by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
Note to Teachers and Shop Owners
This book teaches any quilter how to create works of art that begin with simple photos and end with wonderfully thread-embellished, quilted masterpieces. Each of the six classes outlined here makes an easy introduction to the techniques we teach in the book. Pick your favorite and try it out on your customers!
- Beth and Lori
Classes in this Lesson Plan
- Personalized Book Cover (4-hour class)
- Fabric Friendship Book (8-hour class or two 4-hour classes)
- Fabric Greeting Cards (3-hour class)
- Fabric Postcards (2-hour class)
- Personalized Pillow Sham (4-hour class)
- Personalized Tote Bag (8-hour class or two 4-hour classes)
Personalized Book Cover
Class description:
In this class, you will learn how to create a personalized book cover. Discover how to take your personal photo or image and turn it into a work of art! You will learn how to scan a print photo; create interesting effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 software; print it on fabric; add free-motion stitching for texture, dimension and definition; and finally, incorporate the artwork into a book cover that you will construct during class. This project makes a great personalized gift for that hard-to-surprise friend or relative.
Approximate class time:
4-hour class (We recommend limited class sizes due to the time needed to scan and print each student's photo.)
What each student will get:
Each student will take home a completed personalized book cover from this class.
Project supplies:
- Required text: Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
- Photograph (needs to be vertical for best results); print or digital
- 1 sheet pretreated inkjet fabric
- ½ yard fabric for outside of book cover
- ½ yard lining fabric (can coordinate or contrast with outside fabric)
- ½ yard fusible fleece
- All-purpose sewing thread that coordinate with outside fabric and colors in photo
- 24" zipper, color-coordinated with outside fabric
- 9 inches of 1"-wide belt webbing for handle
- General hand-sewing supplies
- Sewing machine with feed dogs that drop (if not provided in classroom)
Advance preparations:
Make a completed book cover to use as a class sample. You will need to have at least one computer, scanner and inkjet printer set up before class. (It is most efficient if you have an assistant to scan, crop to appropriate size, and print photos onto fabric at the beginning of class while you begin instructing the class.)
During the class:
Following the instructions in Altered Photo Artistry, pages 54-57, demonstrate how to:
- Cut the cover fabric, lining, and fusible fleece (page 55)
- Follow Steps 1-9 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54) to scan, crop, filter, adjust and print image.
- Construct book cover, incorporating the printed and stitched photo image.
- Complete the book cover.
Fabric Friendship Book
Class description:
In this class, you will learn how to create a personalized fabric friendship book. Discover how to turn photos or images into a personalized work of art! You will learn how to scan a print photo; create interesting effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 software; print it on fabric; add free-motion stitching for texture, dimension and definition; and finally, incorporate the artwork into a fabric book that will "wow" your best friend. This is a gift they'll be talking about and showing off to everyone they know for weeks!
Approximate class time:
8-hour class, or two 4-hour classes. (We recommend limited class sizes due to the time needed to scan and print each student's photo.)
What each student will get:
Each student will take home a completed fabric friendship book from this class.
Project supplies:
- Required text: Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
- Photographs (either vertical or horizontal can be used); print or digital
- Favorite quotes and/or messages
- 2-3 sheets pretreated inkjet fabric
- Fast2fuse double-sided fusible stiff interfacing, 4 pieces, 2 ¾" x 2 ¾"
- Muslin scraps, 4 pieces 3" x 6"
- Misc. fabric scraps, 8 pieces at least 3 1/8" square
- Plain paper
- Glue stick
- Monofilament thread
- Specialty threads, as desired
- General hand-sewing supplies
- Buttons, beads, fibers, charms, and other embellishments
- Scraps of ribbon, textured fibers, and trims
- Sewing machine with feed dogs that drop (if not provided in classroom)
Advance preparations:
Make a completed fabric friendship book to use as a class sample. You will need to have at least one computer, scanner and inkjet printer set up before class. (It is most efficient if you have an assistant to scan, crop to appropriate size, and print photos onto fabric at the beginning of class while you begin instructing the class.)
