Geelong Fibre Forum 24th - 30th September 2023

December 16, 2022


Tall vessel created from Decovil 1 decorated with torn painted newspaper, painted Bondaweb/Vliesofix and a gold print.

It will be wonderful to be teaching at the Geelong Fibre Forum in Australia again. I was due to teach this workshop in September 2020, but we know what happened then . .

So I will be returning September 2023- Hurrah! I think it will be my 5th time teaching at this residential Forum. There will be 11 tutors teaching groups of up to 15 students. There will be a mix of international and local tutors for the first time in 3 years. Have a look at the workshops here. https://taftainc.com.au/workshops

I will be teaching 'A Workshop of 2 Halves', the first part will cover design and the next part, fun with print, all things sparkle and 3D. Sparkle is optional . . but I do find once the gilding flake comes out - it is hard to resist. We will be working with the heavier iron-on interfacings to create decorated boxes, vessels and/or a canvas. There will be time to hand stitch

The first part of the workshop will involve the group painting my Journey exercise. it is a great way to generate original designs . . I have been teaching this design process for many years, it is the workshop that is asked for most often. We always get fabulous results.

Students enjoying the Show and Tell after a Journey design workshop in the UK.

A student going off into a dream world while she paints her Journey. It is such a relaxing process.

A section of 4 journeys hanging next to each other. Because we only use black and white, they almost look as though they are one design.


Once the Journeys are dry we can then take sections and isolate new designs, ready to make printing blocks.

You will make 2 printing blocks from one design - the positive and negative part of the design.


Making your own printing blocks from your own original designs is what makes your work different.

Then the fun begins. Out come the paints, the Bondaweb/Vliesofix and all things sparkle. We make the backgrounds to print on to. These backgrounds can then be ironed onto either the Decovil 1 light, the Decovil 1 or S133. Depending on how firm a background you need for your finished work. You could also decorate a canvas if you fancy that.


Torn newspaper decorated with paint, painted Bondaweb/Vliesofix, transfer foil and gold print.

The next 2 images show how a design taken from your Journey exercise can used to decorate your work. The first one is applique - the second is print.

Once you have created your backgrounds you can then add print or applique and stitch, using the designs you have isolated from your Journey exercise.

Then to decide which interfacing to use to support your work. The stiffest is the S133. This is fabulous for boxes and taller vessels. The 2 Decovil products are softer and more leather like. Brilliant for smaller vessels, book covers and jewellery.

All of these can be cut into with a soldering iron to create fabulous edges. Here is selection of 3D pieces that have been created over the years.