Textile Workshop with Melanie Siegel (Wednesday AM)

Ages 9 and up

The artist will demonstrate threading the needle, making a knot, how to ply and mix threads for colour variations.Discussion on historical textiles will be introduced to elaborate the method stitching as decorative or as an art form. The artist will provide viewing samples of museum textiles. Participants will have the opportunity to practice and begin a special piece of artwork in stitchery.

A Sense of Place

A sense of place supports the development of personal identity. To stitch with a needle and thread as an art form to produce design imagery can provide not only a life skill, but an introduction to the world of stitch. The rhythm of the pulling thread with a sewing needle to create shapes, lines, circles, gestures and marks and possibly imagery and to consider ones personal identity in this subtle art form is the goal of this mini workshop.

It is possible to create something useful and practical, or simply for the joy of creating. Stitching can be done anywhere, in the kitchen, sofa, desk or in the garden. It is easily transported, and materials are not expensive. By hand stitching we are connecting our hands and hearts with a purpose. Designing in such a manner, hand stitching has this magical way of being in the moment …to carry the thread forward.