2024 Workshops

photogravure print of a vessel with red and blue embroidery or stitching

Add Another Layer - Stitching on Paper (Online)

Through Maine Media

Two consecutive Saturdays, November 3 & 10, 2024, 10 am - 3pm EST

Join Heather Hietala in learning how to bring new dimensions and unique tactile embellishments to your collages, photos, and prints. During this workshop held on two consecutive Saturdays, we will explore stitching on paper and how a variety of embroidery stitches can add a new tactile dimension to a collage, photograph or print. Stitching adds texture, mark making, pattern, delineation, a sense of embellishment, a color accent, and/or emphasis to a photograph or print after the act of printing. We will learn how to prepare and stitch on paper and how to dye thread so that you can customize the value and color of your thread to allow it to uniquely coordinate or provide contrast to your work. All Levels Click here to register.

A collection of vessels created using cold connections and steel wire, tinkering, coiling, twining, one is a toy top.

Cold Connections - Textile Techniques in Wire

Heather’s Studio in Asheville, NC

Sat and Sunday - due to Helene rescheduled for 2025 - 10:00am - 5:00pm

This two day class will introduce wire as an artistic as well as a practical medium. You will learn how to work with wire and explore its linear qualities as well as creating three-dimensional forms. Using your hands, pliers, and cold connections you will discover the wonderful immediacy of wire working. Basic tinkering and fiber construction techniques, including coiling, stitching, and twining will be covered. Wire is a very versatile material and can be incorporated or combined with other materials. We will begin by making small studies and then explore larger forms or vessels. The workshop will cover the properties and qualities of different gauges and types of wire. The workshop will be held in my studio in Asheville, NC and limited to 8 students. Cost is $285 and includes wire and a set of ergonomic pliers with built in wire cutter. All levels. To register contact Heather Hietala.

Contemporary Embroidery Sampler Book

Finnish American Folk School, Hancock, MI

Sat & Sun April 13 + 14, 2024, 10:00am - 5:00pm

This class will introduce traditional embroidery stitches and innovative ways of using them in a contemporary approach, much akin to drawing or mark making. This class is about learning and exploring stitching/embroidery. Stitches will be learned, practiced, and personalized. Embroidery and stitching can add a sense of the physical, of the decorative, the narrative or simply be marks that are intentional and capture a sense of time. Using a variety of cloth we will embroider sampler pages where you will begin to develop a personal stitch vocabulary. These pages will be bound into a sampler book at the end of the workshop. To register contact the Finnish American Folk School, they are shifting websites so it is not yet posted on the site. Please check back.

A collection of vessels created using cold connections and steel wire, tinkering, coiling, twining, one is a toy top.

Cold Connections - Textile Techniques in Wire

Finnish American Folk School, Hancock, MI

Tues & Wed April 16 + 17, 2024, 10:00am - 5:00pm

This two day class will introduce wire as an artistic as well as a practical medium. You will learn how to work with wire and explore its linear qualities as well as creating three-dimensional forms. Using your hands, pliers, and cold connections you will discover the wonderful immediacy of wire working. Basic tinkering and fiber construction techniques, including coiling, stitching, and twining will be covered. Wire is a very versatile material and can be incorporated or combined with other materials. We will begin by making small studies and then explore larger forms or vessels. The workshop will cover the properties and qualities of different gauges and types of wire. To register contact the Finnish American Folk School, they are shifting websites so it is not yet posted on the site. Please check back..