Fall Classes for 2011

Well it is that time of year again! New samples have been made, old favorites have returned, and the schedule has been set! Here is what I will be offering at Joggles.com this fall.

*NEW* Beadoodlery 2 lessons/$25.00 beginning September 20, 2011.

This is an excellent beginning class to learn about beads, free-form stitched bead embroidery, with a step-by-step illustration of the design process. In Beadoodlery you will stitch beads onto to a fabric base to create a “doodled” bead pattern. I will provide 4 different heart shapes, though you can chose any design you like for the base.

*Returning Favorite* Jardin de Grandmere 2 lessons/$22.00 beginning September 23, 2011

Elegant and pretty is the best description for this bracelet. The flower medallion is created with a circular peyote stitch. These circular peyote medallions reminded me of the “Grandmother’s Garden” quilt block. When looking at fabric yo-yos stitched in floral seed sacks or vintage cottons, I imagined a garden of beaded flowers. The dimension is created by using three different sizes of seed beads. The stitch can be used to create a single or double row of flowers, with a beautiful button closure to finish off your bracelet.

*Returning Favorite* Creative Thread Embroidery 3 lessons/$35.00 beginning October 4, 2011

Explore the possibilities and broaden your creative stitched repertoire to add to your CQ and other embroidery projects. We will work the embroidery stitches using a variety of threads such as pearl cotton; buttonhole twist; rayon and cotton floss on a fabric base that you can use later as needle case.
Some stitches will blend thread to create new colors and textures. The dimensional embroidery stitches that will be covered are bullion knot, cast on buttonhole, drizzle, woven, whipped and tatted. Traditional stitches such as the buttonhole, chain stitch, feather stitch, feather stitch leaf, French knot, lazy daisy, pistol stitch and straight stitch will be also covered.

* NEW* A Crazy Lady’s Guide to Embellishing 4 lessons/$45.00 beginning October 6, 2011

Do you have a crazy pieced block or quilt top perhaps from A Crazy Lady’s Guide to Piecing that is just waiting to be encrusted with embroidery, ribbonwork, and embellishment? In this class I will cover many techniques that you can use to create a unique and beautiful heirloom piece that will be passed down from family member to member. Please note that there will be no instructions to make or finish the block or quilt.

*Returning Favorite* Scrumptious Hearts 3 lessons/$38.00 beginning October 7, 2011

Bits and pieces of cherished lace are melded with silk fabric to form a beautiful heart shaped base for your floral design. Chose from a few different heart shapes and ribbon worked floral vignettes, or create your own. The melded silk and lace base and the RTD silk ribbons for the ribbon work flowers and the silk ribbon embroidery are dyed with the Colorhue dyes. This is an excellent way to use up small amounts of this and that to form an heirloom brooch to be treasured.

*NEW* Kelp Scarf 2 lessons/$20.00 beginning October 25, 2011

In class you will make stitched “mesh” from strips and scraps of fabric, decorative yarns, ribbons and metallic or rayon threads. The result will be a lightweight, colorful scarf that can be worn all year round.

*NEW* Beadazzled Stitches 4 lessons/$45.00 beginning November 4, 2011

Do you love embroidery? Have you ever embroidered with beads? This is the perfect class for you to learn how to combine these two techniques. I will give you directions to make a simple strip-pieced base made from batik fabrics or if you have a CQ base already made you can work on that in class. This class takes you on a journey that explores beads, embroidery and other embellishments.

*NEW* Silk Ribbon Brooches 2 lessons/$20.00 beginning November 8, 2011

This class is a great introduction to silk embroidery ribbons, buttonhole twist, decorative threads and a few basic embroidery stitches. Make this lovely little brooch from one of the three different shapes and garden designs to give as a gift or to keep for your self. The embroidery stitches that will be covered are the woven rose, feather stitch, chain stitch, lazy daisy, and French knot.

*NEW* Fabuloucious Felt Florals 2 classes/$25.00 beginning November 22, 2011

These fast and easy flowers are just fun, fun, fun! Create a brooch, hair ornament, or decorate an object with these colorful, creative floral beauties. Several different flowers, leaves and embellishments will be made using a variety of shapes with the addition of machine and hand embroidery.

Hope to see you in class! Enjoy all that you do, every single day! Christen

Winter/Spring Classes 2011

Here are the Classes that I will be teaching this Winter/Spring session at Joggles.com.

