Many thanks to all our Fibreworks Kingston CABIN FEVER RETREAT WEEKEND friends and attendees... great time had by all!

Even while the snow filtered down softly each day, what a terrific way to spend a deep winter weekend - with many great friends (and their friends invited to join in) all involved with fibre and stitch. Friday February 6th,  the hall was packed with twelve wonderful Quilters working on the LINKED-IN project and having a great time chatting as they cut and stitched blocks for their quilts. The day went swiftly as the sewing machines churned out beautiful, very contemporary adaptations of this old favourite LOG CABIN variation. Can't wait to see the results - and hopefully a few in upcoming Quilt Shows!

I would love to see some of your  pictures from the Quilt Day. When I got home and ready to download the pictures from the weekend, my camera's memory was evidently over full and did not record those taken on Friday... please share YOUR photos and  I will be happy to post them...

Saturday morning, the snow had not given up overnight, but the sun was shining, and the hall was filled to the brim with a great 16 dye enthusiasts all ready to colour cloth using the FLAT DYEING  technique that is easy and so much fun to use. The serious work of dyeing got underway quickly.

Tables and floors were quickly covered and the dyes chosen and taken to individual tables. The avid 'colourists' worked all day to change their soda soaked white cloth into stunning variations using the 15 dye colours in a wide ranging palette. Working their magic as they mixed the hues to create a collection in their own personal style, the students produced many really beautiful  collections of hand dyed cloth.

We watched as many different variations of laying down the dye were seen across the room, with much sharing and helpful tips passing from the experienced dyers to those who were trying the process for the first time. Table mates shared their supplies willingly, as it never fails that some are forgotten along the way. Threads in floss, pearl cotton and crochet weights were added around the perimeter of many of the pieces of cloth, making for a stash of coordinating threads for stitching into the planned art pieces to follow. Thanks to those who shared threads and cloth with others.

We saw colour bars, wide bands of bright yellows,  red and subtle deep, intense watery or nature colours... landscapes evolved and so many exciting results were seen all around the room. The piles of white cloth were quickly reduced - transformed into wonderful palettes of the dyers choice.

I am hoping if you were with us to dye fabric on February 7th that you will share your photos for the blog... just send them along to Bethany in jpeg. format to fibreworkskingston@gmail.com .

As for me, I happily came home with a collection of 10 pieces in my much needed blue, purple and greens palette... all processed and ironed, ready now for stitching new work before the next Kingston Fibre Artists Show coming to the WINDOW ARTS GALLERY on Princess Street in May, 2015!

Unfortunately, the wild winter weather caused our Sunday students to start calling and emailing cancellations for our planned FREE FORM COLLAGE  workshop almost as soon as we returned home after the dye class.

Saturday's almost hurricane strength winds that lasted overnight meant that only two of the students were able to come out to the hall Sunday - and then just to pick up things they had left the day before in anticipation of working on their collage projects. Three foot snow drifts at the door greeted us, and the parking lot had filled with new snow...truly a monumental snow event!

The Free Form Collage Course will be rescheduled for our students in the near future, so please keep watching your email inbox and the FIBREWORKS blog for the date, location  and time announcement.

Thanks again to all of the participants for the Cabin Fever Retreat Weekend this year, and hope you will continue to be involved as we keep FIBREWORKS KINGSTON growing for the future.

AND

Please take a peek at our descriptions and information on the two terrific upcoming FIBREWORKS Spring 2015 Workshops. You will find all of the details on the right sidebar here at the blog...

** WORKSHOP #3

HOLLY DEAN will join us  from Merrickville  to share her "MUSE JOURNAL" Weekend on April 17-19th...

** WORKSHOP #4

DIANNE GIBSON travels from Fonthill on the weekend of May 22-24th to bring us her great "MIXED MEDIA ASSEMBLAGES" Weekend Workshop...

Do stay warm and make time to stitch!

Bethany

Fibreworks Kingston Coordinator

Just a reminder...

AS WINTER DOLDRUMS SET IN - COME PLAY...

FIBRE ARTS RETREAT

 February 21-23, 2014

Join friends at  a three day FIBRE ARTS RETREAT February 21- 23^rd, 2014 for those interested in play time during the Cabin Fever days of late February.  This workshop is sponsored by FIBREWORKS KINGSTON and is open to everyone... come for all three days, or choose one or two of the days that are of most interest to you. The workshop weekend will only be cancelled and re-scheduled with fees carried forward to the new date if a blizzard sets in and travel locally would be dangerous. Car pooling with friends is a great idea... so gather a couple of friends and come play!

