Grampians Texture offers:

2 Day Workshops (Sat 25th - Sun 26th Feb) or
4 Day Workshops (Mon 27th Feb – Thurs 1st March)

To view works by the Artist click on the Artists name below.

TUTORS

2 DAY WORKSHOPS Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 February 2012

BACK ON THE CHAIN GANG - Keith lo Bue   (FULL)

Whether you're making jewellery, assemblage or a journal, often the need arises to add a chain or clasp for that finishing touch. Join jeweller Keith Lo Bue for two days of instruction in how to create your own links, hooks and clasps from scratch. Participants will make a variety of samples...learn the satisfaction of the do-it-yourself approach!

FELTED FUSIONS – Soomee Kim    (FULL)

Nuno felting with a twist! In this workshop participants will explore new techniques of embedding silk fabric, yarns and threads, amongst woolen fibers and prefelts to create wearable felt art. The workshop will commence with discovering the technique of Prefelt Lamination with a very particular emphasis on each participant transferring their ideas into good design.

SURFACE TENSION - Ailie Snow    (FULL)

Working in to, on to, and through the surface: experiment with: stitch / print / rip, melt, and burn / mark and stain / layer, bond, and gild, and the many combinations of these to create luscious and diverse surfaces for use in your own designs and creative textile work.

QUILT AND COLLAGE WITH TRANSLUCENT FABRICS - Jeanette DeNicolis Meyer

Discover the design and color world which opens up while composing quilts or fabric collages with layers of luscious silk organza and crisp cotton organdy. We will begin by producing a gem-like palette of translucent fabric with easy to use paints and then proceed to the design wall, where new colors and shapes will emerge as the translucent fabrics are layered. We will also produce a technique sampler notebook as we experiment with fusing and a variety of machine and hand-sewn seams to explore the design possibilities different finished edges can provide.

STITCHED BROOCHES - Celia Player    (FULL)

This workshop will explore the many possibilities of creating stitched brochures. Through a combination of Free Machine Embroidery or drawing with the sewing machine to hand stitching techniques, working over painted backgrounds, creating texture with tension techniques, and colour mixing with thread, endless possibilities are explored of building an image for small individual textile jewellery.

UNREAL CHENILLE - Jan Irvine-Neale

This workshop will explore the simple but versatile technique of making chenille that Jan uses. Develop an understanding of design to support this technique by learning to adapt a photo or illustration as a starting point to make compositions. Experience the fun in this workshop as you enjoy exploring the many variations of this simple technique. A workshop for people who enjoy using the sewing machine.

RECYCLE KNIT & RE-INVENT FELT- Martien van Zuilen    (FULL)

Extend the concept of ‘recycling’ and incorporate pre-loved jumpers and knitwear in handmade felt. Learn to design and create reversible bags, cushions, throws, and funky hats with a unique appearance and striking colour and surface effects. A class for those who want to ‘reuse, reduce, recycle’. Expect to be surprised by the results you can achieve.

INTRODUCTION TO FREEFORM KNITTING & CROCHET - Prudence Mapstone   (FULL)

In this workshop, participants will experiment with very many different techniques, stitches and motifs that can be made to work well for this method of design. By working small patches outwards in all directions from a central motif, and by practicing how different areas can be joined to each other, students will discover the best applications for each type of stitch and the most successful methods for combining them.

Each student will build up a range of freeform pieces using a variety of stitch combinations, and will discover how pieces like these can be incorporated into a future artwork. Colour choices, various joining techniques and garment pattern shapes will be discussed. A range of surface stitches will then be added to their creations, as these give additional stability to any finished piece, as well as adding extra textural detail.

SILK PAINTING THE LANDSCAPE - Colleen Weste

Be inspired by the natural world and explore colours and images using vibrant dyes on silks in this silk painting workshop. This workshop focuses on layering washes, wet-on-wet as in watercolour and the use of resist techniques-gutta, wax- for imagery. Drawing skills are an advantage, not essential. Learn to develop your seeing eye to interpret your micro or macro view of the landscape which includes flora and fauna and enjoy the magic of dye on silk. Suitable all levels.

