Seams French

Student WIP Participants of this workshop came with varying levels of "preparedness" and expectations. The course outline required that each student bring a photo or a sketch of a sunset scene or a simple landscape. From this photo we would derive the basic design of our class piece, as well as use it as a colour guide. At the end of the two day workshop, students were at various levels of progress. Below are a few samples of some of the participant's work after completion of the course. Giselle, (below) who seemed to have a clear understanding of the direction she would take her piece, came to the workshop with a tree that she had fused and thread painted separately in advance of the class. The tree was later placed on top of the fused tiles and became the focal point of her piece. Here Giselle's tree is loosely placed over top of the tiles. It will be fused into place permanently once all of the background tile work is completed. In her moonscape, (belo

Several weekends ago, I headed over to Salt Spring Island, one of the Gulf Islands between the British Columbia mainland and Vancouver Island, where I had the opportunity to participate in a 2 day workshop given by Gloria Loughman ( http://www.glorialoughman.com/ ).  Gloria, an Australian textile artist whose work focuses on landscape quilts, has written 3 books to date, and travels the world teaching the various techniques she uses to create her quilting art. The first time I saw Gloria's work on "The Quilt Show", Episode 612,  June 7, 2010, ( http://www.thequiltshow.com/os/shows.php/episode/612 ), was the first time that I had any inclination to dabble in landscapes. She made the process seem manageable; there is a certain element of structure in her technique, while still leaving ample room for interpretation and creativity. When to my delight I noticed that "Stitches" ( http://www.stitchesfibreartsupplies.ca/ ) on Salt Spring Island would be hosting several