Mary Stori's Lectures & Workshops

Lectures

Stori Time - A Fashion Show

A lighthearted story-lecture featuring a variety of Mary's one-of-a-kind garments. A chance to see and be inspired by unusual but wearable fashions. Get a close-up look at actual garments made by this four time Fairfield Designer & Best of Show Winner, AQS '93 Fashion Show.
(Please supply 8 models - sizes 8 - small 12, secure dressing room, and 2 garments racks.)

Stori Time - A Trunk Show

Similar to above except volunteers model only vests & jackets, remaining garments are carried. Lecture is informal with opportunity for audience to ask questions while garments are being shown.
(Please supply 6 volunteers to walk garments around the room, and 2 garments racks.)

** PLEASE NOTE - Airlines have reduced the allowable weight and size of checked baggage, therefore these presentations may require the booking group to cover the shipping costs of the garments or excess baggage fee of a maximum of $100.

Slide Lectures

Mary describes her work from the initial idea to the finished piece. Learn about the variety of methods used to design her one-of-a-kind projects. Slides of in progress & completed work, plus tips & techniques are sure to encourage the creativity in you!

Have Needle - Will Travel!

Join Mary for a virtual quilter's tour of fabulous destinations she's experienced as quilt tour host for Specialty Tours. Whether cruisin' along the quilting highways, skyways, high seas, or lazy waterways, there are quilters to meet, quilts to see, and fabric to be found! She'll share the stories of her trip inspired theme quilts and acquaint you with the work and lives of regional quilters.

The Stori Behind The Quilt

Both Sides Of The Stori

Same as above - featuring a combination of garments & quilts.

Viewed With A Smile - Humorous Quilts By Mary Stori

(Lecture features quilts - focus on ideas and inspirations)
Do you think quilting has gotten a tad too serious? Mary says to "snap out of it. You are supposed to be having fun!" Join Mary as she describes her work from wacky inspirations to the finished piece.

Workshops

Guidelines for workshop scheduling: Our goals are identical, to provide excellent workshop experiences that exceeds the expectations of every student. With this in mind, it's best to schedule beading and hand quilting workshops as daytime classes and if possible, at the beginning of a conference. Because fine motor skills are utilized in these classes, students (and their eyes) work much better if they are not pooped!

Half-Day Workshops

Unique Beading Tricks!

Students make a beaded reference sampler as they learn unique easy beading techniques to attach beads, charms, buttons, trinkets, & unusual objects to quilts and garments. Eliminate sagging beads and untidy looking threads on your embellishments! ($4.00 kit fee required)
Handwork - all skill levels.
NOTE - same as the morning portion of Attention to Detail

More Beading Techniques!

POPULAR NEW CLASS.....You asked for it! This workshop introduces exciting beading techniques that have practical applications for quilts and garments. Students will create a reference sampler as they learn: basic bead stitch, bead applique, picot stitch, branched fringe, netting, bead embroidery, and more. Be prepared to become addicted to the special effects not to mention the fun beading provides.
Kit fee required - $ 6.00
Handwork - all skill levels

The Bright Side - Beaded Bindings

Preview what Mary is predicting to be the newest trend in bead embellishment.....quilt bindings decorated with beads!! Students will create a reference sampler of innovative (and very easy) techniques to create quilt bindings edged with beads. These bead accents will provide a gently framed or highly dramatic effect to quilts of all construction styles. Once you recognize the fabulous impact these techniques achieve, the bindings of your existing wall quilts will surely tempt you!
Kit fee required $6.00 (consisting of all the beads and beading thread)
Handwork - no experience necessary.
To view an example of the sampler, see the Brigher Side in the full-day workshop section

You Can Improve Your Quilting Stitch!

Learn to achieve small even stitches on the front & back of quilts. An in depth discussion covering the many aspects that impact the stitch such as: batting, needles, marking, hoops, & basting will provide a solid foundation to help you produce a fine quilting stitch. Mary will literally hold your hand as you learn the anatomy of the stitch, the WHY and HOW of every movement. If you are dissatisfied with your stitches, take this class & start improving!
Handwork - all skill levels will benefit from this class!

Full-Day Workshops

Attention To Detail

This IDEA workshop explores how embellishments can make an ordinary project extra-ordinary! In the morning students make a beaded reference sampler as they learn unique easy beading techniques to attach beads, charms, buttons, trinkets, & unusual objects to quilts and garments. Eliminate sagging beads and untidy looking threads on your embellishments. Mary also demos her 3-D techniques. Review flip charts of how to's, examine finished work, & view inspirational/educational slides. Questions regarding student's current projects are encouraged.
Supply fee: $4.00 for beading kit.
Handwork - all levels.

The Brighter Side - Beaded Bindings

(NEW CLASS - UPCOMING BOOK - RELEASE DATE: FALL 2004)
Preview what Mary is predicting to be the newest trend in bead embellishment.....quilt bindings decorated with beads!! Students will create a reference sampler of innovative (and very easy) techniques to create quilt bindings edged with beads. These bead accents will provide a gently framed or highly dramatic effect to quilts of all construction styles. Once you recognize the fabulous impact these techniques achieve, the bindings of your existing wall quilts will surely tempt you! Please note: this class is an extended version of the (Bright Side) bead binding class.....it includes all the techniques of the half-day class and a whole bunch more!
Kit fee required $10.00 (consisting of all the beads and beading thread) Handwork - no experience necessary.

