CREATE mixed media retreat class: "Aprons As Personal Armor"

This student from another class drops in to try on my sample apron

The Aprons As Personal Armor class at CREATE Chicago was small, but mighty!  Our students worked hard throughout the day to create wearable constructions from cloth and trim.  The classroom was an explosion of color and texture!  We brought many types of trim and ephemera for students to choose from to add to what they brought from home.  I brought a bag of bits and pieces of cloth from previous projects that had Mistyfuse added.  Using Mistyfuse and stitch to assist with their creations, each student left with a great start on her apron.  We can't wait to see the end-results!

 Our students got a great start on their designs and embellishments

There was a great deal of laughter and banter throughout the day.  What fun!

"The Space Between" at Festival in Long Beach

"The Space Between" at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach - July 2011 - sponsored by Moore's Sewing Centers.  The exhibit was on Main Street (prime location), and was the first exhibit on the right coming from the vendor area.  Judy Coates Perez ,has pictures on her blog too.

Side Corner facing Main Street - (L-R)  Judy Perez, Kathy York, Yvonne Porcella, Cynthia St. Charles

Middle Corner facing Main Street (L-R) Jeannie Moore, Joanell Connolly, Astrid Bennett, Linda Frost

Left Side facing another exhibit - Desiree Habicht, Susan King, Linda T. Minton, Lyric Kinard, Frances H. Alford, Sarah Ann Smith

Back Side Middle; this is the view when people come from the front of the exhibit area; Susan B. Knapp, Barb Forrister, Betty Amador, Deb Borshert, Sherry Kleinman

Looking at the Middle Section from Main Street

Side view

Looking towards Main Street

Left Side Corner - Jamie Fingal, Leslie Jenison, Laura Cater-Woods, Jayne Larson

Looking from Main Street through the exhibit

Right Corner of Middle - Terry Waldron, Gayle Simpson, Susie Monday, Carolyn Ryan

Right Side - facing inside of exhibit - Teresa Shippy, Cindy Cooksey, Gwen Mayer, Julie Schlueter, Pam Klebaum

Moving onto - Jane LaFazio, Paula Chung

Switch to the wall on the other side (inside corner) that parallels the previous wall - Natalya Aikens, Terry Grant

which corners this wall, that parallels the wall on the other side - Loris Bogue, Wen Redmond, Rachel Parris, Karen Rips

Scenes from our workshops in Long Beach (Part 2)

Saturday, July 30th, "Playful Painting On Canvas"
During this 3-hour afternoon workshop we narrowed the width of our canvases and created 2 painting environments.  As always, our students amazed us with their unique painting styles.  The other point that fascinates us is that, in every single workshop, the two canvases develop their own unique "personalities".
Take a look:

Students move to different "spots" on the canvas to paint.

We ask the students to work in areas they have not painted into previously at first,

and we switch who they are positioned near to change up the style of the painting!

Below are details from the canvases:

many hands make the canvas rich and textural!

Students hold up one of the finished canvases, before it 

gets cut into sections!

Here are the two finished canvases.

Students took 2 sections from EACH painted canvas.

Imagine all the possibilities that could be created from these beautiful 

painted canvases!

A note to our workshop students:  We LOVE to see what you create with your canvas sections!

Please share photos of your finished items with us!

Scenes From Our Workshops in Long Beach (Part 1)

"Musical Chairs:  A Painted Canvas Adventure"
Our day-long workshop in Long Beach CA was small, but mighty!  Our students created 2 wonderfully colorful canvases, which were subsequently divided into smaller sections.  Since we have learned through experience that people fall in love with certain areas (those boyfriends) we turn the sections face-down, mix them up, and each student selects the pieces.
After the canvas section are selected the group settles into the 2nd phase of the workshop:  working into the painted canvas with markers, cutting shapes and sections, and creating amazing cards, journal covers, and ATCs from their customized canvas.  The results were amazing!  Take a look:

students in the initial stages of painting the gessoed canvas..

the canvas evolves...

a second canvas, with a distinct personality!

students gather around a work table to share markers, glue,

and stories

creating postcards and memories

what will this be?

