Despite more busy-ness, I did carve out some time for fiber stuff today. So here is a new quilt square from my foundation piecing quilt class:
It’s not technically perfect, nor is it very exciting, design-wise, but it’s pleasant enough, and I got to practice foundation piecing and a little bit of design, so I’m declaring it a success. The next on the agenda are string blocks and crazy quilt blocks – which should go quickly – followed by freezer-paper template hexagonal blocks, which promise to be painfully slow. And that’s just to catch up with last Friday’s lesson! The new lesson opens tonight, so I am dreadfully behind. (But it’s OK – it’s not being graded, and the class stays open for a good month after the last lesson.)
Yesterday’s Black Sheep Handweavers Guild meeting brought a marvelous temptation: katazome! The wonderfully talented Karen Miller was our speaker, and talked about katazome, the art of Japanese stenciled resist dyeing. Her work is exquisitely detailed. You should visit her website, Nautilus Fiberarts.
Anyway, looking at her work made me think of all the wonderful ways that katazome could be combined with handweaving. Or just used as itself, for surface design! I had been thinking of playing with katazome anyway, and this has made me determined to learn more. I do have a rather extensive book on katazome that my friend Julie gave to me (thanks Julie!), so I’m going to do some research. But my real dream is to take John Marshall’s week-long katazome class. John is, as far as I know, the katazome expert in the U.S., and his work is amazing. I can’t take it this year (too many expensive conferences and too little vacation), but hopefully next year.
It so happens that both John and Karen will be at the East Bay Heritage Quilters Voices in Cloth 2012 show this weekend, and since I have to be up in the East Bay for my aquaponics workshop tomorrow, I think I’m going to go to the show. Since I’m doing a little bit of quilting, I’m curious to see what else is being done in quilting, and I would love to see John and Karen’s work, closer up.
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I have taken 3 classes from John Marshall in Covolo. It is a wonderful experience. He has a fantastic collection of resources (books, fabrics, knowledge) as well as being a wonder and generous teacher. If you can manage it this Summer – do it, you may regret postponing it. If only because you’ll regret missing out for a whole year!
I am a weaver and while I haven’t actually incorporated Katazome with my weaving, what I have learned from him has helped me.
Best wishes.
Stephanie S.