Upcoming Workshops

Because of the Batik Tambal buying trip (see below) and Art & Soul, we are extending registration for upcoming classes and workshops. Attend for mixed-media fun with like-minded souls and expert instructors teaching you techniques you’ll use again and again!

• Saturday March 17, April 21, and May 19 — Let’s Go Crazy (Quilting)!! with Elizabeth Woodford (3 sessions) — This three-part class will cover piecing and several of the basic stitches and embellishments that will get you started on a wonderful Crazy Quilts adventure. If you love the look but just don’t know where to begin, this class will get you started — plus give you permission to do it your way. $85 — use coupon code STBA for $10 Discount off registration fee!
• Saturday March 24 — Gown Fragments (of Downton Abbey) with Her Majesty Margo Duke. Bring your needle-felting machine and create fancy fabric; the fragments of a gown you could expect to find passed down from the Manor House! You’ll learn machine-needle and wet felting plus free-motion stitching. $70
• Saturday, March 31 — Kinetic Quilts with Linda Cooper. Learn the secrets of creating Linda’s unique and beautiful two-sided, mobile-like art quilts; in this class we will make a small quilt with one rotating element using a Timtex-like batting and a fishing lure. Sewing Machine and Supply list required. $60
• Saturday March 31 — Gelatin Mono Printing with Elizabeth Woodford. Learn to create monoprints using gelatin trays as a printing surface for paper and textiles. We will use many common household items to create patterns and textures for one-of-a-kind fabrics for use in any fiber project. $30.00; $6.00 kit fee covers cost of fabric, paper, paints and gelatin.
• Saturday, April 7 — Easter Pretties with Leslie Brier. You won’t be able to resist these sweet little bunnies and lambs perched on small boxes embellished with vintage trims and flowers! Class Fee: $45 + $14 materials fee
• Saturday, April 14 — Beaded Wire Work Bracelet with Elizabeth Woodford. Learn how to twist and coil wire and your favorite beads into a wonderful and unique piece of jewelry. No stitching, no thread and no glue, just medium and large beads and bits, some wire and several pairs of pliers are all that is required.

Visit Batik Tambal at AQS!

We arrived home at the end of January after an unbelievable trip to Indonesia in our new role as owners of Batik Tambal! Founders Trish Hodge and her husband Owen led Dave and I in the art of buying Indonesian batik fabrics and gift items, including beautiful purses. If you weren’t able to join us at the Mid-Atlantic quilt Festival in Hampton on February 23-26, then you can see the treasures I’ve brought back by visiting the Batik Tambal booth, #2101, at the American Quilters Society (AQS) Show at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, March 13 – 17. (Note that the Power Suits Art Quilt Challenge will also be exhibited, March 14-17, at the Lancaster Spring Quilt Show located in the Host Resort.)

These high-quality batik items are a great complement to the Artistic Artifacts inventory. During our buying trip, we toured several batik factories and even spent some time designing fabrics! Some of the designs we’ve purchased require eight dye colors and ‘tons’ of wax — the artistry and the time spent crafting these beauties cannot be exaggerated. We also purchased copper tjaps, handmade sarongs, silk scarves and wonderful cotton fabric with spectacular shimmers.

We have most of these new purchases for sale online and stocked in the shop now!