A fabulous workshop with the NW Region Embroiderers Guild - and some exciting news.

Polyester organza decorated with painted and printed fusible web then decorated with hand stitch

The NW Region Embroiderers Guild summer school was held on 2nd - 4th June at Waddow Hall, Lancashire. http://www.waddow.org.uk/home.aspx 
A stunning view and great workshop rooms along with really good food made a fabulous start to the residential workshops. I highly recommend this venue if you are looking for rooms to hire. The staff can't do enough to help, brilliant.
This combined with a group of very keen guild members made sure I had one of the best experiences teaching a summer school.


 
 My group was in a large airy room on the ground floor with plenty of tables and power sockets.

The workshop was based on working with painted and printed fusible web. This was torn and ironed down to create a back ground for stitch. These backgrounds were decorated with combinations of Xpanadaprint, embossing powders,painted newspaper, gilding flake, mica flake or transfer foil. But not all at once!!

 
 Some of the layered backgrounds.
 
Torn strips on painted and printed fusible web, decorated with transfer foil and mica flakes.

A fusible web background used as a background for print.

Once the backgrounds were created, the group then began to stitch into their samples. I hope you will notice that we used a limited palette of colours on each sample. This meant you can appreciate the textures. The group were also encouraged to stitch in a colour that was already on the work, nothing contrasting. This enables the viewer to get drawn into the work, discovering new areas of stitch as you look.

As you will see from this beautiful sample.

This group created some of the best work I have seen on a workshop. Having 2 days and 2 evenings to work in gives you time to experiment, create and stitch. 
Here is just some of the wonderful work the group produced, the stitching has just been begun on most of the samples . .









A lovely bowl of threads on Hilary's table.
 
We also worked with distressed cellophane.  . .
 

  . . and newspaper . .

 . . and polyester organza.

I would like to thank Sue Chisnall and her team for an absolutely brilliant summer school and the students for such outstanding work.

 The other tutor on the summer school was Nicola Jarvis. Her group were learning new stitches and working on one of beautiful, printed kits.
If you live in the NW of the country and are looking for a Guild to join, then have a look here.
nwregionembroiderers.org
 ***
My first Sonas Studio online workshop launched on June 5th. 
We limited the numbers to 80 as I needed to make sure I could manage the online interaction with the students. It seems to be fine. Many of the students that enrol on online workshops work at their own pace and don't interact with other students, or even the tutor, it is their choice.

I have had very good feed back, The students like the having 4 shorter videos to work along with rather than one long one. All in all it has been a very positive experience. If you would like to join the database to be the first to hear which workshops are being launched when, then email at info@kimthittichai.com

 My next online workshop will be A New Starting Point - 
I know this is eagerly awaited.


A sample created with my 'background and pretty' technique, which is included in this workshop.

 Course overview
My most popular workshop. Discover and develop the redemptive qualities of old newspapers, maps, music and books. Create fascinating surfaces on which to print and stitch. Using painted Bondaweb/Vliesofix and all manner of sparkle, we will explore the possibilities of layering textures, ending up with exciting surfaces can be further embellished with print and stitch. If ironed onto a firm interfacing these gorgeous pieces of work that can be used to make boxes, vessels and brooches.
Enrollment will start on Friday 9th June - tomorrow.  The course is £80 and includes a 16 page full colour inspiration book delivered to you. As Ruzuku, the platform we use, is in American you will pay in American dollars. This is all sorted out by clever PayPal.

On enrollment you will be able to view the 'Welcome and your materials list' video and print off your materials list. The workshop videos will go live on Friday July 7th. This will give Jayne and I time to print the workshop books and get them out to students before the workshop starts.  Jayne is a partner in the workshops with me. It is she on the other side of the camera, who edits and uploads the videos and sorts out the books. I couldn't produce the online workshops with out her. 

to enrol go to - https://app.ruzuku.com/courses/22344/enroll
Whoo hoo!! My online workshops have begun, after all the years of talking about it.

Jayne is coming over to Ireland to film the next 3 workshops next week. It is all so exciting.

