Imagery On Fabric: A Complete Surface Design Handbook, Second EditionBy Jean Ray Laury |
I'd like to suggest a few classes which are great for a shop devoted to fabrics. Most processes are much less messy than is generally supposed, and the techniques are rewarding.
While it is true that students could do this on their own, most feel more comfortable with direction and demonstration. Also show them ways of altering their photographs (cut out the auto in the background and insert a landscape, for example). Once the images have been transferred, you can then teach how to incorporate them into a pillow, garment, or quilt.
One session might be on baby quilts, in which students bring a collection of old photos, discuss how they can be used and plan the project. Then go make the prints. Or do graduation quilts, wedding quilts, special garments, sweat shirts, dish towels or handkerchiefs. Your shop could stock the transfer paper, but the major thrust of the class would be in planning of a project utilizing transfers.
Students with some experience may want to make their own stamps. See examples in the book of quilts which use art gum erasers (in squares, triangles, etc.). Or carve larger stamps. Stamps can be made from cardboard cutouts; or try gluing rice, spaghetti, and other flat objects to boards. Use Dr. Scholl's shoe pads or thin foam rubber glued to scrap wood. There are also many "quick" stamp materials available.
Use alphabet stamps to write messages for garments or for quilt borders. Or make decorative stamped panels for the backs of quilts.
Leaves provide a great way to make a memory quilt (a leaf from the tree at your grandmother's place, from your first house, from a local park, or from a favorite picnic spot). Or collect leaves on a trip.
Then try printing with other things from nature to personalize quilts . . . fish, shells, kitchen tools, even finger prints and hand prints.
It helps to do a demonstration initially, so students can see what they will be working with. Then hold a planning session to determine an initial project. (A pillow or a panel for a shirt is a good beginning one.) After they have experienced the process, plan blocks for a quilt or parts of a garment. The fabric will be totally unique in a beautiful deep blue.