Descriptions of workshops has been kept brief. Please go to workshop requirements for more details. Originality will be encouraged by all tutors. Images displayed are samples of tutors work and represent what can be achieved using the techniques and inspirations offered in the workshops.

Please Note: Only 60 participants can register for each session. Make sure that you provide a first and second choice and register early. I wouldn’t want you to be disappointed!!! Some tutors are providing workshop kits.

Essential kits will be ordered for you and please pay on registering.

Optional Kits - Please order when registering but please pay the tutor at the beginning of the workshop.

For convenience, please place your payment in an envelope with your name clearly marked.

SECRET GARDEN with Robyn Alexander
Code: RA 101M
DATE: 9 – 11 May
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; some hand stitchery knowledge desirable.
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

This is the time to let the little girl out to play, wonder and let the colour do the work. Allow your imagination to run wild as you create a magical secret garden.
You will explore a range of techniques and colour including:

• Hand needle felting
• Paint & play with tyvek paper
• Lace fabrics all create different surface and form
• Appliqué beautiful hand dyed laces
• Embroider delightful garden with different threads, ribbons and a few surprises
• Dabble with simple machine embroidery
• Finish with beading.
• Approximate size: 25 x 30 cm

Essential Kit: $140 (not including charms, $154 including charms)

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

PROMISES AND POSSIBILITIES: DESIGN IN ACTION with Rosalie Dace
CODE: RD 102M
DATE: 9-11 May
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; Intermediate to Advanced
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

The purpose of this class is to take an in-depth look at the arrangement and organization of visual elements that make a successful composition or design; and to study the raw elements of design, and see how they can be put to use in the process of quilt making.

The class will begin will interactive discussion around the notion that the basic design elements are used in all design universally. Using slides and other visual material, we will study the purposes and different types of design and the process of design before looking closely at the elements of design, namely, line, mark, texture, shape, and color. Please refer to workshop requirements for additional details of this fascinating workshop offered by Rosalie.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

SCRAP QUEEN ODYSSEY with Brenda Gael Smith
CODE: BS 104M
DATE: 9-11 May
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
Join Brenda in an adventurous journey designed to realise the potential of your quilting scrap bag no matter what shape or size your scraps are. (For ease of handling and optimal quiltmaking efficiency, this workshop does not use pieces smaller than 1 1/2inches wide.) Specific Focus:

This workshop explores a variety of quiltmaking techniques including foundation piecing, fusible web applique, crazy patchwork, half square triangles and improvisational piecing. In addition, various quilt finishing techniques will be discussed and demonstrated. Expected Outcomes: Each student will create a personal set of samples demonstrating each technique and also create one or two quilt tops using their preferred technique that suits the profile of their scrap stash. Students will also be aware of a range of quilt finishing techniques and know - how to select a finish that best complements their quilt top. Images are indicative only and represent what can be achieved using the techniques learned.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

EARTH, WIND AND FIRE with Rosalie Dace
CODE: 202M
DATE: 13-15 May
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

Emphasis in this workshop will be on colour variation and choice, contrasts and subtlety, tonal value, texture and pattern. Invite the magic of Nature’s colours into your quilts! Be inspired by the myriad varieties and ever-changing palette of rich earth, cool air, water and blazing hot fire. Learning to work sensitively with colour, contrasts and harmonies. You will do a series of small studies, followed by one or two larger colour-rich abstract quilt tops. Please refer to workshop requirements for further details of this popular workshop that Rosalie teaches around the world.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

STACKS OF IMPROVISATION with Brenda Gael Smith
CODE: BS 204M
DATE: 13-15 May
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
Improvise with fabric stacks, freehand cutting and pinless curved piecing. Imagine the possibilities! These colour and design exercises will set you on the path of personal, creative self expression in art quilts and can be translated to larger works. Specific Focus: Freehand cutting, pinless curved piecing, colour and composition and quilt finishing techniques. Expected Outcomes: After completing a range of colour and design exercises, students will create their own improvisational quilt top composition. Students will also be aware of a range of quilt finishing techniques and know how to select a finish that best complements their quilt top.Images are indicative only and represent what can be achieved using the techniques learned.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

Land & Sea Scapes - a Mixed Media Techniques approach with Lorraine Parker
CODE: LM 205M
DATE: 13-15 May
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; Intermediate to Advanced
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
Workshop participants will create an individual scene based on an inspiration of their choice of the sea, a pond, a river or lake. This may be from a photo or picture.
Size of project: Approximately 76cm x 56cm, (30in x 22in) with borders or 61cm x 41cm (24in x 16 in) without. The approximate size limit is needed in order to cover the interesting and varied techniques offered in this workshop.
Specific areas of Focus.

• Silk fabric making and its incorporation as sea/water (as well as other ways it could be used)
• Photo to fabric transfer as a means of enhancing creative work
• Embellishment with thread including bobbin work if time permitting.
• Fabric painting
  

The Images illustrated are examples of expected student outcome.