A few of the finished postcards, stamped, and ready to be mailed to their makers

as a memory of the day we shared!

International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA

Dinner at Eight Artists presents "The Space Between" a juried invitational,

at the International Quilt Festival at the Long Beach Convention Center - July 29-31, 2011

co-curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison
sponsored by Moore's Sewing Centers and Brother International

Forty Artists - Natalya Aikens, Frances Holliday Alford, Betty Amador, Astrid Bennett, Loris Bogue, Deborah Borschert, Paula Chung, Joanell Connolly, Cindy Cooksey, Barb Forrister, Linda Frost, Terry Grant, Desiree Habicht, Lyric Kinard, Susan Fletcher King, Pam Klebaum, Sherry Kleinman, Susan Brubaker Knapp, Jane LaFazio, Jayne Larson, Gwen Mayer, Linda T. Minton, Susie Monday, Jeannie Moore, Rachel Parris, Judy Perez, Yvonne Porcella, Wen Redmond, Karen Rips, Carolyn Ryan, Cynthia St. Charles, Julie Schlueter, Teresa Shippy, Gayle Simpson, Sarah Ann Smith, Terry Waldron, Laura Cater-Woods, Kathy York, Leslie Tucker Jenison and Jamie Fingal.

TSB Artist, Loris Bogue has designed an exhibit book for us.  Blurb Book is available to purchase here

White Glovers in TSB Exhibit

Friday, July 29th

1:30-3:30 - Cindy Cooksey
3:30-5:30 - Teresa Shippy

TSB Artists have work in these exhibits - 

West Coast Wonders
Sherry Kleinman
Terry Waldron
Celebrate Spring!
Barb Forrister
Text on Textiles
Barb Forrister
SAQA: The Creative Force
Paula Chung
Leslie Tucker Jenison

TSB Artists Volunteering their time in the SAQA Booth
Pam Klebaum, Carolyn Ryan, Karen Rips, Gwen Mayer, Sherry Kleinman, Julie Schlueter, Jayne Larson and Teresa Shippy.

TOURS, FACULTY, MAKE IT UNIVERSITY

SAQA Docent Tour
Terry Waldron - Sat, July 30 from 11-12pm

FESTIVAL FACULTY
You can sign up for classes at the show!
Thursday, July 28th
Jane LaFazio
#210 Recycled Circles - All Day Class
Judy Perez
#214 Tsukineko Inks - All Day
Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison
#204 Musical Chairs - All Day
Friday, July 29th
Judy Perez
#312 Heavy Metal - All Day
Jane La Fazio
#309 Monoprints on Cloth - All Day
Saturday, July 30th
Judy Perez
#413 Tea & Ephemera - All Day
Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison
#432 Playful Painting on Canvas - 2-5pm
Saturday Sampler
Terry Waldron

MAKE IT UNIVERSITY
Workshops $15 Cash/Lottery
Thursday, July 28th
7:00-8:00pm - Judy Perez
DeColorant
Friday, July 29th
1:30-2:30 - Jeannie Moore
Stitch and Paint Flower Pins
3:00-4:00 - Leslie Jenison/Jamie Fingal
Scrappy Pin Cushions
Saturday, July 30th
11:45-12:45 - Jane LaFazio
Drawing and Watercolor a Flower
Sunday, July 31st
11:30-12:30 - Leslie Jenison/Jamie Fingal
Scrappy Pin Cushions

MIU - OPEN STUDIOS
Friday, July 29th
10:15-12:15 - Jeannie Moore
12:30-2:30 - Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison

Saturday, July 30th
10:15-12:15 - Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison

MIU/SURVIVING THE RUNWAY
5:30-7:00pm - Join us for some fun!

CREATE in Lisle, IL

CREATE with Cloth Paper Scissors in Lisle, IL
Wed, Aug 24th to Sun, Aug 28th Retreat

Folding Artists Houses - Sat, August 27th from 9-4pm

Apron as Personal Armor - Thurs, August 25th from 9-4pm