Lillstreet Textiles Blog

Quilting Boot Camp: Where we left off!

2012-01-27T17:15:00.008-06:00

We had a great time in our Quilting Boot Camp, held the week between Christmas and New Years! Yes, our goals may have been lofty, but each of my students worked admirably and sped through their projects. Here's where we left off at the end of the week:

Karen finished her eclectic quilt top! Lots of colors and patterns!

She decided to do her basting and quilting at home but spent our final class practicing machine quilting and binding techniques on a pot-holder.

Christine after finishing her queen-size quilt top!

Basting can be a physically exhausting process. Bravo, Christine!

Sometimes you need a little help wielding the expanse of your quilt while you work with it under the machine (provided here by an extra rolling chair.)

IRONING, YOU GUYS. It's soooo important. Right, Jordana?

Basting! Huzzah!

I was soooo impressed with everyone's creativity and dedication throughout the week. Thanks, you guys! I can't wait to see pics of your finished quilts in their natural habitats!

Anyone else interested in learning how to quilt? I've got another First Time Quilting Class starting in three weeks! Sign up today!

To Die For

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-06:00

Been reading this eye-opening book about how the fabrication of clothing is killing entire eco-systems and forcing people in 3rd world countries to work under hideous conditions.

As a craftsperson it has really urged me to think about the origins of the materials I use.

Even though this author is from the UK and speaks about their particular brands of clothing, the US still uses the same if not worse sources for its raw materials in the clothing industry.

If you think that sweatshops are a thing of the past, read this book for the real story.

Read the review on Amazon.

More Repeat Ideas

2012-01-25T17:04:00.006-06:00

I recently came across a beautiful little swatch of fabric in my archives. It stood out to me as another interesting approach to filling space with a repeat that I figured you guys would appreciate. I can't seem to find any information about it, but I went ahead and took a guess at a repeat in Illustrator for demonstration purposes.
At its core, its just one simple leaf shape overlapped over and over again in two colors. It makes a beautiful spread, and planning something like this out would be easy on or off a computer. Plan out a shape, cut a couple of them out of paper, and move them around to make something lovely.Often with silkscreen, its very tempting to try and slap black outlines on the edges of everything. One of the things about this print that I love so much is the unexpected way the heavier lines work. The choice to let the veins of the leaves end at the tips of the leaf, rather than include an outline, encourages the wonderful play of positive and negative space.

Keep your eyes open for other inspiring prints, new and old. You never know what will spark a new idea!

Book Recommendation: HOOPLA-THE ART OF UNEXPECTED EMBROIDERY

2012-01-24T12:08:00.000-06:00

A student in my 3D EMBROIDERY class brought in this book to share with the myself and the class. It is an amazing source of inspiration to see how other artists are using traditional materials to make contemporary work. Check it out!!

If you have been itching for a new embroidery class, and looking for an evening class, look out for another section of 3D EMBROIDERY, on Monday nights starting in late March. I have printed new samplers for all you future students!!

In the meantime, click on this amazon link to find out more about the book. Hope to see you this Spring! http://www.amazon.com/Hoopla-Unexpected-Embroidery-Leanne-Prain/dp/1551524066

FIRST FRIDAYS

2012-01-24T08:11:00.001-06:00

Lillstreet Art Centers Next First Friday will be February 3rd, 6:30 - 9:00pm

Music will be provided by Andrew Francis!

For information on which artist will be participating at Lillstreet

see the Lillstreet Studios Facebook Page or the Lillstreet Studios Website

Lillstreet Art Centers Next First Friday will be February 3rd, 6:30 - 9:00pm

Music will be provided by Andrew Francis!

For information on which artist will be participating at Lillstreet

see the Lillstreet Studios Facebook Page or the Lillstreet Studios Website

Silk Painting with Acid Dyes

2012-01-20T18:15:00.000-06:00

Silk Painting with Acid Dyes class just took off! We made color samples to get familia with using acid dyes. Then, started to paint. Looks great! All students seem to have a lot of energy. Let's see how it goes. I am looking forward to seeing their development. We will apply stamping and painting in the second week. Would you like to join? It is not too late; the second session will start Feb. 18th. (instructor: Akemi Cohn)

Winter Begins

2012-01-19T09:15:00.003-06:00

We had an amazing second week printing in the Beginning/Intermediate class, and I can tell already that we've got a great group of artists jumping into the realm of fabric screen printing. I'm awed by their skills with the X-Acto blade!! Take a look at these and you'll know what I mean . . .

see you next time!

eak

Multi Level Sewing Class-Spring Session

2012-01-18T20:09:00.006-06:00

Multi-Level Sewing will be offered this spring. Class starts March 28! The possibilities are endless...

Do you have a sewing project that you started, and can’t quite figure out how to finish? Maybe you are a self-taught sewer, but would like some professional guidance on advanced finishing techniques. This class allows students to choose individual projects, garments or house-ware based, and work closely with the guidance of the instructor to complete one-of-a-kind sewing projects. Become familiar with hand and machine embroidery stitches and applique. Bonus topics covered: sewing machine feet attachments, button-hole stitches, an

d topics that relate to student’s projects. Prerequisite: First-Time Sewing or equivalent experience.