During the class:
Following the instructions in Altered Photo Artistry, pages 60-61, demonstrate how to:
- Lay out pages of friendship book on paper
- Plan photos, quotations and messages for each page.
- Using Adobe Photo Elements 5.0, position desired quotes or messages around image (page 30, Adding Text).
- Follow steps 1-3 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54).
- Arrange planned pages as shown on page 61.
- Follow steps 4-6 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54).
- Apply fast2fuse.
- Lay out page backgrounds.
- Position fabric photos and words and stitch down.
- Compile book pages as instructed.
- Add embellishments to complete the friendship book.
Fabric Greeting Cards
Class description:
In this class, you will learn how to create a personalized fabric greeting card. Discover how to turn photos or images into a personalized work of art! You will learn how to scan a print photo; create interesting effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 software; print it on fabric; add free-motion stitching for texture, dimension and definition; and finally, incorporate the artwork into a fabric greeting card that will "wow" your friends or loved ones. How much fun for your best friend or relative to open their mailbox and find a piece of artwork from you! This is a gift they'll be talking about and showing off to everyone they know for weeks!
Approximate class time:
3-hour class. (We recommend limited class sizes due to the time needed to scan and print each student's photo.)
What each student will get:
Each student will take home a completed fabric greeting card from this class.
Project supplies:
- Required text: Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
- Photograph (needs to be vertical for best results); print or digital
- Favorite quotes and/or messages
- 1 sheet pretreated inkjet fabric
- Fast2fuse double-sided fusible stiff interfacing, 2 pieces, 3 ¾" x 4 ¾"
- 2 pieces muslin, 5" x 8"
- Plain paper
- All-purpose sewing thread that coordinate with colors in photo
- General hand-sewing supplies
- Buttons, beads, fibers, and charms
- Sewing machine with feed dogs that drop (if not provided in classroom)
Advance preparations:
Make one or more completed fabric greeting cards to use as class samples. You will need to have at least one computer, scanner and inkjet printer set up before class. (It is most efficient if you have an assistant to scan, crop to appropriate size, and print photos onto fabric at the beginning of class while you begin instructing the class.)
During the class:
Following the instructions in Altered Photo Artistry, page 59, demonstrate how to:
- Lay out pages of greeting card on paper
- Plan quotation or message for each page desired.
- Using Adobe Photo Elements 5.0, position desired quotes or messages around image (page 30, Adding Text)
- Follow steps 1-6 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54) to scan, crop, filter, adjust and print image
- Apply fast2fuse.
- Finish edges.
- Add embellishments to complete the greeting card.
Fabric Postcards
Class description:
In this class, you will learn how to create a personalized fabric postcard. Discover how to turn photos or images into a personalized work of art! You will learn how to scan a print photo; create interesting effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 software; print it on fabric; add free-motion stitching for texture, dimension and definition; and finally, incorporate the artwork into a fabric postcard that you can actually send through the mail. How much fun for your best friend or relative to open their mailbox and find a piece of artwork from you! This is a gift they'll be talking about and showing off to everyone they know for weeks!
Approximate class time:
2-hour class. (We recommend limited class sizes due to the time needed to scan and print each student's photo.)
What each student will get:
Each student will take home a completed fabric postcard from this class.
Project supplies:
- Required text: Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
- Photograph (vertical or horizontal will work); print or digital
- Favorite quotes and/or messages
- 1 sheet pretreated inkjet fabric
- Fast2fuse double-sided fusible stiff interfacing, 1 piece, 4" x 6"
- Coordinating fabric for postcard back, 1 piece, 4" x 6"
- All-purpose sewing thread that coordinate with colors in photo
- General hand-sewing supplies
- Buttons, beads, and specialty fibers
- Sewing machine with feed dogs that drop (if not provided in classroom)
Advance preparations:
Make several fabric postcards to use as class samples. You will need to have at least one computer, scanner and inkjet printer set up before class. (It is most efficient if you have an assistant to scan, crop to appropriate size, and print photos onto fabric at the beginning of class while you begin instructing the class.)
During the class:
Following the instructions in Altered Photo Artistry, page 58, demonstrate how to:
- Follow steps 1-6 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54) to scan, crop, filter, adjust and print image.
