Online Creativity Course – Visible Mending, Part 1: Basic Skills ZOOM!

Visible mending knee patch

Join us for an online creativity course with local artist Jennifer Falkowski.  August features TWO online classes, separate registration is required. 

First, on August 20th, we will explore visible mending. Be prepared to practice a few basic mending techniques like exterior and interior patching, working with denim and other materials, and adding patch pockets. Jennifer can provide some guidance and support on an individual project and then we can stitch together. 

Then, a week later on August 27th, we’ll use our new techniques to make our own hand-stitched, reversible masks. Register for Part 2 Here

After registration, you will receive details about when to pick up your art kit at the library. Then, 24 hours before the program we will share the login information for the online Zoom session.

Your library kit will include:

  • Visible mending supplies (Aug 20): A couple of practice fabric patches, needle & thread, straight pins
  • Hand-stitched mask supplies (Aug 27): Precut fabric pieces and toggle. Continue to use the pins, needle, and thread from the visible mending kit.

You will need to have these items ready by the start of our session:

  • Scissors
  • Workspace
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On A Tear

indigo dyed bagI made a little sandwich bag and then, by mistake, I made three more. It’s just such a sweet and simple pattern and the bag is so gorgeous in indigo. I played a little with the sizes and shapes.

indigo bag

The pattern is from the book “Linen, Wool, Cotton” by Akiko Mano. It’s an older book full of really cute patterns that are easy enough for a beginner. That said, I totally cut the pattern wrong but they are adorable anyway.

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Sponsor: Blue Bar Quilts

Get to know the Deep Into Indigo Retreat Sponsors!

We have a few and really want to thank them and ask for you to check them out.  They are all super awesome and have so much to offer!

Blue Bar Quilts is a brand spanking new and totally awesome quilt shop in Middleton WI.  They have a huuuuuge variety of fabrics, a giant classroom and (get ready for it) A DYE STUDIO!!!!!!!

They also carry my indigo dyed batiked and shibori-ed fat quarters and half yards in the front of the store.  They have my tunics, dresses and shirts in their consignment gallery.  They let me teach classes there too.  They just do everything right.  🙂

They have a super busy class schedule with a huge variety of classes and just…everything a quilter or sewing person could need.  They also happen to be super friendly, open, supportive people.

They’ve been kind enough to sponsor the Deep Into Indigo Retreat with my favorite quilting cotton to dye with: Moda Bella PFD.

And, yes, they do have an online store so you can order from them where ever you happen to be.

 

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Indigo Dye Retreat last summer! w00t!!!!

This retreat has passed and it was a stone cold blast.  We are in the planning phases of our 2017 Deep Into Indigo Retreat(s?).

Wanna stay in the loop?  Sign up here to get updates:

Friday August 26th – Sunday August 28th, 2016

That’s right. A whole friggin’ weekend dedicated to turning things blue!!

It will be at a gorgeous retreat center in Viroqua (round about 2 hours North West of Madison).

Beds? Got you covered
Food? We got this
Gorgeous Location? Check
Fun? A given
Indigo? Duh

I’ll bring the blue and the shibori toys and the awesome Jenina Mella will bring her serious party planning skills to the food and the many details. We’ll all bring the fun.

Simply put, this will rock your (blue) socks off.  Tell all your best friends!!

More details to come as soon as we figure them out.

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Arashi Again

This is the part of being obsessive that I love.  I spent my July 4th holiday wrapping fabric around poles and then dyeing it in indigo.  I can’t get enough of that arashi. There’s so much variation within this technique.   image11(2)

This is one that I wrapped, dyed, let dry on the pole, unwrapped, re-wrapped and over-dyed.  Whew.  I have to ask myself why.  It’s ok and all but whatever.  I don’t see the point in drying and then re-wrapping.  I must be doin’ it rong.image10(4)I won’t walk you through each one.image9(6)Though I do love this skinny one.  Fun to make, too.image8(7)I did throw in some itajime.  That’s the kind where you cover part of the fabric with blocks.  One cannot live by arashi alone.image7(8) image6(12)Love this.  Uneven pleats ftw!!image5(14)Also cool, if I may say so myself.  I accordion triangle folded it and then wrapped it.  Even fancier than it soundsimage4(13)Hell yes.  1/2 a yard of cotton looking fine!image3(13)Another variation on willow pattern.image2(13)Ok.  So I guess I kinda did walk you through each one

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But I did spend my day with them and perhaps I got attached.

Come and dye with me on Sunday, July 12 from 1 – 4 at Paradigm Gardens!!!  Call them to register at 608/241-3800.  That’s a week away.  Holy Cats Time!  Slow down!