"A TRIBUTE TO MY TEACHERS"

I'm so humbled and flattered to be sharing this post with you.  In June, 2014, I received an email from Marlene Howe who had taken workshops, not only from me but the cream of the crop of national instructors.  She asked permission to use a pattern from one of my books.  Of course I said yes.....I was delighted!

 Fast forward....here's her completed sampler quilt, "A Tribute To My Teachers", where she honored each of us by recreating a pattern of our work. You may even recognize the designs of these well known teachers, such as Margaret Miller, Alex Anderson, John Flynn, Carol Doak and others. Sadly, and some who are no longer with us; Pat Campbell - 2nd block - 5th row and Doreen Speckmann 4th block - 5th row).

   This was a project I designed for my book, "The Stori of Beaded Embellishment".  Click on the photo to enlarge and see all her lovely beadwork.

Marlene sent each of us a photo of the quilt, a personalized thank you letter, and a key to blocks she created.  After asking her permission to share this with you, she sent these photos as well.  The back of her quilt documents the story behind each block.  It must have been an awesome task and I'm so honored to be included.  She says ,"The quilt was the most challenging I have ever made and by far the most fun."

Follow these inspiring links to see what others have been up to this week:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop Whoop Friday, and Crazy Mom Quilts.

MID-ATLANTIC WORKSHOP REPORT

Saturday was the final day of workshops for most of us instructors.  The evening concluded with 'Show and Tell".....where every teacher declared 'they had THE BEST students.  Oh no....they were so wrong.... I definitely had the best, most cooperative students.

Learning beading techniques in my workshops is fairly straight forward.  My hands are under a camera....projected to a large screen which allows students a close up view of the needle/thread/bead path.  The steps of each technique are broken down & thoroughly explained.....and they can be repeated as needed.

The only issue that sometimes slows down a student is vision!  Cheater glasses and a good bright light are a beader's best friend....  I'm guessing sales of eyeglasses will go up in the next few days.

My final day workshop's focus was the peyote stitch.

 "Agate" 7.5" x 5.5" by Mary Stori 2013

The focal point of this tiny resist dyed felted quilt is an agate...attached using Delica beads and the peyote stitch.

 Here's a round agate attached in a similar manner and further embellished with bead loops on the outside edge.  Click on photo for a larger image.

We began the day by learning the basics of the stitch by attaching flat mirrors and then embellishing them.

 After getting comfortable with the stitching pattern, students attached an agate and had fun embellishing it as well.

 These are all worked on Woolfelt (tm) which had been stabilized to reduce distortion.

 Aren't these great??

 Hummm.....some gals got a bit silly by late in the day....

 I'll bet you want to reach out and touch this....come on....I know you do.....

The simple addition of some 'branched fringe' (a technique found in several of my beading books) helps elevates the beauty of the agate.  I'm just sorry I didn't get a shot of every student's work.  

Girls you made me proud........and I know you all surprised yourselves too. Beading on fiber can be so impressive but not as difficult as it looks....... as you now know.  Thanks to all my students for playing with me for 3 days.

TALENTED STUDENTS

My visit with the members of the Cotton Patch Quilters in Athens, GA was such a pleasure.  It's a talented friendly group.....and I hated to go home.....

The subject of my workshop was embellishing wool wall quilts.  It may be unnerving to students to sign up for a class where there is no actual pattern is provided for them to follow! Rather they create their own 'original' design....okay....sure I help guide them....but still, there is apprehension.  However....that only leads to great satisfaction when they realize they CAN do it!!

We worked up to the last minute and unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough during the class to take photos of everyone's masterpieces in progress.....so please enjoy those that I do have.

 Simple abstract designs can be elusive to style.....but this one is going to be a winner.

 I bring tons of real samples to inspire the students.  I'm always delighted when someone likes one of them enough to recreate it in part or in total.  This view shows only the leaves and stems being stitched down....they will be 'planted' into a button basket, and small bright colored flowers will highlight the foliage.  It is about 1/4 the size of one of my pieces featured in "Embellishing With Felted Wool".

 Another piece inspired by one of my designs will be similar but not exactly like a pattern in my book.  Rather than placing a teddy bear sitting on the moon, the background will be filled with felted stars....embellished with beads.

Here's a trick I share with students.....after drawing a pattern that will be filled with buttons, I audition buttons on that pattern to make sure I have enough of the correct size to recreate the motif.  BUT.....then...after they are so perfectly positioned.....it's difficult to keep them in place as they are stitched to the quilt.  So....I place clear adhesive tape over the arrangement......then it's only a matter of removing a button at a time and attaching them to the shape that has been outline basted onto the wool... Click on this photo to get a better view.