***

 Hello Jill - thanks so much for all your help and the early coffee!
Hello Diana, will ring to ask questions as soon as I am home.
Hi Tod - I know you are enjoying this journey with me.

 x x x

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts

Extreme Surfaces for Stitch - West Dean College July 17 - 20

Image
Mary's beautiful composition of painted Bondaweb, newspaper, foils, gilding flake and jewel dots - and seaweed! Every now and then in your teaching life you come across a 'super' group. 'Super' in the the way they work together, share their materials and experience and of course they produce some fabulous work. It is particularly unusual to find this on a three day course - it is something I would associate with much longer course. Nine students who have never met before with the widest divide of experience and age from 17 to much older, experience ranged from very little through City and guilds up to degrees and a PHD in textiles based subjects. "Where sheep may safely graze . . "  The view outside the workshop door - sigh . . . it is so beautiful. Of course, being at West Dean College  www.westdean.org.uk helped, what with stunning surroundings, space to work and wonderful food it would be difficult to find anywhere else more suited t...
Read more

Zap, Pow, Slash and Burn! Foredown Tower part the first

Image
  Layered Tyvek and polyester organza. We had a great day to day at Foredo wn Tower. I t was the f irst day of a two day workshop - Zap, Pow, Slash an d Burn! This workshop gives stud ents a chance to play with all the zappable products that I work with namely, Tyvek, Vilene Spunbond and polyester organza.    The group painting their Tyvek . There were nine in the group and although it was pouring with rain outside and blowing a hooley, we were almost snug and warm inside.    Working with a heat gun, an inch away f rom the surface of your work and holding the heat gun at a slight angle.   The group ha ppily using their heat guns.   The following images are all three layers of heavy (75gm) Tyvel layered with polyester organza and then stitched together on a sewing machine . The samples were then zapped with a heat gun. This exercise helps the stude nt learn contr ol - by moving the heat gun away from and towards the work,...
Read more

Hot Textiles at The Bridge, Brighton. 6th and 7th September

Image
  A scrumptious sample of textured and foiled Tyvek. I am finally catching up with myself, have been in rather a headless chicken mode for the past few weeks - things are bit calmer now. I have a few days in between each teaching session now right up to when the shows start next month. As long as I keep moving I will be fine. So . . . I have a new teaching venue in Brighton, just 10 minutes up the road from me, I can't believe how close it is - such a treat. I have booked some more workshops for next summer and once I have decided what I will be teaching, I will let you all know the dates and workshop information. The Bridge Community Education Centre is light and airy place with plenty of well equipped rooms and a fabulous cafe with scrummy food. There is a huge car park and the Centre is close to Falmer station and is also on many bus routes. www.thebridgebrighton.com   We had a group of seven fabulous girls. This is the Art Room. I was teaching a ...
Read more

The Full Works - 2 day workshop, Solihull Embroiderers Guild 17th & 18th July

Image
 3 layers of 75gm Tyvek layered with polyester organza. The Full Works is my basic workshop learning how to use heat tools. We work with Tyvek, Lutradur/Vilene Spunbond and painted Bondaweb.  Solihull Embroiderers Guild is a great group. Good fun and well organised. Have a look at their website. All Guilds can do with new members, if you fancy joining, you won't be disappointed. www.facebook.com/SolihullEmbroiderersGuild   and the website - www.embroiderersguild.com We started off painting up all the products which took a couple of hours. It is important for students to know how to paint up all the products if they want to do this kind of work at home. When working with heat distressable materials, it is important not to paint them too thickly or the paint will form a barrier.    Painting up the products.  Painting Bondaweb. Lutradur/Vilene Spunbond. We started off playng with the Tyvek, laying it between 2 sheets of baking parc...
Read more

More prettys at Bobbys

Image
We have had the first day of my new course Print, Paint, Stitch and Play! and things seem to have gone well so far. I love teaching in Bobby's studio, it is purpose built with plenty of space, power and water. We had a fab day painting Bondaweb and colourwashing newspaper. The group then worked through my tearing and layering process and this is what they have produced so far. They have already started stitching into the papers and tomorrow we will be printing onto them. We had a discussion tonight about how to spell Prettys or Pretties. Apparently the latter is correct but I like the former so that is the word I am going to use - I have no doubt a certain gentleman in the Portsmouth area will now be sitting with his head in his hands and shaking his head saying No! NO! As part of this process you need to be able to describe a piece you have layered up with gilding flake, sequins, glitter and all the other gorgeous sparkly bits we are using. So I have started c...
Read more

