Poetry and quilting have much in common – words and fabric gathered and placed to create a specific emotional response. In this class we will explore the poetry, not of language, but of quilting. Come with an open mind and an open heart and spend five peaceful days exploring the other side of quilting. We’re going to forget about technique for a while and take a more intuitive approach. By ignoring the rules, you’ll cast aside your doubts and tap into the luminous place within where quilting poetry resides.
To assist you in this journey to the soul, we’ll use image, music, poetry and moving quotations to inspire small fabric fragment collaged quilts.
On Day 1 we will start by getting acquainted with each other and more importantly, with yourself. You’ll play with words, colors, fabric and images and learn how to enhance and manipulate photos to create evocative images for fabric. In the afternoon we will print your images and learn how to create small but meaningful cyanotype prints on fabric. You will begin to create a small expressive work that can be a starting point for a larger quilt to follow, or the beginning of a series.
Day 2 will be spent throwing caution to the wind and creating freely from the soul. Under Lesley’s guidance, you will learn how to create an interesting composition and employ fabric and image to create mood and meaning.
Over days 3, 4 and 5 you will complete two or more small works and have a personal collection of ideas and inspiration for future quilts. We will close on the last day with a celebratory group sharing of work and lessons learned.
This class can be taken with or without a sewing machine. You can fuse, hand quilt, work entirely on the machine, or use a combination, depending on your interests and skills.
About Lesley Riley
Lesley Riley wears many hats. She is an internationally known artist, instructor, writer and Artist Success coach and mentor who turned her initial passion for photos, color and the written word into a dream occupassion.
Her art and articles have appeared in too many places to keep count. As former Contributing Editor of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine, Lesley developed a passion for showcasing new talent in mixed media art. Her first book, Quilted Memories, brought new ideas and techniques to quilting and preserving memories. Fabric Memory Books, combined fabric and innovative ideas with the art of bookmaking. Two more books, Fabulous Fabric Art with Lutradur and Create with Transfer Artist Paper, introduced versatile new materials to the quilt and mixed media art world. Creative Image Transfer and Creative Lettering Workshop round out the list of publications. Her 2013 self-published Amazon best seller, Quotes Illustrated, was expanded and republished by F&W Publications as Inspiring Quotes Illustrated.
In an ongoing effort to find the best ways for quilters and mixed media artists to get permanent photos on fabric, Lesley introduced Transfer Artist Paper™, named the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) 2011 Most Innovative new product, and a line of Reverse Alphabet Stamps for printmaking techniques, like gel plates, that require mirror image lettering.
Lesley is the former host of the Art & Soul Podcast, recording over 75 podcasts on art and the creative process through in-depth interviews with contemporary artists. Her passion and desire to help every artist reach their creative dreams and potential has led her to write a trade non-fiction book on the creative process, drawing from her own experience, insight, and a knack for identifying what’s preventing creative dreamers from being creative doers.
Her current work with leaves began three years ago when she moved from the city to a mountain forest, and her eyes and heart were opened to a new, deeper and more meaningful form of creative expression. Inspiration literally falls at her feet. Lesley combines the 150 year old cyanotype process with a little water (wet cyanotype) and modern digital technology to enhance and be witness to the inherent beauty of leaves.
Lesley creates her magic on an idyllic mountain top hideaway in Cascade MD, where she lives with her high-school sweetheart husband. You’ll find her in her creative hideout from sunup to sundown unless, of course, any of her 11 grandchildren come to visit.
Rates & Enrollment
Day Student Tuition: $800.00
Full 5-Day Package*: $2,311.14-$2,532.10
*5-Day Workshop Package includes: Tuition for 5 full class days, 6 nights of dinner, lodging, breakfast, daily cookie and fruit breaks, unlimited coffee and tea, and welcoming wine and cheese reception. Your choice between a room to yourself (single occupancy) or bring a friend and split a room (double occupancy).
Get more information about your options to enroll here.