LUSCIOUS LITTLE BAGS - Yvonne Twining

Tired of the little bags not fitting everything you need into it? Come and learn the secrets of good designing & making of an all leather little hand/shoulder bag. Made of soft garment weight leathers with colourful prints and vibrant pigskin linings, these bags include pockets and zip purses to your needs. You must be able to use your own heavy duty serviced sewing machine with competence. (Leave the electronic machine home and bring the older mechanical machine). No previous knowledge needed.

BUILT BOXES - Liz Powell    (FULL)

Boxes can be used to contain all sorts of things, like artists books, collections of objects, gifts, and thoughts. Over 2 days the participants will experiment with box construction techniques using a variety of materials and ways of embellishing the surfaces. This may include using handmade and commercial papers, mixed media and different surface finishes, relief and embossed surfaces, collage and modeling. Different ways of using lids, locks and closures can also be explored. Participants will be encouraged to adapt templates and box designs for individual purposes and expression, so that by the end of the weekend they will have a number of personal containers for their creative use.

FELTING FOR BEGINEERS - Phyllis Hoffman

This workshop will explore several methods for creating felt and is designed for those who want to get started in the exciting word of felting. It will cover the use of a variety of fibres in felting, and will include an exploration of surfaces and pockets. Phyllis, will share her wealth of experience and will lead you through a range of felting techniques that will equip beginners with skills to continue the exploration of felting.

ABSORBING THE COLOUR - Bonny Francis

A comprehensive examination of what dyes are appropriate to what fibres. This workshop will examine in detail what dye is suitable to what fibre and what the possibilities are for their use. The workshop will cover: Protein (Animal Fibre), Cellulose (Plant fibre), Acrylic, Polyester, Nylon dyes. It will also look at alternative dyeing methods for some dyes and where they cross over into different fibres (some dyes will dye more than one fibre). Students will come away with a wonderful resource manual for future use.

4 DAY WORKSHOPS  Monday 27th February – Thursday 1st March (4 days)

REVERSIBLE EMBEDDED FELT - Soomee Kim    (FULL)

This workshop will explore the process of creating reversible felts to create a scarf or shawl utilizing SooMee’s Prefelt Lamination Nuno felting method. Then using these same skills, and your own designs, you will create a reversible vest. Each vest will be a unique wearable art piece. At the conclusion of this workshop each participant will leave with amazing new works which, coupled with their creativity, will allow them to continue creating wearable art.

PRECIOUS LITTLE: POETICS OF THE FOUND OBJECT - Keith lo Bue

The materials we use for creative expression can be found literally at our feet.  Join noted American art jeweler Keith Lo Bue on an energetic exploration of unusual and unexpected materials in jewelry making. Through hands-on projects and thought-provoking instruction, students will learn the varied methods of selection and assembly this limitless palette demands. No previous jewellery experience is required; all that’s needed is enthusiasm and the desire to work with your hands. Whatever your present focus, you will come away with new insights into the possibilities of your surroundings.

STITCHED STORIES - Ailie Snow

This workshop brings together two of Ailie’s great passions, stitching and book making, to create a precious memory, or a fabulous fiction, or a personal journal. You will begin by making a beautiful cover, stitched and embellished to your own design, and then go on to create the fabric pages in your book. The workshop will cover a very simple binding method, which will allow you to bind the pages into your book at any stage of the process.

ELEMENTS OF STYLE - Jeanette DeNicolis Meyer

Basic Design for Fibre Artists With a Sense of Fun. Artists who choose the quilt as their medium often express a desire to learn more about the fundamentals of design. In this class we’ll put the FUN into fundamentals while exploring the design and emotional possibilities of line, color, and value through engaging guided exercises. We will use art supplies with which fiber artists feel confident, including fabric, needle, thread, and fusible adhesives, along with basic supplies such as paper and glue– and we’ll throw in some surprising materials to mix it all up and keep you from getting too serious. The goal of the class assignments, discussions and slide presentations is to send you back to your studio with the experience to design your quilts with confidence.

