's Medicine Bag

Marie's Medicine Bag and the sister bag.

It's been a while since I posted about what I've been up to...stitching project-wise. With the ease of posting on Instagram and Facebook, I've tended to focus my blog posts on featuring student work and upcoming workshops. Now that those are all underway for the Winter session, I thought I'd post about one of my in-progress projects. For those of you who want to follow me on a more regular basis...I post nearly every day on Instagram (boothjb4757) and Facebook (Julie Basseches Booth). Feel free to pop over to my feed to get almost daily posts of my work.

Marie's Medicine Bag is an ongoing project started in 2021. Marie's been very patient! I'm finally back to seriously stitching on her bag. I'm very excited about it and how she plans to use it. I'm hoping for more opportunities to create meaningful pieces such as this that will be used with a spiritual purpose in mind. This is also a collaboration...which gives it additional meaning. Marie beaded around the amazing Sonoran stone that will be the centerpiece of the bag. She wants the beaded stone piece to be removable so it can also be used as pendant. That required a bit of brainstorming and the Sonoran had to travel back and forth in order to receive a beaded bail that would fit through a slit in front flap.

Here's a mock-up sample that I made of the front flap so that Marie could create the bail to fit.

The bag went through two design iterations... another part of the collaboration. One design plan was to work with fabric patches and cover them with Running stitch patterns in my Boro-style stitching. This was a "quieter" design.

First design attempt for the Medicine bag.

Although Marie liked the layout and colors. This was not what was in her mind's eye. She gave me permission to "go wild and crazy"! So I switched gears and out came the yarns and fabric bits and tulle and the fun really started!

Lots of fun "stuff" to play with for the second design!

The final layout for the bag is full of energy and the opportunity for lots of  "organic" stitching.

Final layout of the front.

Final layout of the back.

Here are a couple of recent photos of my stitching on the bag. I looking forward to carving out more time to work on it over the coming months. I plan to update here but also be sure to check my Instagram (booth jb4757) and Facebook (Julie Basseches Booth) feeds for more immediate images of my progress. Thanks for stopping by....

Beginning with some couching.

More stitching details.

Julie's Winter Session Online Classes at The Art League School

 

Compass Rose by Jill B.

Please note: The Art League School has postponed the start of all their classes including online classes. The new start date for my classes is January 26.

I'm gearing up for another exciting semester of online hand stitching classes with The Art League School. Registration starts on November 8, 2021. I will be offering two, five session Zoom classes: Mapping Memories with Stitch and Hand Stitching Continued: Dimensional Stitches and Fabric Manipulation. 

Both classes begin on January 26, 2022. Mapping Memories with Stitch meets in the morning from 10:00 AM- 12:30 PM and Hand Stitching Continued meets in the evening from 7:00-9:00 PM. Classes are on Eastern USA time (check Washington DC time for reference). All classes will be recorded so if a class doesn't fit your time zone, you can still take the class via the recordings. The recordings remain available to students for one month after the final class session. There is an optional $15 kit (shipping is extra) for each class. The beautiful images you see in this post are from former students who took these classes over the past year. 

In Mapping Memories with Stitch, students will use hand stitching and fabric manipulation techniques to explore memories of place, family and travel. Each session centers on a map-related theme and students will explore a variety of map formats. I will be introducing students to a number of contemporary textile artists who use maps as part of their work. Themes we will cover include:

Designing a Memory Compass Rose

Compass Rose by Gail S.

Compass Rose by Rebecca S.

Compass Rose by Sandy R.

Compass Roses by Holly H.

Neighborhood Maps

Oxfordshire Neighborhood by Bobbie D.

Folk School Garden Map by Sandra R.

My New Neighborhood by Judy P.

Road Trips/Travel Maps

The Mother Road by Bobbie D.

Galapagos by Roberta A.

Ribbon Map by Rebecca S.

Whale Migration Map by Karen R.

We also explored the idea of Treasure Maps and using "found treasures" and textiles.

In-process map using vintage hankies by Jill B.

In-process map playing with the idea of hidden treasures by Karen R.

Cape Cod map using upcycled cargo shorts by Julie B.

In Hand Stitching Continued, students will learn a variety of textural stitches, stitches that start with a warp, Buttonhole lace and dimensional Buttonhole variations, manipulating fabric to create dimension and Cording, Trapunto and other stuffing techniques. Nature will inspire students and they will have the opportunity to choose one or more nature "muses" as a means of developing work in class. 

Textural Stitches

Textural Stitch Sampler by Jenn Y.

Textural Stitches used to depict Lichen by Deborah M.

Warp Stitches used to create Coy Fish by Julie M.

Buttonhole Variations

Buttonhole Stitch Sampler by Sandy R.

Winter Scene by Doris D.

Buttonhole Stitch Variations by Shelly T.

Basket Star (Marine creature) by M. Helen B.

Manipulating Fabric to Create Dimension

Samplers by Sharmila K.

Gathering by Jude J.

Ruched flowers by Wendy T.

Stuffed Forms

Stuffed Applique sampler by Deborah M.

Sea Life by Robin I.

Beach Treasures by Wendy T.

Block printed, reverse applique Trapunto sun by Sandy R.

And finally two beautiful final pieces using multiple techniques from class:

Under the Sea by Julie M.

Left by the Tide by Jude J.

I hope that you'll consider joining me for one or both of these classes starting on January 12. I'm excited to see what you'll create! If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment here or connect with me on Instagram (boothjb4757) or Facebook (Julie Basseches Booth).

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!