- Apply fast2fuse to wrong side of front piece.
- Follow steps 7-9 in Basic Steps of Summary (page 54)
- Apply postcard back and finish edges.
- Add embellishments to complete postcard.
Personalized Pillow Sham
Class description:
In this class, you will learn how to create a personalized pillow sham. Discover how to turn photos or images into a personalized work of art! You will learn how to scan a print photo; create interesting effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 software; print it on fabric; add free-motion stitching for texture, dimension and definition; and finally, incorporate the artwork into a pillow sham with your personal touch!
Approximate class time:
4-hour class (We recommend limited class sizes due to the time needed to scan and print each student's photo.)
What each student will get:
Each student will take home a completed pillow sham from this class.
Project supplies:
- Required text: Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
- Photograph (horizontal photo will give best results); print or digital
- 2 sheets pretreated inkjet fabric
- 1/3 yard fusible fleece
- ¼ yard contrasting fabric for inner border
- 1 yard coordinating fabric for outer border and pillow back
- Sewing thread to coordinate with fabrics
- Monofilament thread
- Dark upholstery thread
- General hand-sewing supplies
- 2 ½ yards ruffle, fringe, or piping (optional edge trim)
- Sewing machine with feed dogs that drop (if not provided in classroom)
Advance preparations:
Make a completed pillow sham to use as a class sample. You will need to have at least one computer, scanner and inkjet printer set up before class. (It is most efficient if you have an assistant to scan, crop to appropriate size, and print photos onto fabric at the beginning of class while you begin instructing the class.)
During the class:
Following the instructions in Altered Photo Artistry, page 62, demonstrate how to:
- Cut fusible fleece, inner border fabric, outer border/back fabric as instructed on page 62.
- Follow steps 1-5 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54).
- Fuse fleece on wrong side of joined panels.
- Stitch inner border to photo panel.
- Stitch outer borders.
- Finish constructing pillow sham.
Personalized Tote Bag
Class description:
In this class, you will learn how to create a personalized tote bag. Discover how to turn photos or images into a personalized work of art! You will learn how to scan a print photo; create interesting effects using Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 software; print it on fabric; add free-motion stitching for texture, dimension and definition; and finally, incorporate the artwork into a tote bag with your personal touch!
Approximate class time:
8-hour class, or (2) 4-hour classes (NOTE: We recommend limited class sizes due to the time needed to scan and print each student's photo.)
What each student will get:
Each student will take home a completed tote bag from this class.
Project supplies:
- Required text: Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler with Lori Marquette
- Photograph (horizontal photo will give best results); print or digital
- 4 sheets pretreated inkjet fabric
- 1 ¼ yards (total) assorted fabrics for outside of tote
- 1 1/8 yards lining fabric
- 3 yards 1"-wide belt webbing for handles
- 1 yard fusible fleece
- Sewing thread to coordinate with fabrics
- Monofilament thread
- Dark upholstery thread
- General hand-sewing supplies
- Sewing machine with feed dogs that drop (if not provided in classroom)
Advance preparations:
Make a completed tote bag to use as a class sample. You will need to have at least one computer, scanner and inkjet printer set up before class. (It is most efficient if you have an assistant to scan, crop to appropriate size, and print photos onto fabric at the beginning of class while you begin instructing the class.)
During the class:
Following the instructions in Altered Photo Artistry, pages 63-65, demonstrate how to:
- Cut fusible fleece, tote fabric, and lining fabric as instructed on page 63.
- Follow steps 1-5 in the Basic Steps Summary (page 54).
- Stitch panel segments together.
- Add side borders and top borders only.
- Fuse front fleece piece to wrong side of photo panel.
- Cut, position, pin and stitch webbing to tote front.
- Complete tote front.
- Fuse back fleece piece to wrong side of back section.
- Pin and stitch remaining handle webbing to back of tote.
- Complete tote back.
- Fuse fleece sides to tote side pieces.
- Pin and stitch tote gusset.
- Pin and stitch lining gusset.
- Topstitch around tote to finish.
