Stitching and Paper Crafts
Holiday Origami Workshop. With Kathy Johnson. Sunday, December 8, 2024. 12 PM-3:30 PM. $80.00. $25.00 deposit holds your space. Class includes all materials. Call 203-245-5921 to register.
Join us for a festive Origami Workshop where you’ll learn the art of folding paper to create beautiful, holiday-inspired decorations. You’ll explore a variety of traditional origami folds to create five unique models: a butterfly, dove, bell, wreath, and star.
A selection of papers will be available, including imported Italian paper, washi origami paper, holiday-themed paper, sheet music, and painted paper, allowing you to personalize each ornament. To add a touch of sparkle, embellish your creations with beads, crystals, and ribbons. These handmade ornaments are perfect for adding to your holiday decor or gifting to friends and loved ones. The wreath ornament is flat and will fit inside a greeting card, making it a nice surprise for someone special.
Come ready to fold, decorate, and bring the holiday spirit into your home. No experience necessary. All materials and tools will be supplied.
Sashiko Hand-Stitched Scarf. With Rachel Barclay. Saturday, January 11, 2025. 12 PM-4 PM. $100.00. $25.00 deposit holds your space. Call 203-245-5921 to register.
Create a beautiful and unique accessory! Using the Japanese practice of Sashiko Embroidery, create a unique and versatile scarf or shawl. A simple running stitch creates bold, geometric designs inspired by nature, art, and architecture.
In this workshop, we will handle Sashiko needles, prepare Sashiko thread, draw out grids and patterns.
Using our “small stabs” stitching strategy, we will embellish and transform a soft cotton 36 inch square into a striking, functional accessory. Choose from a selection of Sashiko patterns and floral motif stencils. We’ll provide everything you need. All skill levels welcome!
Take home class kit includes;
One yard of double cotton gauze fabric, one pair of Olympus brand Sashiko needles, 1 skein of Sashiko thread, pattern instructions, circle templates, tapestry needle threader.
Shared materials; Miniature Rhino brand Sashiko Stencil Grids, Sashiko floral motifs, thimbles, thread conditioner, communal colorful skeins of Sashiko Olympus thread strands, fabric markers and pencils, snips and scissors.
Hanafukin-Flower Cloth. A Sashiko Embroidered Sampler. With Rachel Barclay. Saturday, September 28, 2024. 12-4 PM. $100.00. $25.00 deposit holds your space. Call 203-245-5921 to register.
Hanafukin translates as “flower cloth”. It is an embroidered and embellished 100% cotton tea towel or kitchen cloth intended to be both beautiful and utilitarian. Stitching lore teaches that hanafukin were stitched by mothers as reference to pass along Sashiko embroidery patterns to their daughters. Sashiko means "small stabs" and is a Japanese style of hand embroidery. With our cotton cloth as a canvas, we will use a simple running stitch to create a sampler of bold, geometric patterns and thematic floral stencil motifs. All skill levels welcome!
Class kit includes; 14”x14” Japanese cotton Sarashi fabric, Olympus brand Sashiko needles. You’ll have access to all the necessary tools; grids, rulers, thimbles, pattern and floral templates, needle threaders, and colorful Sashiko threads.
Sashiko Visible Mending Workshop. With Rachel Barclay. Saturday, June 15, 2024. 12-3 PM. $90.00. $25.00 holds your space. Call 203-245-5921 to register. Price includes mending kit.
Visible Mending celebrates resourcefulness and sustainability by showcasing hand stitching rather than hiding it. This workshop will highlight the act of mending and textile repair with Sashiko Japanese Embroidery. With humble beginnings in rural Japan, Sashiko’s running stitch insulated work garments for warmth and longevity. Moving into contemporary times around the globe, the bold, geometric beauty of Sashiko continues to both strengthen and decorate fabrics.
Students will learn how to patch a rip or hole, reinforce a worn area, and prepare their distressed textile in order to stitch a Sashiko pattern of their choice.
Bring in one or two garments to assess for mending or decorating. Ideally, areas to repair will be no larger than four inches. Medium-weight, woven cotton fabrics work best; such as denim jeans, cotton or linen shirts, pants, cotton dresses.
Please bring in a couple garments from home to assess for mending, good reading glasses, snips or small scissors.