West Dean - Layered Textiles - Hot Techniques for jewelled surfaces - part 2

Image
  3 A4 sheets of painted Tyvek layered with polyester organza. this was then machine stitched together and then zapped with a heat gun to reveal different layers of colour and to create texture. The second day of a three day course - we have covered most of the basic techniques now and the students will be combining their own layers and stitching into them tomorrow.  There are seven in the group and it is another good group - textile ladies do seem to be good fun in general. I rarely get someone who moans. These are two Bondaweb pieces that I missed yesterday We worked with Tyvek for most of the day, starting with 'kissing, stroking and caressing' single sheets and moving on to layering Tyvek with polyester organza and zapping back. I don't know if you can have too much of a good thing but here are all the layered samples - front and back - Maggie's front and back Jean's front and back   Janet's front and back...
Read more

Sussex Quilters - Tinkering with Tyvek workshop 5th June

Image
A stunning corsage - one of the best I have seen on a workshop.    I had a great day today teaching at Southwick Community Centre for the Sussex Quilters. The workshop was 'Tinkering with Tyvek'. As usual for my workshops this was a process based day. I think it is important to know what the the materials will do before you can decide to make anything. First thing, we spent an hour painting both sides of several sheets of A4  heavy Tyvek and fabric weight Tyvek. Dull but necessary, it is very important not to paint the Tyvek with thick paint. If you do, the paint will form a barrier and the Tyvek won't react to heat. We then had a play with ironing Tyvek shapes between baking parchment, learning the 'Kiss, Stroke and Caress' way of lightly heating the Tyvek till it shrinks and puckers. We then moved on to layering 4 sheets of A4 Tyvek with polyester organza and machine stitching them together ready for zapping back - a bit like cheeky reverse ...
Read more

West Dean - Layered Textiles - Hot techniques for jewelled surfaces part 3

Image
  Painted and foiled Bondaweb with painted, textured and foiled Tyvek The final day at West Dean was a day of layering and stitch, a great treat. Having the extra day made such a difference, to the work and to the group. All the students bar one were beginners in the Hot Textiles field and they all produced some brilliant work. We worked through all the basic Hot Textiles processes as you will see in the previous posts. The students were left with various piles of heat treated fabrics which I asked them to create some kind of composition - here are the resulting samples -   Layers of transfer printed CS800 Vilene Spunbond zapped with a heat gun and decorated with frayed organza and embossing powder.   Transfer printed CS800 Vilene Spunbond zapped with a heat gun decorated with a Tyvek motif.      Polyester organza decorated with painted Bondaweb, zapped with a heat gun and decorated with textured Tyvek  P...
Read more

Registering your interest in my online teaching . . .

Image
It's almost here! I have been getting a lot of requests for me to teach online over the past 2 years. From all over the world. This combined with me wanting to stay at home in Ireland more and slow down a bit has decided me - it is going to happen. Starting in May. I am currently building a database and everyone who is on the database will be the first to hear what is happening and when. They will also receive the Sonas Studio newsletter (you can opt out). My house in Ireland is called Sonas - it means happiness and well being in Irish. I chose it because it sounded just  . . right. This year I will be concentrating on my one/two day workshops that will translate well to online workshops. For example -Tinkering with Tyvek, A New Starting Point and Transforming Transfers will be online from May to July. This all very new to me and I will be having IT help from my good friend Jayne. If you have been to the show at the NEC in March you will have seen her there. She he...
Read more

Hot Textiles - North Kent Embroiderers Guild June 27th - and feed dogs!!!

Image
Newspaper decorated with painted Bondweb, silk fibres, glitter and transfer foil. On Saturday I drove over to Meopham in Kent to teach one of my last one day workshops. The workshop was Hot Textiles, working with Bondaweb, Tyvek and Lutrdur/Vilene Spunbond. As some of you will know, I no longer take bookings for one day workshops, you can never get enough done. This workshop was booked 18 months ago.  Having given a lecture to this group the previous Saturday in Gravesend, I knew I was in for a good day with plenty of fun and laughter.  We started off painting up the Tyvek, Bondaweb and Lutradur/Vilene Spunbond. When working with materials that distress with heat, it is important to know how to apply colour to them, most importantly, how thinly to apply the colour. If the paint is applied too thickly, the paint will form a barrier and form a resist to the heat.   The group painting up their products. The Tyvek is always the first to dry - so we we ...
Read more