• The image “Nobby’s Beach” (at left) is an illustration of what can be achieved using the techniques presented in this workshop - eg tree made using free motion bobbin work and free motion stitching, roots by bobbin work, rocks from photo images – (photo to fabric transfer) highlighted with free motion stitching, Special Preparation: Participants will need to bring their inspirational photograph or picture as a JPEG image on a USB stick ready for manipulation. A photograph is recommended as it will give a better resolution than a scanned image.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

Creative Winter Escape Session 1 - 3rd to 6th July 2010

PAINTED SURFACES FOR ART QUILTERS with Nic Bridges
CODE: NB 301J
DATE: 4 to 6 July July
Duration: 3 day
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
Participants will have the opportunity to play with different paint effects to enhance their fabrics and expand their art quilting repertoire.
Techniques covered will include:

• Wet and dry paint effects on various materials
• Painted fusible webbing and printing
• Create your own design based on a photograph or other image which will be broken down into sections on which to apply different surface techniques.
• These sections will then be reconstructed to complete a unique quilt.
• Machine quilting techniques will also be included in the workshop resulting in a beautiful and original quilt.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

JANE SASSAMAN – OUR INTERNATIONAL GUEST TUTOR.

Jane’s Workshops build confidence and keener ways of seeing... Learn from Jane’s insights into design and inspiration. These workshops have been successfully conducted for thousands of people from Tokyo, Japan to Lincoln, Nebraska. In fact, Jane has been twice nominated for Teacher of the Year by Professional Quilter’s Magazine. Jane’s comforting nature and encouragement will benefit seasoned artists and novices alike.

SUNS AND MOONS with Jane Sassaman
CODE: JS 303J
DATE: 4 July
Duration: 1 day
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

Suns and Moons is a machine appliqué workshop based on the circle motif. Using Jane’s appliqué techniques and experimenting with decorative stitches, you will begin by making a series of colorful fabric discs which will then be arranged into a dramatic and contemporary composition.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf


SHAPE SHIFTING with Jane Sassaman
CODE: JS 304J
DATE: 5 to 6 July
Duration: 2 day
Skill level; intermediate to advanced Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
We all have innate preferences for certain colors, shapes and proportions, as well as natural attractions to certain symbols, images and icons. In this class we will study photographs and slides of a variety of historicand ethnic decorative objects to help uncover some of the motifs and symbols which may have powerfulpersonal resonance. For example, you may be drawn to Buddhist mandalas or Mexican milagros.You may be attracted to the design of an Inuit mask or the pattern from an Art Nouveau vase or the shape of an Egyptian chair oreven Australian Indigenous Art. Each student will select historic motifs, shapes and images which they will manipulate and reinterpret into a unique statement in fabric and thread. By lifting an image from one time and place to another the student will begin to exercise the power to recognize their personal touch stones to imagination. The aim of the workshop is to nurture your intuitive skills Students should have a desire to develop their own design language and unique visual symbols, plus an interest in the history of decorative design.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

TEXTURED TREASURES with Lisa Walton
CODE: LW 305J
DATE: 4 to 6 July
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
Spend three days with Lisa for a fascinating workshop of surface design possibilities, inspired by shapes and textures around you. Using inspiration gathered from your travels or nature, combined to create a fabric art piece to treasure. This collected inspirations will be used to create a pieced wall hanging that will be further embellished with beads and three dimensional objects.
Students will experiment and explore the following surface design techniques:

• Obtaining rubbings in a variety of scale and dimension.
• Fabric stamping for added design including creation of your own stamps
• Foiling secrets revealed
• Free form machine piecingBead embellishment for exciting dimension.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

SECRETS OF TURNED EDGED APPLIQUE (HAND AND MACHINE) with Mariya Waters.

Many of us are familiar with the multiple award winning quilt “Renaissance Revival” - researched, designed and created  by Mariya Waters.
Mariya will spend the whole week at Creative Winter Escape Retreat, teaching and sharing her skills, knowledge and wide experiences. The special technique that Mariya employs is a new modern method of machine turned edged appliqué and gives the effect of hand appliqué. Because the preparation for both handwork and machine work is almost identical either sewing method can be chosen. She is also an expert in and Trapunto and quilting. What a privilege it will be to take one of her classes!!!!!

CURVES FOR LANDSCAPES with Mariya Waters
Code: MW 306J                                           
DATE: Sunday 4 July
Duration: 1 day
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

This is a new workshop for 2010. Using semi soluble stabilisers to turn the edges of curves to create a hand appliqué feel to landscapes. This workshop is drawn from Mariya’s latest quilt – Southern Delight  - a section of the quilt illustrated. This is a NEW workshop that Mariya is developing - the details of the workshop requirements will be up soon.