Beginning Embroidery with Bead Embellishment

This 4 lesson class is scheduled to begin on January 18, 2011.

This is a great introductory class to traditional embroidery stitches with the added flare and dazzle that only seed beads can add. These stitches can be incorporated in any fiber design that you choose, whether it be an already stitched crazy quilted block, a strip pieced pillow top, or an appliquéd art quilt block. A variety of stitches are used in each separate embroidered design, a Base Stitch, a Design Stitch, and an Embellished Stitch. Additional embellishments will also be covered such as adding in buttons, sequins, large beads and charms.

Flora Dora and Daisy Chain RAW Bracelets: Two for One

This 3 lesson class is scheduled to begin on January 28, 2011.

Do you have a wonderful stash of buttons and beads that are just waiting for the right project to come along? Well consider these beaded and buttoned up bracelets, which are made using two different Right Angle Weave techniques. The first bracelet simple and elegant the other feminine and charming; both take only a short amount of time to make.

Scrumptious Scraps

This 5 lesson class is scheduled to begin on February 25, 2011.

Scrumptious bit and pieces of vintage laces are melded and stitched together to form a unique and beautiful base for your creative stitched designs. Once the lace scraps are turned into a base, I will show you how to dye the base and a variety of ribbons (some silk) that can be later used in the embroidery and ribbon worked vignettes.


A Rose Garden

This 2 lesson class is scheduled to begin on March 15, 2011.

Your purse or pillow will start with a base of cotton velveteen or silk dupioni fabric. This is embroidered with silk ribbon and silk buttonhole embroidery stitches. A few beads here and there can add a magical glimmer to the design.

Color Me Happy

This 2 lesson class is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2011.

This is a technique class that debunks myths, decodes terms and will open your world to the possibilities of COLOR, creating your own colors and dye baths to be exact. The goal of the class will be to record the samples in a journal in addition to the dyed silk swatches that you create in each lesson. We will discuss working with color in different mediums. The class will only use Colorhue dyes; no other dye will be covered.

Creative Thread Embroidery

This 3 lesson class is scheduled to begin on April 19, 2011.

Explore the possibilities and broaden your creative stitched repertoire to add to your CQ and other embroidery projects. We will work the embroidery stitches using a variety of threads such as pearl cotton; buttonhole twist; rayon and cotton floss on a fabric base that you can use later as needle case.

Some stitches will blend thread to create new colors and textures. The dimensional embroidery stitches that will be covered are bullion knot, cast on buttonhole, drizzle, woven, whipped and tatted. Traditional stitches such as the buttonhole, chain stitch, feather stitch, feather stitch leaf, French knot, lazy daisy, pistol stitch and straight stitch will be also covered.

Magic Web

This 2 lesson class is scheduled to begin on May 17, 2011.

This is a great technique project; I call it Metallic Threads 101, but it doesn’t stop there. In class you will make a “magic web” from bits of precious scraps, decorative yarns and metallic threads, sandwiched together with Solvy and machine stitching, lots of machine stitching. The unique fabric that you create will be used as a base for a heart shaped brooch that will be embellished with buttons and beads.

I hope that you find something to spark your creative spirit.
In the meantime, Happy Stitching! Christen

Silk Ribbon Embroidery combined with Ribbonworked Flowers

Silk Ribbon Embroidery is one of my favorite forms of handwork, and adding in a bouquet of ribbon- worked flowers just seems so natural!

I have created a few classes and patterns using this technique. These projects are focused primarily on silk ribbon embroidery with additional flowers made from ribbon worked flowers.
(If you click the link it will take you to the page, where you will find information on the class or pattern for the instructions.)

A Walk Through My Flower Garden
The fabric base machine quilted with metallic threads. Machine stitched ribbons form a trellis; silk bias ribbon forms the "walk" or path for the floral motifs.
The "enchanted gardens" of silk and rayon ribbons and fabric flowers and leaves are stitched first, then attached to the fabric base. The vignettes are embroidered with smaller flowers and leaves stitched with silk ribbon embroidery, Brazilian embroidery and traditional free form embroidery techniques.

Afternoon Tea Brooch
Create a feminine brooch from a variety of ribbons, which include: velvet, vintage grosgrain's, French Jacquards, moire, dyed silk bias. Some beads were used for further embellishment.

Beribboned
The base fabric is first stitched with playful grids of randomly placed satin ribbons. These sections can then be embellished with hand dyed lace appliques resembling vignettes of baskets.
These baskets are filled with silk and satin ribbon worked flowers and leaves; further embellished with silk ribbon and traditional embroidery stitches and beading.

