A New Perspective

Focusing on sunprinting, paintstiks and free motion embroidery
3 day workshop
In this workshop you will have the opportunity to begin a mini-series and develop an understanding and appreciation of the process of working in a series. You will be able to explore a variety of simple yet effective surface design techniques such as sun-printing, paintstik, and free-motion machine embroidery.
We will start by creating one of a kind fabrics, using sunprinting and paintstiks to make fabric that create contrasts in design like using natural leaves and flowers for sun printing and make more abstract designs with the paintstiks in a colour scheme that fits your chosen theme for your series. Free motion machine embroidery can be used to create motifs or enhancing designs. When you have made a selecion of fabrics you will then gradually start working on two or three pieces at the same time. Finally we will discuss the quilting and binding of the pieces. 

Requirements 
Students will need to bring the following;
• inspirational material; such as photos, images, books, found objects and so forth
• miscellaneous tools; masking tape, scissors, rotary cutter, ruler, cutting mat, needles, pins, 505 spray for collaging
• drawing tools and materials; suitable for simple sketching and colour sampling, such as paper, pencils, crayons, markers or other tools of choice, but don’t think you have to bring it all, if you are used to simple pencil sketches, pencil and paper will be enough. Freezer paper for making stencils is also helpful.
• fabrics: At least 0,5 m of 6 different kinds of fabric that you would like to work with or that could represent a personal challenge. White or light fabric is good for many surface design techniques. Scraps and smaller pieces are invaluable for collage techniques; sheer fabrics as scrim, gauze, organza or similar is an option. Bringing too much is better than bringing too little – choice is important!
• thread; suitable for hand and machine stitch and embroidery – again – bring too much is better than bringing too little …
• batting; thin cotton or polyester batting, (505 spray)
• backing fabric; enough for at least 2 times 50 x 80 m, but it depends on your chosen format of course and is difficult to give excact
• sewing machine; including darning or embroidery foot if you wish to machine quilt or make machine embroidery. The sewing machine manual, if you are not confident with your sewing machine. Extension cord.
• fabric paints or inks, Markal/Shiva Paintstiks; a small selection of colours that complement the fabrics and mark-making tools; a small selection such as a couple of brushes, rollers etc., plastic to cover up work space, apron to protect your clothes - I will bring a selection of paintstiks for you to try out too.
• digital camera; these can be useful design tools or for documentation of the work process
Optional
• stamps, stencils, silk (or thermo fax) screen if you have any - things with interesting textures for rubbing - anything you would like to use or to try out