Mini fused fabric class

Posted on July 9, 2019 by admin

I taught a one hour class on fusible collage at the Netivot Shalom retreat. I called it, “Fabric Collage without Sewing,” because it was so short, and because it was for people who don’t necessarily sew. I got a nice mix of kids and adults who seemed to be having a good time with the materials. Above is my friend Mindy, holding the challah cover she made. To make the materials easier to manage in such a short time frame, I fused the fusible web to the backs of a variety of fabric before the class started.

Posted in Classes, Machine applique, Work In Progress | Tagged fusible applique, Netivot Shalom | Comments Off

I’m teaching Fusible Machine Applique Aug. 4th

Posted on July 3, 2019 by admin

I’m teaching Fusible Machine Applique Aug. 4th at Hello Stitch Click here for more info, and to sign up. Here’s an example:

Aug 4 from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM

At Hello Stitch Studio, 1708 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703

I will teach paper cutting techniques to make intricate, iron-on fabric appliqués, using Xacto knives and scissors. Then we will practice different ways of sewing the fused appliqués onto a background fabric. Explore the possibilities with multi-layer appliqués.

This is a process class, focused on learning how to cut and appliqué fabric. However it’s easy to turn your class project into a wall hanging or pillow.

Skill Level: Appropriate for everyone from beginners to advanced.

Posted in Classes, hamsa, Machine applique | Tagged Claire-Sherman, fusible applique, hamsa, Hello Stitch, Hellostitchstudio | Comments Off

The secret quilt I’ve been working on

Posted on June 25, 2019 by admin

As the EBHQ board member in charge of workshops it is my responsibility to organize and make a group quilt for the outgoing president every year. Since I did this last year, the responsibility shouldn’t have snuck up on me this year, but it did. Somehow I found 13 quilters to each make two blocks for this quilt. Orna (my co- workshop person) and I designed a quilt that incorporates the things that Janet, the outgoing president likes. As of today the quilt is done!! Joan quilted it and Edy sewed on the binding. It’s actually a two sided quilt- Joan had made a donation quilt that was the right size once I added a strip to one side.

Above is the front, and below is the back.

Here’s a detail of the blocks on the front.

Before starting to design this quilt with Orna, I made a list of the things Janet likes in a quilt: Fall colors, muted colors, rust, olive, brown, maroon, indigo, Asian fabric, traditional quilt blocks, not improv. As you might notice, there’s not much we have in common except for liking Asian fabrics and indigo.

I gave the quilt to Janet tonight at the EBHQ educational session, so it’s not a secret anymore.

Posted in EBHQ, Work In Progress | Comments Off

Blue and white quilt block

Posted on June 24, 2019 by admin

My friend Mary loves blue and white china dishes. She usually makes quilts and gives them away. She’s finally making a quilt for herself with blue and white as the only colors. She asked if any of her quilting friends wanted to contribute a block or two. Above is the block I made for her. I was so excited that I had the perfect two fabrics for it, plus the ferns as the medium blue. It’s a modified version of Gwen Marston’s liberated star. This is Mary’s photo as I made it at the last minute and failed to photograph it. The block is symmetrical, but the left hand side is cut off in the photo.

Posted in Improvisational piecing, Liberated basket, Work In Progress | Comments Off

What I’m working on

Posted on June 23, 2019 by admin

A week ago I taught my circular squares and rectangles class. I chose to make sample blocks in the same colors as last time I taught the class. Now I’ve got enough blocks to start making a quilt. Here’s one layout. I’ve rearranged it several times since this photo.

I decided that I wasn’t afraid of partial seam construction. Most of the rectangular holes will need to be sewn with the partial seam technique.

Posted in Improvisational piecing, Work In Progress | Comments Off

A cape!

Posted on June 18, 2019 by admin

A little boy that I know just had his 3rd birthday. Back when I had a 3 year old, more than 20 years ago, I made some capes for the preschool auction. At the time, I traced around a cape among the school’s dress ups onto a brown paper bag as a pattern to cut around. The question I asked myself was whether I still had the paper pattern in my sewing cupboard, or did I throw it out? It’s hard to know what size to make a cape for a 3 year old, if you don’t have a 3 year old around, to measure at home. I looked for the brown paper pattern, and couldn’t find it. I had a vague memory of throwing it out. Then I remembered that I had cut out a cape of pirate fabric that I never finished. If I still had it, it would be in my box of children’s and novelty fabric. I found it on the very bottom of that box! I used it as a pattern to cut out two pieces of fabric, one for the front, and one for the back. Although I originally intended for the alef-bet fabric to be the front, I think in reality the orange will be the front. I machine appliqued an “A” on the orange for his name. Orange is his favorite color. The little red square is Velcro.