RENAISSANCE SQUARE with Mariya Waters
Code: MW 305J
DATE: Monday/Tuesday 5/6 July
Duration: 2 days
Skill level; all levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
This is a hand appliqué workshop producing a 36” project inspired and derived form Mariya’s multiple award winning quilt “Renaissance Revival”.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

DEVELOPING DESIGNS IN ABSTRACTION with Nic Bridges
CODE: NB 401J
DATE: 8 to 10 July
Duration: 3 day
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG
This master class will lead participants through design and colour exercises to create an original and unique design for art quilts, then develop and transfer their designs to fabric and stitch,
Specific focus areas:

• Design and colour play using collage to translate the design into cloth.
• Ink on paper to create a series of designs (no drawing skills required)
• Experiment with colour using acrylic and gouache paint to refine design
• Translation of design to fabric
• free motion machine work to add depth and complexity to the finished piece.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

MACHINE QUILTING WITH STYLE AND INDIVIDUALITY with Deborah Louie
CODE: DL 402J
DATE: 8 to 10 July
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic - refer to workshop requirements
This master class is designed to give you the confidence and the skills to free motion quilt all of your quilts, having a professional looking quilt that you can be very proud of. Firstly learning control skills, of knowing where and how to stop on a design, correct speed of hands and needle. Free form designs for blocks, sashes and borders will be covered as well and beautiful textures and quilting on stencil line and take a pattern and free form it to make your own unique design. Start designing your own individual quilting patterns exclusive to you and your own special quilts.
A three day intensive class with a machine quilting expert and an experienced and caring tutor.
A summary of some of the techniques that you will learn and skills that you will refine are listed in the workshop requirements:

This master class is designed to give you the confidence and the skills to free motion quilt all of your quilts, having a professional looking quilt that you can be very proud of. Firstly learning control skills, of knowing where and how to stop on a design, correct speed of hands and needle. Free form designs for blocks, sashes and borders will be covered as well and beautiful textures and quilting on stencil line and take a pattern and free form it to make your own unique design. Start designing your own individual quilting patterns exclusive to you and your own special quilts.
A three day intensive class with a machine quilting expert and an experienced and caring tutor.
A summary of some of the techniques that you will learn and skills that you will refine are listed in the workshop requirements:

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

ABSTRACTING FROM NATURE with Jane Sassaman
CODE: JS 403J
DATE: 8 to 10 July
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; Beginning to advanced
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

Nature is an endless source of inspiration. In this class we will examine a wide variety of artists interpretations of nature before beginning to manipulate natural forms ourselves. Through a series of exercises we will experiment with abstraction and exaggeration to capture the essence and energy of your favorite flora and achieve dramatic visual effects. We will then translate these ideas into fabric in the 2 to 5 day workshop. Drawing skills are not needed but participants should have a strong interest in developing their own design language and unique visual symbols. This class is especially beneficial for the drawing impaired and the tragically literal.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

INSPIRATIONAL 3-D MACHINE EMBROIDERY with Liz Scobie
CODE: DL 404J
DATE: 8 to 10 July
Duration: 3 days
Skill level; All levels
Sewing Machine: Basic - refer workshop requirements

Spend 3 days playing, experimenting, exploring and creating new techniques that will take your art quilts or creative machine embroidered projects to a new level.
During this workshop you will create:

• A document book or journal crammed full of techniques and inspiration for future work...OR...
• work towards a project with the techniques that you will explore directed to your planned project. eg Forest floor, forest landscape, ocean floor/ seascape, or any theme that you choose. Liz is happy to discuss your workshop objectives with you.
  Specific Focus:
• Explore simple ways of adding colour with pencils, crayons, paint sticks and spray. Through the techniques of stamping, printing, painting, stencilling block printing, rubbings, painted Vliesofix, metal foils and much more.
• Achieving greater dimension. Using machine stitch to create, decorate and embellish the following techniques. Overlay work, raw edge and 3-D appliqué, machine wrapped cords, water soluble fabrics and some of your own painted fabrics. With special emphasis on adding a third dimension to your work.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

GET STUFF’T with Mariya Waters
Code: MW 405J
DATE: Thursday 8 July
Duration: 1 day
Skill level; A knowledge of free motion machine quilting is required.
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

Create an Oval Wreath or Feathered Heart using modern machine trapunto.
Trapunto will add that extra dimension to your machine quilting. Create a small project of an oval wreath that is trapunto-ed (stuff’t) using modern machine methods. The background is either finely stippled or gridded. The simple oval wreath can be extended at home using an additional motif provided to go into the corners. Suitable for a wall hanging. Skill level; beginner to advanced with a working knowledge of your sewing machine.
Sewing Machine: Basic ZIG ZAG

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf

FUNKY DAISY with Mariya Waters
Code: MW 405J
DATE: Fri/Sat 9/10 July 
Duration: day

Learn machine appliqué using a new modern method by turning the edges of the appliqué shapes over a semi soluble stabiliser. When the work is washed the stabiliser virtually disappears. 
Easy to learn and creates a beautiful finish to your project
This is an 18 x 22 “ design that can be personalised by each student using a range of colours and choice of leaf shapes.

Note: This class only produces a single block only. These pictures are examples of varying colour arrangements. Because the preparation for both handwork and machine work is almost identical either sewing method can be chosen.

Click here for workshop requirements page pdf