Goose Feather Christmas Tree

This folk art project workshop will focus on decorative beading techniques, including branched fringe, drops, trims, and more. Students should be well on their way to completion of the 17" x 20" wall hanging at the end of the day. Tree will be hand appliqued (optional by machine).
Kit fee required - $25.00 - contains; all beads, ornaments, embellishment items, & thread.
Example - The Stori of Beaded Embellishment, Martingale, 2001.
Handwork - all levels - No beading experience necessary.

Standing Tall For The Red, White, & Blue

Show your American spirit by creating a fast pieced patriotic flag wall quilt that will sparkle with bead embellishments. Learn Mary's fun, yet EASY beading techniques to create bugle bead stars and fringe dangles. You'll depart with a new appreciation of the value and impact beadwork can add to quilts and will be eager to complete the "flag" at home.
Bead kit required - $ 20.00 - contains all the beads to complete the project, plus beading thread.
Example - The Stori of Beaded Embellishment, Martingale, 2001 (pg. 53)
Minimal machine work, handwork - all levels - No beading experience necessary.

Love of Many Colors

Who said wall quilts have to be square? This striking, Amish inspired, long narrow quilt can be hung in the most unexpected display areas; the perfect solution when your home's wall space is already filled with quilts! We'll combine numerous techniques such as; string pieced heart applique units, -frame- fusing, decorative machine applique, flat piping, and a beaded binding to assemble this striking quilt. You'll enjoy learning these fun and effective methods which can easily be incorporated into future projects!
Machine required - all skill levels

Mixing It Up - Mixed Media/3-D Wall Quilts

Learn various construction methods to create embellished quilts that hang properly, such as: template-free scenic backgrounds or stabilized wholecloth backgrounds. Students can work on a mini quilt pattern (provided) or their own idea. A slide lecture will explore process views & unusual techniques to further educate. Free yourself ....it's easier than piecing quilts!! It's NOT necessary to begin a project.....lurkers welcome! Lots of tricks & tips.
Sewing machine optional
Handwork - all skill levels.
**Note - this workshop is not suitable for a one- day class at conferences.

You Can Improve Your Quilting Stitch!

Quilts That Stand Out In A Crowd

Accentuate your quilting motifs with trapunto. Learn to adapt templates and designs for stuffing & cording, without damage to the quilt back. Learn Mary's easy approach to meander stipple quilting to further enhance the trapunto...it's addictive! Students will practice the techniques on a small whole-cloth wall quilt (fiddle head fern pattern provided) or make muslin samples if you prefer. These techniques easily translate to the machine.
Supply fee - $5.00
Handwork - some experience in basic hand quilting.

The Complete Stori Of Wholecloth Garments

You saw it on HGTV's Simply Quilts......here's your chance for hands on instruction. Students will learn Mary's foolproof approach to garment making; working with sections of fabric rather than cut out pattern pieces. The morning practice session will concentrate on the skills of meander hand stipple quilting, trapunto, and cording. This only looks difficult! During the afternoon, Mary will help students adapt and layout motifs for their own wholecloth garment paper "quilting blueprint". Ideas translate to machine & projects requiring less time are also offered.
Examples: The Wholecloth Garment Stori, AQS, 1998.
Handwork - experience in basic hand quilting.

Wearable Art - Designed To Be Quilted By Machine

Using the zig-zag stitch and a walking foot, students will begin to create a wholecloth garment where quilting is the design. Ideal, easy class for students new to machine quilting. (This is NOT free-motion quilting!) Make a wearable garment in a few days following this super easy approach. Stabilizing methods, construction tips, & embellishing treatments are also covered. Instructor will provide many examples you can recreate. It is NOT necessary to begin a project, students who prefer to "play" with these methods are welcome!!
Examples The Wholecloth Garment Stori AQS, 1998.
Machine required - beginner & intermediate.

Mix or Match

Students will make their own "custom yardage" out of solid fabric by stitching lines, motifs, & shapes inspired by a print fabric you bring to class. The yardage will be used to make a vest or jacket, while the print fabric can be incorporated as binding, piping, lining, cuffs, skirt, etc. Learn to complement (Mix) or recreate (Match) a specific fabric such as: a plaid, stripe, geometric, or floral pattern on a solid color fabric using a variety of threads. Mary will bring lots of examples to provide ideas. Easy immediate gratification workshop with wonderful
Examples - The Wholecloth Garment Stori, AQS, 1998.
Sewing machine required - all skill levels.

NOTE: The last two wearable classes listed are quite similar (the focus for one is using batting, the other doesn't) therefore, it's a good idea to offer only one of the two when multiple workshops are being offered.

For more information, please e-mail Mary at dstori@earthlink.net

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