by Joyce R. Becker
Landscapes With No Boundaries
Class Description:
- All skill levels are welcome but free-motion stitching is necessary
- You'll learn about design, perspective, scale, value, and loads of embellishing techniques
- You will take home a gorgeous design complete with stunning embellishments
- You'll love this class because it is stress-free, and you will discover your capability to design and create a stunning landscape
- If you have respiratory issues, such as asthma, this class might not work for you due to spray adhesive use!
Class Length:
- This class can be structured according to your needs. Although it can be taught in a six-hour format, a two to three day format allows students to embellish their designs during class
- This workshop is not a part of a series of classes
Class Supplies:
- Required Text: Beautifully Embellished Landscapes by Joyce R. Becker
- Optional: Joyce Becker Teaches You Landscape Quilting DVD
- Sewing machine
- Darning or free-motion foot
- Basic sewing supplies
- Portable working wall
- Sharp scissors (I recommend Fiskar Softtouch large)
- Rotary mat, cutter, rulers
- One design inspiration (photo, book, calendar or card) enlarged to 8" x 11"
- 505 Repositional Spray Adhesive
- Heavy Duty Starch
- Brown paper grocery bag of freezer paper, pizza box for spraying starch and adhesive.
- Bleached muslin for canvas. Needs to be three inches larger than your finished design w/o borders.
- Lightweight fusible Pellon Stabilizer to cover back of muslin canvas
- Pre-starched 1 yard cuts of background fabric suitable for your design (hand-dyed, SkyDye, batiks are excellent choices)
- 1/2 to 1 yard cuts of a variety of preprinted commercial fabrics including elements such as: sky, mountains, clouds, rocks, snow, water, flowers, leaves, bark, trees, foliage, fence, garden, etc. Shredded batting, yarns, tulle, organza or Angelina make great waterfalls or waves. Look for fabrics in the correct scale, suggesting texture and dimension. Solids don't work!!!
- Clear YLI monofilament or Superior Monopoly thread
- Light-weight bobbin thread to match your design (I recommend Wonderfil Invisifil or Superior Bottom Line)
- Machine Embroidery needles 75/90
- Variety of threads to compliment your design. Variegated threads such as; Wonderfil Tutti or Fruitti, Sulky Blendables, Superior Rainbows, King Tut, cotton embroidery, etc. I do not recommend rayon
- Optional: Artist colored pencils, wax pastels, textile paint and brushes, Tsukineko Craft Inks and fabric markers, matching tulle, organza, Angelina, fusible web, Paintstixs, border, backing, and binding fabric, Hobbs Thermore batting.
Classroom Preparation:
- Sewing machine for each student
- Free-motion foot for each student
- Wall space for designing for each student or advise students to bring portable working walls
- No more than two students per table
- Area for spraying starch and ironing
- Power cords
- Several irons and pressing sheets - there is lots of ironing in this class!
Class Outline
- Create and stabilize your muslin canvas, page 7.
- Build design from top down - Lightest values further away, darker in foreground, pages 8, 9, and 12.
- Use a photo, greeting card, book for inspirations, page 6.
- Pin inspiration next to canvas on design wall, page 7.
- Pre-starch fabrics except for background areas, page 13.
- Glue elements to canvas using 505 spray adhesive, page 12.
- Cutting, page 13.
- Incorporating overlays for value change, pages 24-28.
- Basting, pages 13-15.
- Add texture, dimension and three dimensional elements with machine embroidery, textile paints, wax pastels, etc. pages 16-23 and 28-35.
- Fine finishing, pages 87-91.
