Studio Space at the Rockford Art Museum

Oh, those rites of passage that come along, throughout our lives ~ for art quilters/fiber artists, it could be: entering that first quilt show or special exhibit, having your work accepted or rejected (ouch), winning that first award, having your work published, and of course, there's the teaching. Sharing your gifts with others and seeing the delight in their eyes when the "Ah-Ha" happens. Being a student yourself and learning from those who have trusted you to enlighten them...

The Rockford Art Museum has graciously offered me the use of studio space to teach, so here we go.....

“Sensational Silk Paper"

Create silk paper from hand-dyed mulberry silk fibers in these one-day workshops. The technique is very easy and the paper that you make is guaranteed to be beautiful! We’ll explore what can be created with this new and luxurious fiber. With the gift season coming up, you’ll have many pieces that can be included in other art projects. All supplies will be included in the class fee ~ $45.00

Workshop dates: Saturdays, October 29 and November 12
10 am.-2 pm.



"The Creative Soul and Journaling"

“Art’s a staple like bread or wine or a warm coat in winter. Those who think it is a luxury have only a fragment of a mind. Man’s spirit grows hungry for art in the same way his stomache growls for food.” irving stone

If you’ve been hoping to “get out of your box” to find your art, or are a working artist who needs a little inspiration, this one-day workshop will help get you started! Through the telling of stories and the encouragement from others in the class, we help each other on this journey ~
We’ll start by making soft-bound art journals and will explore the use of text, image, and objects that reflect your life and your longing to be creative.
Most supplies will be included in the class fee, and you will be contacted about what you will need to bring from home. Please join us! ~ $45.00

Location and dates: Saturday, November 5, 2005 or Saturday, November 19, 2005 from 10 am.-2 pm. at the Rockford Art Museum, 711 North Main Street, Rockford, Illinois 61103 (80 miles NW of Chicago)

Julaine Lofquist-Birch, Instructor
Fiber Artist
Art Quilts ~ Hand Dyed Garments
Unusual Fiber Accessories
Surface Design Workshops
e-mail: fiberdiva@netscape.com

The cover!

Bonnie's "Memories and Expectations" quilt graces the
cover so beautifully!If you are a regular reader
of Quilting Arts Magazine, you probably go from
cover to cover, never missing a thing - The
Muses, of course, would ask that you check out
the following pages: pages 52-55; 56-57; and page 67...


It is fitting that Bonnie's piece is on the cover, since it
originated with a challenge that she presented at
the end of 2004. She called it "Bonnie's Baggie Challenge"-
it was a small ziplock bag of fabrics, silk ties and assorted trims
and we were to make a 12x12 inch quilt using everything in the bag,
with the theme being "Janus: Looking Forward, Looking Back" - to go
with the name of our upcoming exhibit at the Womanspace Gallery
in Rockford. I will be posting Sherrie's piece, titled "Guardian
of the House" soon, and before my quilt, titled "World,
Are You Listening?," was photographed, it was sold -
a woman was sending it to her future son-in-law who had just
joined the Peace Corps...

Stay tuned to this blog for more from the Muses.....