Learn to make or embellish fashion accessories of your own design

Take your pillow making skills to another level with hand embroidery

learn piecing techniques for quilting or surface design

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

2012-01-16T21:15:00.001-06:00

Lillstreet's next First Friday is just around the corner. Mark your calendars for February 3, 6:30–9:30 PM. While sipping on your favorite beverage, tour open studios on the 2nd and 3rd floors, enjoy the musical talent of Andrew Francis, and meet instructors and fellow students. Stay tuned for participating artist. See you there!

WINTER 2012 OPEN STUDIO SCHEDULE

2012-01-15T12:59:00.000-06:00

(The schedule is always posted on the right side-bar of the blog.)

Some Thoughts on Designing Repeats

2012-01-12T11:13:00.011-06:00

This little napkin used to hang in my studio for the longest time. Its not particularly fancy or remarkable, just an $8 short-lived Fall Crate and Barrel Flora napkin. What's so lovely about it is how it thinks about space in the repeat design.

It is tempting, when creating a repeat design, to create one or two motifs and space them out equally on white fabric and call it a day.
Flora's designer approached things in a different way. Instead of placing one floating image across the fabric, the designer was more concerned about occupying space. One way to approach this is to increase the density of our motif.
By adding in a few more flowers and having them bump into each other, instead of floating, the feeling of density is increased and more coverage is obtained. It also helps to add a background color.
Note that the fabric color is still visible. Your ground color is a free color you don't need to print, don't waste it by covering it completely! At this point, the repeat still feels like some floating flowers over a heavy background, so lets break it up with some leaves, taking advantage of our fabric color.
What a difference that makes! No new color, printing less physical ink, and its now way easier to break up the repeat for printing.
The print is feeling a little busy now (arguably a valid criticism of the original Flora print, I go back and forth about it, personally), so lets tone it down by dyeing the fabric a closer color to our inks. Buying a fabric with color, dyeing before or after printing can make your reveals of the color seem that much more deliberate and less obvious.
To finish things off, I integrated that background taupe into some of the flowers and added a second red. At this point, we're at four colors with a reasonable repeat that can be printed on a grid and easily registered by hand once the first color (probably the taupe) is laid out.

With some patience and diligence, you can take your repeats to the next level, whether through this approach or any other countless ways you can learn about here at Lillstreet. Keep your eyes open and look at the patterns in your life. You never know what may inspire you to create something new!

To-Do LIST

2012-01-11T07:21:00.004-06:00

Fabric of a New Nation: American Needlework and Textiles, 1776–1840
Art Institute of Chicago

December 16, 2011–May 13, 2012
Galleries 57–59

Overview: Featuring over 45 bedcovers, coverlets, needlework, printed handkerchiefs, and other household textiles from the permanent collection of the Department of Textiles, this exhibition explores the evolution of an American textile tradition as home creation, cottage industry, and commercial production developed between the years 1776 and 1840. While some needlework and textiles during this period were born out of necessity, others evoke refinement and sophistication, reflecting the overall growth, ingenuity, and prosperity of a new nation.

Bedcover (Nine Patch Quilt), 1800/20. New England or Mid-Atlantic, United States. Gift of Donald Young and Shirley Weese Young.

Traditionally textiles, whether made in the home or commercially, were considered prized possessions, but their value was not merely monetary; they often held special significance for the makers and their descendants. Many such textiles bear the maker’s name, and as treasured heirlooms were passed from one generation to the next serving as family record.

The sewing of textiles was also vital to the maintenance of a household. This important female skill not only provided the necessities of clothing and bedding but also a socially acceptable activity for women. The sewn and embroidered textiles in this exhibition represent the work of schoolgirls and women who had the means and time to pursue the needle arts. The works’ highly skilled execution and complex designs are evidence of the artistic and personal expression they provided.

A bridge from home to commercial production can be seen in the exhibition’s woven coverlets. Coverlet weavers in homes and separate workshops formed a cottage industry that would eventually grow into a full-scale commercial business by the mid-19th century. Printed textiles, on the other hand, were a product of the innovations and technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution, part of the commercial manufacturing industry that disseminated affordable textiles to a wider audience. With the mechanization of production and printing, textiles were able to keep pace with fashion and current events.

Whether sewn, woven, or printed, the textiles in this exhibition trace the development of an American textile tradition—one in which industrialization played a dominant role transforming raw materials into finished products but one that was also impacted by changes in the American home from creation out of necessity to a burgeoning consumer economy. Within these diverse textiles and their development, one can witness the innovation and progress of an early but thriving new United States.

Silk Painting with Acid Dyes

2012-01-09T07:00:00.001-06:00

Silk Painting with Acid Dyes class will start this Saturday. Hand painting is very personal, intimate, and special. Please come and join us! www.lillstreet.com 773/769-4226
first session:1/14-2/11, second session:2/18-3/17 10am-1pm Saturdays

Occasionary I paint. These pictures are the commission by the Unitarian Church of Evanston. Each banner is 6' x 10'. After finishing banners, I was asked for the piece behind the alter which was five panels painted then cut by hands.