Here’s the other “front.”

Posted in Work In Progress | Comments Off

Work from the Circular Squares & Rectangles class

Posted on June 12, 2019 by admin

Here’s some student work from the Circular Squares & Rectangles class that I taught at HelloStitch:

These are both by the same student. The first is just 4 square blocks, and the second uses both squares and rectangles.

Same thing. First is 4 squares the second adds a rectangle.

This is what I worked on while teaching.

Posted in Classes, Improvisational piecing, Work In Progress | Tagged Claire-Sherman, Hello Stitch, Hellostitchstudio | Comments Off

I’m teaching fusible fabric applique, Aug 4

Posted on June 12, 2019 by admin

I’m teaching a fusible fabric applique class at HelloStitch, Aug 4. Below is an example of what you can do with this technique.

Here’s a link to the class on the website. https://www.hellostitchstudio.com/claire-sherman

Use paper cutting techniques to make intricate, iron-on fabric appliqués. Then practice different ways of sewing the fused appliqués onto a background fabric. Explore the possibilities with multi-layer appliqués.

This is a process class, focused on learning how to cut and appliqué fabric. However it’s easy to turn your class project into a wall hanging or pillow.

Skill Level: Appropriate for everyone from beginners to advanced.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The eyes quilt, continued

Posted on May 28, 2019 by admin

I started thinking about this quilt last Monday. I started working on it on Wednesday, and I finished the binding this morning at 1 AM. I’m not quite done yet. I might sew on some beads. I need to ship the quilt Tuesday morning.

Here’s a detail of the beading I’m in the process of doing. The photo is rotated wrong, but I kept trying to fix it, and my computer wouldn’t let me because the file was supposedly open somewhere else.

I plan to ship this quilt to Virginia tomorrow, so any beading I do needs to be done by noon tomorrow.

Ok. It’s after midnight and I’m going to bed now. Here’s a final photo:

And here’s a detail of one eye and the beading:

Posted in Improvisational piecing, Machine applique, Quilt Shows, sewing with silk, Work In Progress | Tagged Eye Contact, Sacred Threads | Comments Off

The eyes have it!

Posted on May 23, 2019 by admin

I’m working on a 23″ wide by 5″ tall eyes challenge. Since that doesn’t make much sense, here’s the info:

Sacred Threads Eye Contact Project

Sacred Threads 2019

“Eye Contact: creating a connection“

We need your Participation!

Samples made by Barbara Hollinger, Karol Kusmaul and Laurie Ceesay

Hi, I am Barbara Hollinger, curator of Sacred Threads, our national quilt and fiber art exhibit.

We are planning the show for the summer of 2019 and have a project underway that will allow you to participate in creating a special installation for our visitors.

It’s called “Eye Contact: creating a connection“.

There is a famous quote by Cicero (106-43 B.C.). ‘Ut imago est animi voltus sic indices oculi’ (The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter). ‘The eyes are the window of the soul‘ is a variant form of the proverb…”Reference

Here are the specifics:

– The dimensions are 23″ wide x 5″ high
– Any fiber/ mixed media technique and materials
– Finished using any method
– No sleeves are needed
– Please put your name on the back of your piece, either with a label or permanent pen
– Human Eyes – Looking at the Viewer

Make one, or make several, and mail them to us to share in a special display at the exhibit here in the Washington DC area next summer.

Deadline May 31, 2019.

Mail to:

ST Eye Contact Project

c/o Barbara Hollinger

10309 Dunn Meadow Road

Vienna VA 22182

Please fill out this return shipping form and include with your shipment.

Return Fees (There is no fee to enter but we do need to collect funds to help return your piece to you):

From within the US: Please include a $7.5 check, made out to Sacred Threads.

From outside the US: We will send you a PAYPAL invoice for $25.00.

We will return your artwork in a USPS Flat-Rate small box. It will be trackable and the default insurance will be applied.

We would love to have you join us at the exhibit and cannot wait to share your “Eye Contact: creating a connection” project.

I rarely make art with eyes in it. About 30 years ago I made a Purim mask of Queen Esther out of Fimo clay and wood. Here it is:

It suddenly occurred to me that I could make this quilt topical by putting stars in the eyes of the quilt I’m making of eyes. but I’m not sure I really want to. If you have an opinion, please leave me a comment below.

Here’s what I have, so far:

Posted in Improvisational piecing, Work In Progress | Tagged Sacred Threads | Comments Off

Claire Sherman Art