Each mending kit will include a pair of Sashiko needles, a tapestry needle threader, fabric for each class, and take home pattern instructions. Instructor will provide communal Sashiko threads, fabric markers, pencils, stencils, templates, and rulers.
Rachel Barclay studied Textiles, Installation Sculpture, Printmaking, and Elementary Education in San Francisco and Long Beach, California. Throughout her journey as a creator, educator, and parent, she has focused on making functional sewn and embellished garments, and mixed media textile objects. After learning Sashiko and Visible Mending with Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino, Rachel embraced the hand-work practice as an act of mindfulness, empowerment, beauty, and sustainability. She continues to study online with Kazue Yoshikawa of Sashiko Lab in Kyoto, Japan. Rachel shares her joy of hand-stitching with adults and children, alike, teaching workshops in Sashiko Basics, Sashiko Embroidered Tea Towels and Table Runners, and Visible Mending. She lives in a small Connecticut town alongside her woodworking spouse and their two young adult offspring. Follow her creative process on Instagram @rachelharrietteb.
Handled Brooms : A Two Day Intensive Broom Making Course. With Paskalini Savopoulos of Vagabond Spun (www.vagabondspun.com) Saturday and Sunday, November 5 & 6, 2022. 10 AM- 4 PM each day. $350.00. $100.00 deposit holds your space. Call 203-245-5921 to register.
Includes all materials. Lunch: bring your own (fridge and microwave available), or local restaurants to order out.
Broom season is upon us friends! Whether you’re interested in making a functional piece or your own witchy decor, Cobwebbers and Hearth brooms are a wonderful way to begin your journey into handled broom making as we progress through a full sized Sweeper. But what exactly are Cobwebbers and Hearth Brooms?
A Cobwebber, is a long, slender, lightweight broom used for clearing cobwebs from ceilings, corners, or other hard to reach areas.
A Hearth Broom, is traditionally a small broom kept near the fire place to sweep ash from the hearth. You may recognize the modern version as the very small broom in the set of tools kept by the fire place. Our version will be a bit larger than it’s modern companion. This lovely broom is versatile and can be used in other areas such as gardens, campers, etc.
In this two- day class you will learn everything you need to complete your very own Cobwebber, Hearth Broom, and Sweeper. We will cover materials needed, how to sort and prep them for use, construction, and finishing techniques.
All Materials will be provided, but if you have something you’d like to use as a handle please feel free to bring it to class.
Broom corn is a natural fiber and can still be a little dirty, we will be working with water as well, so please wear clothes you are comfortable getting wet or dirty. Feel free to bring an apron or towel if you like.
Embroidered Rusty Textile Collage. With Kathy Johnson. Saturday, February 29, 2020. 12 PM- 3 PM. $75.00. $25.00 deposit holds your space. All materials included. Call 203-245-5921 to register.
Combine embroidery, weathered bits of metal and rusted fabric to create a one of a kind textile collage.
Learn 4 basic embroidery stitches (running, back, seed and the French knot) that can be used as decorative elements and also to attach a variety of items including rusty washers, nails, stained cheesecloth, fabric strips, yarn and buttons to the pre-rusted fabric. The shape, color and texture of these items as well as the rust pattern on the fabric will help guide you in the freestyle composition of your collage.
Each participant will receive a square of pre-rusted fabric, a wood embroidery hoop and 3 embroidery needles. Instructions for making your own rusted fabric for future projects will be provided. All supplies are included but feel free to bring any small lightweight rusty metal bits, and/or embroidery floss you may want to use in your work. This workshop is suitable for all levels. No previous embroidery experience is needed.
Kathy Johnson is a collage and eco-print artist from Waterford, CT. Embroidery is a skill Kathy feels fortunate to have had passed down to her at an early age by her mother and grandmother. She enjoys incorporating stitching into her art whenever possible.
Coiled Pine Needle Basketry. With Katie Grove (www.katiegrovestudios.com) . Saturday, April 18, 2020. 10 AM- 4:30 PM. $120.00. Includes all materials. $50.00 deposit holds your space. Call 203-245-5921 to register. .Snacks and tea provided; lunch available for take out or bring your own (fridge and microwave available).
In this workshop, participants will work with longleaf pine needles to create a beautiful and classic basket coiled basket. This is an ancient technique found all over the world in which bundles of material are sewn together in a spiral pattern to build the basket.
