Workshops and talks by Dorothy Russell, Textile Artist

During this workshop you will learn a method which makes machine quilting much easier than you imagined. It is a very useful skill which intimidates a lot of people but needn’t. You do, however, need a sewing machine with feed dogs which can be dropped. (ask me)

In the Multi Layered Reverse Applique Workshop you will not be producing a traditional ‘mola’ with lots of hand turned reverse appliqué but will learn a modern machine stitched version.

It will still have a number of layers and different fabrics but the dedication required to needle turn each layer and slip stitch in place will not be needed.

If you just breathed a sigh of relief, this workshop is probably one you’ll enjoy. If your sewing machine has lots of decorative stitches you can employ them to the full, enhancing the reverse appliqué cut aways.

The only hand work will be cutting away sections of the top layer with small sharp scissors and adding beads for further embellishment.

This method offers a lot of freedom. You don’t need your ruler for most of this workshop.

The results are very popular

The New York Beauty block is made using foundation piecing, which makes fine points much easier to achieve. It is a superb technique which gives a very professional look.

Piecing the curves is done by more traditional methods. Offsetting the blocks gives a jaunty look to the quilt top.

There are a number of optional layouts for the New York Beauty block. A challenging, but fun, workshop..

Notan is based on a Japanese paper cutting system which can be very intricate.

In this workshop I take a more basic and easily achievable approach to the process and apply it to fabric. It is fun to do and once you have the idea, you can play with it –  I have seen some dramatic results..

Although you will be working small during the workshop, due to time constraints,  you can work on a larger scale in your own time.

Silk painting is easier than most people believe. Usually I hear ‘ I can’t draw’, so I make the workshop more approachable by bringing along drawings which can be traced onto the silk.

There is a delight in watching the paint gently flood into each resist controlled area and seeing the image develop on this lovely fabric.

I have never tired of this technique and have used it to produce some of my favorite quilted wall-hangings.

To the original form of magic tile block I have added appliqué. During a one day workshop you will choose an appliqué to add to each of four separate square backgrounds. You will then cut up the squares, rearrange them and begin to assemble using joining strips..

This is a busy workshop which can benefit from being done over two days to ensure that the four blocks are assembled and there can be discussion of how to complete  the quilt top.