CAPTURING NATURE IN FIBER AND THREAD Melody Randol www.melodyquilts.com randolm@earthlink.net August 18, 19, 20 AQuA Fiber Arts Studio Thank you all for joining me in Capturing Nature in Fiber and Thread. During our three days together, I hope to show you an array of ways to translate the wonder of our natural world into incredible fiber art. We will work on a couple of projects, do some small exercises, and discuss topics such as taking and manipulating photos, printing on fabric, creating cloth for use in landscape quilts, stitching and quilting strategies, and evaluating composition. I hope to send you home each evening excited and exhausted! Attached is a list of what you ll need to bring to the workshop. I ve tried to keep supply needs minimal. I will provide everything else you ll need for the workshop. Your $20 Materials Fees covers the supplies I will provide, as well as the black line drawings used in PROJECT 1 and the image printed on cloth for PROJECT 2. In PROJECT 1 (From Photograph to Art Quilt), you will learn how to precisely translate a photograph into fabric working with a 7-step value scale. This creates a very realistic image. Most important, you will gain experience with understanding and using VALUE a design element I think is even more critical than color. In PROJECT 2 (Melody s Landscape Technique), you will leave the realm of realism and create an impressionistic landscape quilt. In order to prepare for this project, you must decide which image you want to do in PROJECT 2 and email your choice to me no later than June 27. Kathy Schattleitner, Workshop Chair, has a set of all eight images printed on fabric for you to see, as well as a sample showing the process. I have also attached images of the choices available. It looks like we have a fabulous workspace and plenty of time to work, create, share and learn. Once I hear from you all, I will set up a group email list to send any last-minute information before coming to Grand Junction. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for inviting me to AQuA and hosting Capturing Nature in Fiber and Thread. Please know I look forward to meeting you all and working together. See you in August, Melody Randol
7-Step Value Chart PROJECT 1 From Photograph to Art Quilt This shows several colors sorted into seven value steps. Step one includes whites and very pale tints of a color. Step seven includes black and very dark shades of a color. Please select ONE color (including colors not shown here such as blue or green) you would like to use for your project. You will need to bring the full range of values (from very, very light to very, very dark) in that one color. Please try to bring three different fabrics for EACH value step (21 fabrics total). You do not need much of any fabric an 8-inch square (or comparable area) of each fabric is plenty.
Small-scale prints, batiks, and hand-dyed fabrics work well. Solids, graphic geometrics, and large-scale prints do not work well. Sort your fabrics into the seven value steps, and fill in any gaps so you have a full and rich palette in one color. Please note: The light values of red include pinks, and the dark values of both yellow and orange are browns. If you have no experience with determining value, consult with knowledgeable friends or quilt shop clerks. And know that if you don t bring quite what you need, there will be plenty to share!
PROJECT 2--Melody s Landscape Technique In PROJECT 2, you will create a small art quilt an impressionistic landscape quilt. The landscape image (photograph) is printed on cloth. You will fuse chips of matching fabrics over the image, then stitch and quilt as desired. The workshop chair has a sample showing the steps involved. The process is simple, and the results are stunning. Attached are pictures of eight quilts you can create. The images are numbered 1 thru 8, and the first thing you must do is decide which quilt you would like to make. Please send an email to me ASAP; tell me your name and which image you have selected. randolm@earthlink.net When selecting fabrics to cover the image, here are some tips. --You do not need large amounts of each fabric; a 6-8 inch square (or comparable area) is more than enough. If you have scraps, sort them by color, put them in Ziplocs, and bring scrap bags of those colors present in your quilt. --The goal is variety; the more choices you have to work with, the better. --Try to find fabrics that match COLOR, VALUE, and TEXTURE of the image printed on the cloth. The fabrics you select will be cut into small (1/2-1 inch) pieces, so keep that in mind when looking for fabrics. --Good fabric choices include small-scale prints, batiks, hand-dyed cloth, and irregular patterns. Solids and large-scale prints do not work well. NOTE: Carefully examine and feel the sample showing the process. Look at the types of fabrics used and the size of the cloth chips. This will help you in selecting fabrics to use for this project. WHAT YOU LL NEED TO BRING TO THE WORKSHOP Image printed on cloth The printed images for PROJECT 2 will be mailed to Kathy Schattleitner. They should be available for pick up by the July 17 guild meeting. Fabrics Be sure to read the information above carefully and look at the sample sent to Kathy. If you have questions, please feel free to email me. Keep in mind you want variety, not volume. If you need a hand-truck to bring your fabric to class, you re bringing way too much! Before coming to the workshop, please select 10 fabrics you are most likely to use. Cut a 6-inch square (or comparable area) of these fabrics, and iron
fusing material on the back of each. Bring the rest of your fabrics sorted by color but unfused. Fusing Material Bring 1-2 yards of the fusing material you like best. Good choices include Wonder Under, Wonder Under Web, or similar materials. The following fusing materials are NOT good choices for this project: Heat & Bond regular or heavy weight, Steam-a-Seam 2, Misty Fuse or other ultra-lightweight fusing products. Rotary Cutter We will use both straight edge and wavy edge rotary blades. I have an Olfa cutter with two different wavy blades: one is much like a pinking shear cut, and the other is a softer, wider wave. You do NOT need to have both kinds of wavy blades; we can all share. I will bring my cutters, and if some of you purchase wavy blades, we ll have enough. General Workshop Supplies PROJECT 1 Fabrics ONE color in ALL Values Steps 1-7 (See PROJECT 1: From Photograph to Art Quilt) Pressing Sheets If you have 1 or 2 Teflon-type pressing sheets, bring them. Rotary Cutting Mat You will use both the front and BACK sides of your cutting mat, so don t bring the kind with an iron pad on one side. Good Scissors Please bring two pair or scissors: a standard large pair, and a pair of very sharp small scissors. An Iron and extension cord You do not need to bring an ironing board, but it would be helpful to have 3-4 ironing boards with irons set up in the room. Cotton Batting Please bring two pieces of cotton batting that each measure 2 feet by 2 feet. Straight pins, freezer paper, a trash bag, and a couple of pencils Portable Design Wall (directions below) Directions for making a 2 foot x 4 foot PORTABLE DESIGN WALL Purchase a piece of precut foam insulation (2 feet X 4 feet X 1.5 inches) from Home Depot for about $5.
Cut a piece of cotton batting large enough to cover the front side, wrap around the edges, and overlap 2-3 inches on the back side. Use a hot glue gun to glue the batting to the back. First glue one side, then glue the opposite side, pulling the batting taut as you work.
PROJECT 2 Please select one image for your project. Email Melody your choice by JUNE 27. #1 #2
#4 #3
#5 #6
#8 #7
Melody Randol s Capitol Reef. Created using the principles and techniques of this workshop.