In this project we will use a wooden round as the basket center and begin with a line stitch and soon progress to learn a variety of other stitches, including V stitch, wheat stitch, and core wrapping. Depending on the colors of waxed linen or embroidery floss you choose, the overall pattern and look of your basket will be totally unique. Overall size is approximately 4-5" diameter and 2"-3" tall.
This workshop is great for either beginners or those who have coiled with other materials and want to learn stitch patterns and advance their skills. It requires some dexterity and finger strength.
Introduction to Broom Making. With Lena Savopoulos of Vagabond Spun. Sunday, July 26, 2020. 10 AM- 5 PM. $125.00. $50.00 deposit holds your space. All materials included; snacks and water/tea available, plus local restaurants to order from and a microwave and fridge. Call 203-245-5921 to register.
In this workshop you will get an introduction to broom making! You will learn all the basic skills to construct your very own whisk brooms. We will work through 2 styles and everyone will walk away with 2 - 4 different whisk variations. In addition we will cover material prep, and supplies needed to work at home.
No prior experience is needed but moderate upper body strength and manual dexterity are required. If you want to learn a new skill, make some beautiful and useful whisks that sweep like a dream, and spend the day in good company then join us for a day of broom making!
Mend and Make Do. With Heather Love of Hello Mello Handspun. *New Date: Sunday, September 22, 2019. 1-3 PM. $40.00. $10.00 deposit holds your space.
Save money spent on tailoring, lengthen the life of your favorite sweater or restyle outdated wardrobe pieces. This one-day workshop will empower you to tackle simple repairs with confidence and flair. Learn proper techniques for tying a knot, sewing a button, mending split seams, shortening hems, patching holes and darning your favorite knits. You’ll learn 4 basic hand stitches (running stitch, back stitch, whip stitch and slip stitch) and discuss how to apply them functionally and decoratively to suit the purposes of any project.
Please bring a basic sewing kit that includes thread, hand sewing needles, scissors, a seam ripper, a thimble and a simple repair project.
About Heather: Heather M. Love is a mixed-media artist that lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. She has been a devoted knitter and seamstress since learning from her mother and grandmother at an early age. In 1997, she graduated with a BFA from Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. She has been teaching fine art and crafting workshops since that time. Her label hellomello handspun features handmade knitwear, knitting patterns, hand dyed and hand spun luxury yarns.
Stitch a Modern Japanese Rice Pouch. With Karen Stevens. Sunday, November 18, 2018. 12-4 PM. $75.00. $25.00 deposit holds your space. Limit 8 students.
Karen Stevens returns! Picking up where visible mending left off, now it is time to sew a tote! Once a small patched bag that was used to carry rice offerings to the temple, the Japanese Komebukuro is the perfect bag to carry around your latest knitting project (or anything really!). We will use a mix of simple hand stitching and appliqués to create a one of a kind patchwork style drawstring tote. It is even reversible! A perfect project to use up all of your fabric scraps and remnants, and makes a great gift for the holidays as well.
Materials needed:
Please have the main pieces cut and ready to be sewn before class. Alternatively, a kit will can be provided for an additional $20. (kindly request at registration if you would like the kit)
For the bag Exterior:
(1) 25" x 8” piece of fabric
(1) 7” x 7” piece of fabric
For the bag interior:
(1) 25" x 8” piece of fabric
(1) 7” x 7” piece of fabric
Various pieces of scrap fabric for the drawstring tabs and appliqué pieces.
Fabric suggestions: Medium weight linen or linen blend (Robert Kaufman Essex linen blend works great!), quilting cotton, lightweight canvas.
I will provide all additional materials. (drawstrings, fabric scraps, embroidery thread and needles) If you have any of these and would like to bring your own, you are welcome! We will have a few machines, but if you have a portable sewing machine you may bring it along also. The bag pattern will be provided. This class is open to beginners, but students who already have a working knowledge of a machine.
MADISON WOOL AND MAD RIVER FIBER ARTS & MILL PRESENT: A WEEKEND BASKET MAKING RETREAT WITH KATIE GROVE. (www.katiegrovestudios.com)
Join Katie Grove in Waitsfield, VT for a weekend basket making retreat hosted by Mad River Fiber Arts & Mill and Madison Wool. Enjoy a weekend retreat with overnight accommodations or weekend rate (both days).