Elegant Additions Wall Hanging
The sample is comprised of 9 squares full of extraordinary examples of silk ribbon embroidery. Click on the image for a full page image of a larger image, then click on each square for a larger image still.
Embroidery knowledge is a must for this class. Seven stitches are a prerequisite for the twenty or more stitches that will be needed to complete the wall hanging: lazy daisy, French knot, stem stitch, straight stitch, pistil stitch, feather stitch, buttonhole stitch.
All the components and the designs can be adapted to a current crazy pieced or quilted project that you are working on.

Floral Brooches
Embellish a special piece of tapestry or silk with a few artfully placed flowers and embroidery stitches. The pattern includes directions for three different brooch shapes: a heart, paisley or tableau.
Beads and charms will add just the right touch to make this a contemporary piece of jewelry. You may be tempted to make one of each!

Silk Ribbon Embroidered Etui
Etui is French for "small ornamental case", and the one you will make with this pattern will hold your favorite needles, pins, and scissors in a size convenient enough to travel with. You'll be able to showcase these needle working skills on its cover: applique, ribbon-work, silk ribbon embroidery, traditional embroidery, beading on fabric.

Scrumptious Scraps
Bits and pieces of precious laces are melded and stitched together to form a single fabric. After the lace fabric is formed, it is then dyed, along with ribbons to embellish the piece with. The second part of the class will focus on silk ribbon embroidery and flower making, using the ribbons that you dyed in the first part of class and the base of lace fabric.

Vintage Redressed
This is a perfect venue for all of those vintage trims and buttons you have been saving to recycle onto wonderful.
The body of the vest is pieced in sections of woven ribbon and fabric. The body of the vest is embellished with silk ribbon embroidery, buttons and beads.

Happy stitching, enjoy what you do and the time that you have to create!

Crazy Piecing with Traditional Embroidery and Beading

I have been embellishing shirts, jeans and jackets with Traditional Embroidery from the age of six. Once I learned to sew, I had my mom's fabric stash to work with which was full of tiny bits of exotic fabrics, cottons and velveteens. Crazy Piecing these bits of this and that really appeals to my sense of use what you have on hand. Incorporating beads just seemed to be a natural addition to this form.

I have created a few classes and patterns using this technique.
(If you click the link it will take you to the page, where you will find information on the class or pattern for the instructions.)

Avonlea Revisited
I have a unique technique for preparing the crazy pieced sections. The basic technique of stitch and flip fabric-piecing method, will be covered along with a few tricks on getting yourself out of those difficult situations. A pieced fabric fan and fabric yo-yos will be demonstrated to further enhance your work. Traditional crazy-pieced embroidery using contemporary threads, with bead and button.

Beginning Embroidery with Bead Embellishment: BEBE
This is a great introduction class to crazy pieced traditional embroidery stitches. The fabric base is prepared at home, so class time is devoted to learning the stitches.
The base can be crazy pieced, or ironed onto a piece of muslin on a pre- printed crazy pieced square which is available through the store.
The stitches that are learned in class are traditional embroidery stitches that can be used in many projects. Beads can be added for extra embellishment.
Crazy Piecing 101
This class will guide you into a part of history where every precious snip of fabric, lace, and trim were important. The end result is a ravishing display of the crazy pieced square that can be turned into a pillow, wall hanging or if you are more a quilt. This class will prepare you for the classes with more advanced techniques that also include embroidery and beading.

Tied in Knots
Tied in knots -- that's the definition of tatting! Tatting is a lace comprised of a series of knots. Loops (referred to as picots) and chains are added for design interest.The project is a shuttle holder that is crazy pieced and embroidered with silk ribbon and threads.The tatted motifs are added into the embroidered design.

Travel Sewing Kit
This is a handy carrying case for needles, scissors, rulers and more. The face of the kit is crazy pieced with machine stitching and hand embroidery. The inside of the case has many compartments for all of the necessities. It is a perfect size to take on a trip or to classes.

Victorian Drawstring Purse
This opulent reticule, pieced from lustrous scraps of iridescent silk and cotton, is embroidered front and back with shimmering metallic threads, seed beads, buttons, and charms.
The techniques covered in project are crazy piecing by machine, hand embroidery with bead embellishment.

Happy stitching to you whether you are a crazy stitcher or a sane one!