Supply List
Still Life
Ruth Blanchet, Instructor
This is a fun art quilt class where you will make one or more small quilts from your own photos or by using the templates I provide. As a brief summary of this workshop, you will start by using photos to build your templates from in the first lesson. The second will be all about fabrics and appliqué while the third lesson we will concentrate on stitching. For our fourth and final lesson we will look at advanced features and once complete, I would hope you can put all you have learned into creating your very own original masterpieces.
Requirements
There are various options throughout the class. Ruth supplies some photos you can use to create your still life or you can take your own photos and work from those.
Class project with 3 fabric background
For your own photography, you will need: (optional)
- digital camera
- tripod
- spot light or lamp for extra light if necessary
- possible still life objects such as fruit, vases, bottles, jars, shells
- software: This class uses GIMP, which is a free download graphic program. There are full details for downloading this in Lesson One. Step by step instructions are provided for the tasks needed for class.
Class sample (vase) requires:
- SEVEN fabrics ranging from light to dark in ONE color, such as light to dark blue. Only small amounts of fabric are required; usually a fat eighth is sufficient. Hand dyed fabrics are ideal.
- machine embroidery threads to match your fabrics
- 1-3 background fabrics (fat quarter if only 1 background is used, less if 2 or 3 are used)
If you make a project with your own photograph
- fabrics ranging in colors to make your own still life project. These may be collected during class when you have a better understanding of suitable fabrics, templates are created and amounts calculated.
- machine embroidery threads to match the above fabrics.
- suitable background fabrics, usually a fat quarter will be sufficient.
Other Supplies
- bobbin thread - Bobbinfil, Bottom Line or similar 60 weight thread.
- fusible webbing
- Teflon sheet, baking paper or parchment paper
- safety pins or basting spray
- sewing machine and suitable feet such as free motion foot etc
- batting and backing for each project
- fabric paints or crayons, or watercolor pencils or crayons (optional)
- stretcher frames and staple gun (optional)
- free motion or darning foot for your machine
- quilter's gloves (optional)
The green pepper templates are provided for a second project with a shadow
OUTLINE
Lesson One
- What is still life?
- How to create dimension
- Learn about photographing an object
- Learn how to develop templates
- Discover Solarized photos
- Download and install GIMP
- Learn simple procedures in GIMP
- Discover Posterize
- Draw your templates
- Displaying your still life
Lesson Two
- Talk about color and fabric
- Values and textures in fabrics
- non suitable fabric versus suitable fabrics
- fussy cutting fabrics with high value changes
- Fusible webbing
- Transferring templates
- Cutting out and building appliqués
- Developing a simple background
Lesson Three
- Layering
- Thread selections
- embroidery threads
- bobbin threads
- Learning free motion
- Soft-edge appliqué
- Creating a background
- Stitching your project
Lesson Four
- Developing advanced enhancements
- Shadows with stitching
- Shadows and shading with paints
- Adding reflections
- Bordering or not
- Mounting on Stretcher bars
- Framing and hanging
You may check the Class Supply Glossary in the Library for generic descriptions of products that may be sold under various names in different countries.
If you have trouble finding your supplies locally in the US, many of our items are available online at Batiks Etcetera & Sew What Fabrics. International students can check our Class Supply Sources.