Thursday, September 9, 2010

Cousins Quilt Shop, Bellaire, MI

Cathy (in the middle) and I have just returned from a great weekend teaching at Cousins Quilt Shop in Bellaire, MI. The owner Carmen (right) and Annie organized a wonderful 4 days of classes with great creative students. It is a lovely area of Michigan and we were very fortunate to stay with Barb at her lovely home on Torch Lake.
I taught a two day class from a block from my Magnolia quilt as well as a 'Altered Texture' class and a class working on the Sew Your Seeds Needle Keeper and the Tulip Bag. With each class we worked with textural fabrics and mastered many wonderful embroidery stitches.
Many of the students are planning to complete the Magnolia quilt while others are going to make the bird block into a pillow or table rug.
We also played with the silk velvet embossing them with images to give more texture.
I love the way our pom pom ribbon is being used here as well as the way the double sided velvet ribbon was applied.
It is fabulous how these images come to life with a little stitchery. It all depends on the fibers used.
Great velvet circles! We all love the 48 colors of velvet Wendy my sister dyes for us. It gives such texture on the wool.
Thanks Carmen and Annie for a wonderful weekend. Cathy and I arrived home late on Monday ready for a week of catch up as I have been out of town for the last 6 weeks. The weather is cooling down and I just love these cool nights.
Great stitching weather
Sue

4 comments:

  1. Well Sue, Looks like you were having a great time and what nice pieces..Their work was really elaborate and original.. Your energy and artistry never cease to amaze me..
    Thanks for lovely pictures..
    Maggey

    ReplyDelete
  2. I wish you would come close to Asheville NC to teach. I just love your style!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful place to have a retreat and more beautiful pieces. Love the hand dyed threads.

    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Embossing the velvet? How interesting! I've been dyeing some wool lately as I am doing a folk art quilt from an old pattern I had before I took your class. I am trying to finish things before starting new projects...Ha! Ha! I didn't have any Cushing dyes in blue so I used Koolaide! Have you tried that? I use a little crockpot. It's fun!
    I bet you're exhausted after 6 weeks on the road! It's still not cooling off here in Arkansas....whew! I can't wait for cool weather but I guess I'll have to. Glad you had such a great trip and for sharing all your pics!
    Sam

    ReplyDelete