 Frances came to class with a small piece of nuno felted wool that she had created.....what a perfect backdrop for further embellishing!  Also, note that when working with a tiny piece.....it's easier to handle if the stabilizer is cut larger than the wool.

 Another trick I suggest to students to get their creativity in gear is to select a theme or subject.  Something that's special to you or someone you know. In  this case.....the idea of using a snail, which is something collected by a family member was perfect.  The shell will be made of buttons, while the body will be felted wool.  I can't wait to see a photo of this when it's complete.

 Holiday's are another really good subject manner because many of the colors and motifs are already chosen for you...such as a Christmas tree above and below.....  These motifs are the perfect backdrops for further embellishing.  Yes, you get the idea.....there can be presents with bows, beaded snowflakes, a Christmas mouse, lights, bulbs, or garland made of beads on the tree!!

I was so proud of all the students......each and everyone departed with a designed project well underway.  I do believe I turned them all onto the ease and fun of working with felted wool....not to mention embellishing with beads!

AWESOME STUDENTS

I was so proud of the hard working students who took my scissors sheath workshop in Lancaster last week.

It was a project class, developed for the purpose of learning the bead embroidery stitch, an edging technique, and most importantly, the even count flat peyote stitch which was worked around flat mirrors.

Check out the creativity below.....none are difficult stitches......perhaps time consuming..... but worth it!

 Now this is funny......so back at the hotel, I get off the elevator on my floor and I notice small sequins on the carpet.....leading to a room near mine.  I could just imagine someone coming back from an embellishment class trailing these items behind her....or was she leaving a trail for her buddies to find her room??

I now realize I should have photographed some reference points like the elevator door and the hotel room door......  oh well.....I had all I could do to pull out my camera as I juggled a huge teaching suitcase and my ubber heavy video/camera/computer bag.


The hotel staff was probably also vacuuming up thread for a week following our invasion of their facilities!

FAREWELL QUILTS & COLORADO

I could say I left my heart in Colorado......

Well....perhaps so.....but I also left a few quilts which now have new homes! This 'bead appliqued' wool felt quilt is titled "Heartfelt" and is one of my very first wool quilt designs.

This button star wool quilt is the original quilt project featured in my book, "Embellishing With Felted Wool". Now, Cheryl will be displaying it in her home.....

She'll also be giving '3 In The Wind' a new home.......

Gwen now owns 'Fall Approaches' which is one of my very newest pieces and a favorite.

It's a real treat to be able to see completed work that was inspired by 0ne of my workshops. 'Vertigo' features a silk painted figure with bead embellished streaming locks. This is why we quilt instructor get on airplanes!! Thank you, thank you!!

Detail

BRAGGING ABOUT MY STUDENT!

After getting on countless airplanes for all of my bookings over the last 25+ years......I've recently had the opportunity to visit some local groups. Yeah.....no taking off my shoes, squeezing in a seat that contains half the butt from a seat mate! It's just me in my car......6 maps, a gps, and my XM radio.....(but of course I will still get lost...which is perhaps the reason I've always accepted invitations that require air travel where someone picks me up at the airport and does the driving.)

So.....not long ago I visited the Threads of Time Quilt Guild in Lexington, SC. Wonderful Southern hospitality!!

Marie Jefferies sent me these photos.....saying she was 'practicing what she learned' in one of my beading technique workshops. I'd say she caught on fast!! Please enjoy.....and thank you Marie for sharing!!!

I might mention that using prints, such as this flower, is a good way to introduce beading into one's work. The design lines are already in place.....just follow them with the appropriate stitches!

BEADING STUDENT GONE WILD!

I hope this trend will continue.......I've received more student photos.....these beauties come from Nancy Dornette from Ohio.

Here's what she said: Just wondering if you would like to see the beading quilts I have done since taking your class a few years ago...i just love beading!

Well....of course and I'm so pleased to share them with you all.......perhaps with a warning......beading is just like eating popcorn or M & M's.......one or two are not enough...they are addictive!

I found her work especially delightful since she successfully incorporated beadwork into a variety of construction and styles of quilting.

Thanks for sharing Nancy!!

PROUD INSTRUCTOR!!

I need to brag about the accomplishments of my students in my workshop "What Goes Around", (where they learn to make a bead embellished wool felt scissors sheath).

Most had either very little or no beading experience at all and they jumped right in with great enthusiasm. After learning the basics, they added their own touches, making me a proud teacher!

I can't help sharing this photo of Carolyn.....who was still smiling at the end of the class......and......
here's her nearly completed project!!!

I'll be teaching this workshop in June at the Vermont Quilt Festival.......it's a class where the techniques look more difficult then they are.....consider joining the fun if you are attending the show.