We're absolutely delighted to welcome NEW tutor Sarah Spencer under the CraftyMonkies spotlight for her wonderful Pop-Art Pet Portraits workshop! Here's the super-talented & hugely engaging Sarah to tell you all about her class: take it away, Sarah!...

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Introduction by Sarah:-

Are you ready to bring a contemporary, Pop Art vibe to your quilting practice? Do you love illustrative quilts, but are worried you’re "not good enough” at drawing to make your own? Worry not - I’ve got you covered! 

 

If you’re anything like me, your phone is chock full of photos of your furry friends, doing little else than clogging up your phone’s memory card. In this class, we’ll take a photo you’ve selected, and transform it into Pop Art-inspired textile art, ready for your wall – or anywhere your imagination leads you! I’m so excited to bring you this workshop with CraftyMonkies; I just know we will take your quilting practice to another level!

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What you will learn on this Online Interactive Workshop:-

You’ll learn simple techniques for transforming my basic, ho-hum photos into outrageous, eye-catching Pop Art-style portraits! Working from a pre-existing photograph, you will learn how to draw a compelling, simplified image in order to create a paper pattern. You will then learn to use appliqué to recreate your drawing out of fabric. At the end of the class, I’ll show you how I incorporate yarn into my quilts to add extra dimension and a mixed-media, graphic element.

 

You will leave this workshop full of new techniques and ideas for transforming your quilting practice into something uniquely your own.

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Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

This class is suitable for ALL levels, and is the perfect foundation class for those interested in exploring more advanced portraiture down the road.

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Seasoned quilters: you will learn how to incorporate mixed-media elements and graphic details into your quilts. I’ll demonstrate an easy appliqué technique to piece our portraits, and if you have a technique you prefer, you can modify my instructions to work as you wish.

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Beginners: this class is the perfect introduction to portraiture with raw-edge appliqué. Since many of the techniques I incorporate are a little radical, traditional quilting experience is not-at-all required. This is punk rock quilting, my friend! Please note, you should be comfortable using your sewing machine without assistance.

 

Material requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-​

• One clear photo of your pet, with the head cropped and enlarged to your preferred finished size.

• During the class, I’ll make a 12” x 12” (30 x 30cm) portrait, and I will show you how I crop and enlarge the head to take up approximately ¾ of the finished size (as seen in the class images). If you have a home printer, you can complete this step at home ahead of class. Black and white pictures are fine!

• Tracing paper

• Black Sharpie marker

• Freezer paper

• Fusible stabiliser (such as Misty Fuse or Wonder Under fusible web)

 

Please note that while a light box is not required, they can be useful and I will be using one in my demo. For those who don’t have one at hand, a bright window or light works great! You can certainly learn this technique without buying one, though if you have one, bring it out!

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Fabric requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-​

While fabric requirements will vary depending on your design, expect to have 2-3 fat quarters of fabric available. For maximum Pop Art effect, choose a punchy palette in your favourite contrasting colours. There will also be ample opportunities to incorporate additional colours, so keep your scrap bin close at hand!

 

Equipment requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

• Sewing machine in good working order that can do a zig-zag stitch

• Good quality (this is key!) monofilament thread, such as Superior Threads MonoPoly in clear. Some sewing machines will not tolerate monofilament thread, so alternatively, any other neutral, 100 weight thread (like Invisifil by Wonderfil) also works great.

• Rotary Cutter with a NEW Blade, ideally with a small diameter. I prefer to work with 28mm or even 18mm rotary cutters for precision cutting.

• Cutting Mat

• Size 10/70 Sewing Needle

• Clear Ruler

• Crochet Thread, Yarn or light-weight Cording in the colour of your choice. I often use Aunt Lydia’s cotton crochet thread in size 10, which is easily available at my local craft shop. Any comparable substitute will do. I recommend you AVOID overly fluffy yarns for this technique, as we’re aiming for something stable-yet-stitchable. I like to work with black for its graphic effect, though you can choose any colour.

• Cotton or polyester general-purpose thread to match your yarn colour.

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Pattern Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

There is no pattern required for this illustrative quilting class, as YOU’RE going to make your own!

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Additional Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Be sure to follow Sarah across social media for more insights on how to expand your creative practice, and subscribe to her newsletter at the link below:-

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Website and Newsletter:

https://www.iothealien.com/

 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/iothealien/

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/iothealientextileart

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Tickets for this Online Interactive Workshop (via the Zoom platform) will be limited and allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! Any free pattern and other information, relevant to this course will be forwarded to you after booking and approximately 5 days before the course date.

The ticket price of £35.00 is based on ONE person attending this crafting class.

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This CraftyMonkies online interactive workshop is being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on British Summer Time (BST). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location!

Here's a great world time zone reference:-

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

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Ordering MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT Online For Any Class/Workshop!

Please ensure you book your place & order any materials/fabrics/equipment online in plenty of time ahead of course dates.

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Are you not able to attend this class due to living in a different time-zone? Are you otherwise engaged on the date of this workshop? Well, we have excellent news! This class is being recorded and a link will be sent to all classmates a few days after the class, so you can watch in your own time!