 

The Retreat Weekend offers 9:30-5 pm each day instruction and will be held at the Odessa Fairgrounds Hall. Students joining Bethany will have a chance to either “do their own thing” with their own projects and guidance/assistance from Bethany, a seasoned fibre artist and Instructor in the Textile Design Program at St. Lawrence College…. OR take part in the three separate “play day” activities Beth has planned…

 

Friday, Feb. 21^st is “INDIGO: an Introduction, (with opportunity to add to the Indigo vats on Saturday and Sunday but no instruction) spending time with this magical dye solution that will forever endear your love of BLUE! There will be three active vats and lots of time to share in the magic of the indigo adventure. Come prepared with stitched and wrapped fabrics, silk, line, cotton.. your choice.

Saturday, February 22^nd is “FLAT DYEING" - a great way to dye fabric and YES it can be done very safely and with terrific results indoors with some care to manage your work site and carry wet fabrics home in a large container for rinsing at a later date. You can dye 1, 2 or 12 metres of fabric in this one day - just bring your pre-washed fabric, ready for Soda Ash soak and PLAY!

Sunday, February 23^rd   is NOTE CHANGE: HAND STITCHING DAY... MARK MAKING using your favourite threads and a fabric of your choice, you will spend a fun day exploring the art of the handmade stitch. Bethany will share some inspiration, and you can just relax among friends creating small pieces of THREAD ART! A relaxing way to spend a Sunday never hurts and we would love to see you.

Take advantage of all three days Feb. 21-23^rd for $120.00 or choose one or even two days. Each single day is $50.00  if you can only do one.  Dyes will be provided.  Supplies list with paid registration.  Please plan to bring Brown Bag lunch. Coffee, tea and break snacks provided.   

Contact Bethany at fibreworkskingston@gmail.com for a pdf descriptive and registration form or visit see the FIBREWORKS KINGSTON Blog for all of the details.

Bethany Garner, FW Coordinator and Registrar

CABIN FEVER RETREAT WEEKEND PLANNED by FIBREWORKS KINGSTON... come play!

Red Sky at Night, Bethany Garner
Fabrics "Flat Dyed" by the artist

Bethany Garner presents a three day FIBRE ARTS RETREAT February 21- 23^rd, 2014 for those interested in play time during the Cabin Fever days of late February.  This workshop is sponsored by FIBREWORKS KINGSTON and is open to everyone... come for all three days, or choose one or two of the days that are of most interest to you. The workshop weekend will only be cancelled and re-scheduled with fees carried forward to the new date if a blizzard sets in and travel locally would be dangerous. Car pooling with friends is a great idea... so gather a couple of friends and come play!

 

The Retreat Weekend offers 9:30-5 pm instruction/support each day . The workshop will be held at the Odessa Fairgrounds Hall. Students joining Bethany will have a chance to either “do their own thing” with their own projects and guidance/assistance from Bethany, a seasoned fibre artist and Instructor in the Textile Design Program at St. Lawrence College…. OR take part in the three separate “play day” activities Beth has planned…

 

Friday, Feb. 21^st is “INDIGO: an Introduction, (with opportunity to add to the Indigo vats on Saturday and Sunday but no instruction)

Saturday, February 22^nd is “FLAT DYEING" - a great way to dye fabric and YES it can be done very safely and with terrific results indoors with some care to manage your work site and carry wet fabrics home in a large container for rinsing at a later date

Sunday, February 23^rd is “SCREEN PRINTING with Thickened Dyes”. Beth will demo torn paper, resist based work and free form "deconstructed" screen work. Students would need to have a 10" x 14" screen prepared with taped edges and a squeegee for the workshop.

Take advantage of all three days Feb. 21-23^rd for a special $120.00 or choose one or two days if that works better for you and the projects are of interest. Each single day is $50.00  if you can only do one.  A nice selection of prepared dyes will be provided.   Supplies lists with paid registration.

Please plan to bring Brown Bag lunch. Coffee, tea and break snacks provided. Registration is limited to sixteen students each day to allow for individual work station space.
 

See the registration form listed in the sidebar on the right side of the blog. Copy and print the bottom portion of the form and mail to Bethany Garner.

OR

Contact Bethany at fibreworkskingston@gmail.com for a pdf descriptive and registration form.

Hope you and friends will join us for this great CABIN FEVER-buster weekend.