From Inspiration to Fulfillment: Developing Your Own Style

Design, composition and construction of the art quilt

This class is closed. Waitlist only available.

5 days — All levels

In this workshop students will learn how to work from their own ideas and discover a unique voice whether their quilts are abstract, realistic or impressionistic. In this process, the basics of good design will be covered, from the initial idea through the formulation of a strong composition and color schemes. Once design and color are chosen we will block out the composition, refine it and put it all together using a variety of construction techniques as befits both the design and the maker. Participants should leave the class with several design drawings, greater confidence in choosing colors, knowledge of a variety of construction techniques and a quilt close to being finished! Be prepared to laugh a lot, make mistakes and enjoy yourselves!

Taught by: Elizabeth Barton

Supply List

Inspiration/ Composition/Design:

Pictures, paintings or photographs that strongly appeal to you – to be used as a starting point for your composition. Start collecting such pictures from the moment you think of signing up for this workshop!! Look for exciting dynamic compositions. Put them in a binder.
Plus: color inspiration pictures e.g. paintings or natural scenes whose colors are gorgeous!
3-6 Color pictures of contemporary quilts that you really admire – to get a sense of the direction in which you might go, to learn more about your taste and design sensibility.

Tools:

Tracing paper.
Sheet protectors (10-12) so you can put designs in a notebook.
Ruler, pen, pencil. Colored pencils, felt pens or watercolors. Pencil sharpener. Plain paper for sketches.
Small, inexpensive binoculars e.g. 10 x 25 or similar, or reducing glass, or door viewer.
Rotary cutter, board, rotary ruler guide (any rectangle or square is fine, or you can use a ruler), spare blade – or good quality fabric scissors.
Chalk pencil (white charcoal is good) or silver pencil for marking fabric for cutting.
Freezer paper (only if you prefer to make templates).
Sewing machine in good working order or you could hand stitch if you prefer. – Sewing machines are not crucial unless you are a very fast worker – the class focus is on designing and blocking out (pinning the pieces). So if weight is a concern, don’t worry about a machine.
Usual sewing supplies: thread, needles, pins, scissors.
Small safety pins for basting – if you are a very fast worker!

Fabric:

A piece of gridded interfacing (very light weight, Non fusible) slightly larger than the anticipated size of your quilt. (JoAnn’s sells it, probably other stores too..if you can’t find gridded, just bring plain – but very light weight and non fusible.)
¼ yard (or so) of at least 25-50 fabrics that are either solid colors (hand dyes are fine) or have a nondescript print…the colors should be similar to those of the color inspiration picture you chose. You must have a good range of values – from very light to very dark plus a lot of variety within your chosen hues: If your main colors (for example) are to be yellow and purple, bring lots of different yellows and purples.
Snippets: bring at least 25 snippets of each of your fabrics to share with others in the class.
A snippet is ½” wide and 2” long – or thereabouts. We’ll use these for color exercises.
Batting or flannel (sufficient for your quilt(s)), fabric for quilt back – if you’re a fast worker and want to discuss machine quilting.

Your work:

Please bring examples of your work – color photos are fine if you are flying. It is very helpful to me to see “the story so far” when helping you find your direction.

Please email me with any queries: ebarton@uga.edu

you can also see my quilts at: www.elizabethbarton.com

Thank you for taking my class!!