An Introduction to Three Basketry Techniques in a Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, 2018. 10 AM- 5 PM. Meet and Greet -Friday, October 5, 2018 at 6 PM at Mad River Fiber Arts & Mill, 6163 Main Street, Waitsfield, VT 05673, (802) 496-7746, susan@madriverfibermill.com
What is better than leaving a basketry workshop with a finished basket? Going home with a whole collection of baskets! In this multi-day workshop you will get a sampling of several key basketry techniques while making miniature or small baskets. Coiling, twining, and folded bark techniques will all be covered in detail and by making multiple small baskets you have a chance to really get to know each technique. This weekend intensive is perfect for those who are traveling further to attend and want to get a great taste of the world of basketry in a weekend. There will be an optional forage for fresh materials each morning from 9 – 10 AM on the local property.
LOCATION: Lodging- Ioanna House, Warren, VT. (Google for details). Maximum 5 guests. Workshop will be held in a “hobbit” house walking distance from lodging in the Village of Warren.
COST: $385 for the weekend including accommodations. Includes breakfast both days, water, tea, and snacks. $275.00 for the weekend, no overnight accommodations, includes water, tea, and snacks. With an hour break for lunch, which will be available for purchase.
PAYMENT: $100.00 deposit, non refundable 30 days before the event. Remainder of payment due 10 days prior to event.
ALSO INCLUDES:
All locally harvested and hand prepared plant materials to make 3-6 baskets.
Handouts on all the techniques covered
WHERE TO STAY
If you are traveling to the workshop there are many lovely places to spend the night locally, if Ioanna House is full.
Weave a Basket with Fabric, Vines, and Wool. with Katie Grove (http://katiegrovestudios.com/)
Sunday, March 11, 2018. 10 AM-4:30 PM. $120.00. $60.00 deposit holds your space, remainder of workshop payment due 1 week before. Maximum 12 participants. Open to all experience levels. Lunch break factored in-fridge and microwave available, plus take out available. Tea and snacks provided.
This basket is a fiber lover’s dream! You will make a traditional Appalachian style frame basket with a twist– fabric and yarn will be incorporated alongside vines to create a fun and colorful look. We will start with a grapevine frame with god’s eye vines lashing and then use fabric, roving, and yarn to weave the body of the basket, giving it a soft but sturdy construction. There is a lot of room for your individuality to shine in this basket and everyone’s will turn out a different size and shape (approximately 11” x 8” x 10”).
Participants will bring their own fabrics, old clothes, roving, and yarn to use in the basket (a selection of material to supplement this will be provided by the instructor and is also available at Madison Wool). Details on what to bring will be included upon sign-up. You will go home with a finished basket, instructions to create many more, and inspiration to continue weaving!
About Katie:
Going out into the forests and fields, harvesting materials from nature, and sitting down in the sun to weave a basket is my idea of a perfect day! As an artist my passion is create art with all natural materials that I harvest and prepare from the beautiful landscape around my home. As an educator I guide adults and children alike in connecting to their creative self through the combination of art and nature. I have a background in Fibers Art from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and a BFA in Printmaking from SUNY New Paltz and I currently exhibit work regionally in galleries and teach nature and art workshops throughout the Hudson Valley.
Self Care for the Fiber Artist. With Jackie Gargano, LMT. Sunday, January 7, 2018. 2:00-3:30 PM. $25.00. $10.00 deposit holds your space. *Limit=6 students.
During knitting, crochet and spinning projects our hands, arms, necks and even legs can become numb, cramped and fatigued. In this self care class we will go over different stretches, tips, and massage techniques to help relieve some of these issues. A hand out will be given, as well as complimentary hand and neck massage for each person.
Jackie Gargano, Licensed Massage Therapist, is the owner of Generations Massage Therapy (www.generationsmassagetherapy.com) in Madison, CT. Jackie has been an LMT since 2006, and is trained in various methods and techniques. She has worked in both clinical settings and at spas & resorts. In her free time she also knits, crochets and spins. She understands the body mechanics involved in various fiber arts and is happy to help your hands stay healthy and productive!
A BEGINNER ZENTANGLE TILE BY BERNADETTE GONZALEZ