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Post by MTRuth on Jun 20, 2013 16:51:55 GMT
The general public rarely knows what felting is and usually they think it is knitting thrown in the washing machine.
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Post by flicstarstudios on Jun 20, 2013 23:10:07 GMT
For what it's worth, if I signed up for this class I would like to see some 'bad' examples. Most of the time you can tell when something doesn't quite work, but I would want to understand WHY it doesn't work. So if you took some deliberately bad examples and talked about why they didn't work - I would find that really useful.
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Post by zed on Jun 21, 2013 9:10:54 GMT
That's a good idea from Flic.
I usually say 'I make felt', the washing machine felting isn't as common here, but it is a nuisance that the two are confused. Especially when it's by craft sites who should know better.
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Post by jufergu on Jun 22, 2013 0:34:54 GMT
I think that showing some bad examples would be a good idea. Goodness knows I have made my share.
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Post by jufergu on Jul 7, 2013 20:35:08 GMT
So, I am working on my Color Class. Using your ideas. Coming up with simplified language and actually stumbled on a number system that looks like chords in music. That was quite interesting. I think it is easier to understand numbers, rather than big artsy terms. I also decided to call the numbers, "The Hughs Family." A play on the word "Hue" which just means the name of the color. "Like red." Simple. The even numbers are boys and the odd numbers are girls. They sing in the choir, so I can relate this to 2, 3 and 4 part chords. This can cover the primary, and secondary colors. That covers the basic triangles, squares and rectangles that slide around your hand held color wheel. I will have them snip off small squares from their stash strips to paste down a virtual quilt. We will be making a workbook for them to take home.
As I prepared to make the first page of this workbook, I decided to cut 2 inch strips from every piece of cotton fabric in my stash. (mine is not too large, as I am an art quilter) But what I am finding is this is a really great idea. I have used large safety pins with a designation tab for which box these fabrics came from. I am now able to go to these strips, and see every piece of fabric that I have. Things that I forgot I had. I can add to these strips as I buy new fabric or take away if I use it all up. Thanks for helping me with this.
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Post by MTRuth on Jul 8, 2013 2:12:46 GMT
Do let us know how it goes. The strip of fabric idea sounds good to remember what you have. If you took them with you to the fabric store, then you wouldn't buy something you already had.
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Post by jufergu on Jul 8, 2013 2:42:43 GMT
I have everything in labeled containers. But I don't always remember the individual fabrics in each particular container. This has been great. It has brought back the inspiration that I originally had when I bought the fabric.
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Post by zed on Jul 8, 2013 10:07:32 GMT
You should make lots of notes and take photos as you do this, Judy, then write a tutorial for how to plan workshops Make a few dollars for all your effort!
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 8, 2013 16:27:16 GMT
people don't realise how much work goes into sorting out a new workshop. Then there is the tweaking you do after so it goes better for the next one. one of the first things I learned was not to hand out instructions at the beginning of the class. People read ahead without listening and then usually do it wrong because they rush ahead.
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Post by billieanne on Jul 11, 2013 1:39:48 GMT
Ann, I like the instructions at the beginning because I add notes as the workshop is being taught. I've found a lot of instructors leave information off the handout. Ruth, I do sort of the same thing with seed beads. I've got tons of them. I string them on a wire so I have a sample when I go to shows.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 11, 2013 12:28:43 GMT
Billieanne, you are a rare bird and a good student. I do have the occasional student that takes notes but maybe one in every 3 classes. For some reason there always seems to be one that wants to do it the fastest. The goal seems to be you win if you finish first and are able to leave early. It makes me feel like I am taking to much time out of their busy schedule.
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Post by billieanne on Jul 11, 2013 18:53:35 GMT
Ann, I was in a workshop where the instructor told us that she would give us the handout at the end of class because of the reason you stated. Then every time you asked a question she would say she covered that in the handout. Well, there wasn't much of anything in the handout. Supposedly her instructions were designed to just jog your memory if you took her workshop. She thought it deterred you from copying her handout and giving it to your friends. I teach a hypertufa class and don't care if they want to leave early. I don't like the hangers. I can teach the hypertufa class in about 1 1/2 hours. Occasionally I have people that don't know when to leave and stay for hours after everyone's gone. Now I pretend I have to go somewhere to get rid of them. I feel bad but can't think of any other way to get them to leave.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 11, 2013 19:40:34 GMT
Well that wasn't nice of her. I wouldn't have been very happy either. I like questions and answer them all. Actually pretty much talk non stop during the class. I also give my email so people can contact me if they are having a problem later. The workshops are usually a defined time, 10-4 is typical. I am trying to figure out how to give a work shop on hats with the bubbles. It would have to be a full day for the hat and showing them how to add marbles then another hour the next day after the hats where dry to show how to cut them. I don't know how people would feel about coming back the next day or how to charge for it.
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Post by billieanne on Jul 11, 2013 20:33:45 GMT
Ann, I list my email and phone number at the bottom of the handout in case anyone has a question after they leave. I've never had any questions just people calling to set up another workshop. I'm told by my friends that help me, that I "give away the farm" because I tell or show people how to do other techniques. Maybe you're doing the same thing if you teach hats and bubbles. Maybe they should be two different classes. I don't know all that much about felting yet but could you just have a jewelry workshop that would show bubbles and tubes and balls and the class could be 2 hours long. Then have the hat as a separate class because it takes so long to make.
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Post by jufergu on Jul 12, 2013 2:55:11 GMT
I have been writing a tutorial and documenting with pictures as I go. Had to make some adjustments to my original ideas after I looked over my progress. I have a deadline to write the first section of this class by the end of the month. But, I am also the chairman of our big exhibit at our senior art guild. I spent days on the phone. I feel like a telemarketer. No one knows how much work goes into putting an exhibit together unless they have done it. This is my first experience with it.
So now I can get back to working on the color class. I don't want to bore you with this. But I had a great time searching through photos and my favorite art quilt pictures, using my color wheel. Finding that professionals seem to work in predictable systems. They gravitate to using Triads or Tetrads with similar combinations as they move around the color wheel. Maybe I have slipped over the edge of sanity, but I found that really entertaining. I also took my color wheel to examine photography. And guess what, the same discovery. We tend to repeat combinations that appeal to us.
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