ARTWORK AND STITCHED TEXTILES - Celia Player

This workshop will aim to develop skills in the connection between drawing and design and stitched textiles. We will be crossing over the boundaries between paper and fabric, between pen and needle, and between paint and thread. Colour influence, experimentation, and making personal colour choices will be an important consideration. The stitching component will include both free machine embroidery or, (drawing with the sewing machine) and hand stitching, but with the option of choosing either one technique or using combination of both.

RUNNING STITCH RAMPANT - Pushing the Limits - Jan Irvine-Nealie

Internationally known textile artist Jan Irvine-Nealie will take students on a journey to explore the impacts of running stitch and related stitches with fabric manipulation. Using raw edge fabric collage construction with stitch, pulling up and scrubbing back, creating welts and ridges students will design and make their own project through this journey.
This workshop is directed to the experienced textile artist.

THE HEART-FELT MANDALA - Martien van Zuilen

Make a hand-felted rug inspired by the art and design of the ‘Mandala’. Loosely translated to mean ‘circle’, a Mandala represents wholeness and balance; its symbolism appears in many cultures and aspects of life. Explore felt-specific techniques for surface design; including colour blending, pattern inlay, shading, and the effects of using simple stitch. Incorporate a variety of fibres, pre-felts, yarns, and fabrics. This class guides students through the possibilities of mark-making in felt to create rugs that are functional and inspirational. No experience necessary.

SOFTLY-DRAPING GARMENTS IN FREEFORM KNIT & CROCHET- Prudence Mapstone

Learn a wide variety of different free forming knitting and crochet skills to create open, softly draping patches that will be integrated to create unique art to wear garments such as scarves, shawls & wraps. Both simple crochet openwork and more complex knitted lace stitches will be used in a number of different ways, particularly as a means of creating larger areas of mesh onto the edges of more solid pieces. Participants will learn how to instinctively ‘design on the hook’ so that they are creating their own crochet motifs as they work.

ART TO WEAR - Colleen Weste

This workshop begins with taking some fabric which is precious or beautiful to you and incorporating it with other fabrics, some of which you create, forming a wearable garment that is unique to you. Fabrics you choose to incorporate in your design with the special piece may involve dyeing fabrics, felting techniques, (including nuno) or shibori resist methods.
We explore all these techniques as well as innovative draping and piecing. You may work on one major garment or smaller projects such as a vest or skirt. Some sewing skills an advantage.

LEATHER BAGS - Yvonne Twining

This workshop will focus on pattern making to create handbags designed for the individual. With the focus on larger bags such at totes, students will work with soft garment weight leathers with colourful prints and vibrant pigskin linings and including pockets and zip purses. Into this you can incorporate special fabrics or embellishments. You must be able to use your own heavy duty serviced sewing machine with competence. (Leave the electronic machine home and bring the older mechanical machine).

3D PLANT PAPER AND SURFACES - Liz Powell

Explore paper and its uses by experimenting with making moulds using plaster and latex, casting using paper in a variety of forms, building and manipulating surfaces and using finishes, stains, and resists on paper. Plant fibre paper gives a great variety of textures and applications in casting. Moulds can be large or small - made from found and brought objects, in 3D and low relief, from parts of the body, and from pieces of fabric. Three dimensional and relief forms have many uses e.g. in artists books, on book covers; making paper mache objects, laminating with handmade paper; as design elements in pieces e.g. integral parts of wall pieces in paper and other materials; as work in themselves cast in paper to hang or stand; as elements in jewellery and embellishment.

DESIGNER FELTED JACKETS - Phyllis Hoffman    (FULL)

This workshop will explore the process of drafting a pattern and then creating the felt to make the jacket. Individual patterns will be made to ensure the jacket fits and felt is created specifically for the style of jacket designed. Competence in making large pieces of felt required for this class. Knowledge on how to use a sewing machine an advantage but not essential.

101 WAYS WITH REACTIVE DYES - Bonny Francis

This workshop is 4 days of intimate experimentation and exploration of Reactive Dyes, how they work, the fibres they work on and their limitless possibilities. The workshop will cover: dyebath including tray dyeing, cram jar, presoak. Fabric manipulation and pattern making with manipulation shibori, resist, gutta, cold wax. Screenprinting, block printing, discharge, algipaste with dyes.