WINTER CLASSES START TOMORROW!

2012-01-08T16:57:00.000-06:00

Winter 2012 classes start tomorrow! We can't wait to see what your going to create this year.
Haven't decided on which class to take? Most classes are full, but here are a few that still have a couple of spots left:

First Time Quilter (2 spots!)

Beginning/Advanced Beginning Screenprint on Fabric

Repeat Patterns for Textiles

Garment Construction

Silk Painting w/ Acid Dyes

Sashiko Stitching

Multilevel Knitting

First Time Screenprinting on Fabric (2 spots!)

Workshops!

Block Printing on Fabric

Crash Course in Printing

Something Old Becomes Something New

2012-01-06T07:30:00.001-06:00

Thought I'd share with you the fruits of many, many hours of creativity and labor. This past year a friend and fellow artist Mera Mistry and I collaborated on designing and hand printing many yards of organic duck cloth which was used to breath new life into several pieces of great, previously loved furniture. Mera's love of text and my inclination to organic shapes resulted in three pretty darn lovely fabrics ranging from random patterns, to planned placed

semi-repeats to layered half drops.

What's most exciting about collaboration is the creative inspiration that comes from working with another person. Interested in seeing the pieces live and in person, and perhaps would like to claim them as your own? Visit Repose at 3544 N. Southport in Chicago.

If you'd like to spruce up some of your own pieces of furniture, you, too can create your own fabric by taking one of the silk screen printing on fabric classes at Lillstreet. The winter term begins Monday.

Hope to see you soon! EAKumor

SAVE THE DATE....QUILT SHOW!

2012-01-04T22:20:00.002-06:00

i have not been to this show but i bet there is a bunch of good fabric there....

Original Sewing & Quilt Expo
March 22, 23 & 24, 2012
Schaumburg Convention Center

Reinvention!

2012-01-03T19:37:00.004-06:00

This pillow was made by a student in the early winter class of Sewing Housewares. She found a pair of pants monogrammed with the last name of her brother in law and had the idea of making a pillow out of it to give as a gift to him. She used a feminine toile pattern to contrast the "working man's" pant and left the pocket open. On the back she stitched the tag from the inside of the pants.

This is a great example of reinventing a thrift store find in a truly unique and personal way. Be inspired to repurpose someone else's trash and make it your treasure!

Call for Patterns!

2012-01-02T07:00:00.007-06:00

Have your patterns published!

As I was browsing Chicago Artist's Resource website, (which is an AMAZING resource for Chicago based artists for researching exhibition opportunities), I came across a call for artists that seemed perfect for several of our students interested in patterns and repeats.

Several of our talented students have prints, either hand-printed or designed on the computer in the Digital Imagery for Print on Fabric, that would wow readers. The deadline is in June, so there's plenty of time to work on your designs or to take Allison's Digital Print for Fabric class this Winter to prepare your submissions.

Here's the scoop:

Deadline:

6/12/2012

Eligibility:

Chicago

Suburbs

Illinois

National

International

The PatternBase is accepting submissions for our first book!

About the Book:

PatternBase will showcase a collection of designs from contemporary textile and surface designers internationally and will include interviews from a number of artists working within the textile and fashion industries today.

Submission Guidelines:

Deadline: June 12, 2012

Who Can Submit?

Sumbission is open to all designers at any level.

Image Files:

Submit 5-10 low-resolution images. If your designs are chosen for inclusion, you will be asked to send higher resolution images.
Jpeg or PDF files only please, 72-150 dpi, no more than 600 pixels in any direction.
Files must be titled with your last name, title of the piece and image number, in the format given below.

Examples:

1. "Randel_PillowTalk_01.jpg"

2. "Randel_PillowTalk_Detail_02.jpg"

Please include the following documents:

An image script listing the title, dimensions, and medium of each design submitted. (Captions for the pieces are encouraged, but optional.)
Artist statement, brief bio, and resume, or a link to your website/blog.

How To Submit:

Send your submissions via e-mail to: submit@thepatternbase.com, with "Your Name: Book Submission" in the subject line.

If you prefer, you may send entries via post. Include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) if you would like your entry materials returned. Please send only digital prints or a compact disc containing your images and documents. Do not send any original artworks, as we cannot be responsible for any damage or their return.

To mail your entry, please send it to:

The PatternBase
ATTN: Kristi O'Meara
1933 S. May
Unit 2FF
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Notification:

Artists will be notified of inclusion within 30 days after the deadline.
Aniticipated date of release is autumn 2012

Visit http://www.thepatternbase.com/Projects.html for more info!

Posting Organization

The PatternBase

URL:

http://www.thepatternbase.com/

Organization Main Email:

ask@thepatternbase.com

Contact Information:

1933 S. May
2FF
Chicago, IL 60608
Google Map

Organization Description:

The PatternBase is A Chicago-based art-collective dedicated to inspirational textile design, fibers-related artworks, and the study of pattern.

New Year's Eve Update- Lillstreet closed

2011-12-30T23:22:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone,

A quick update to Saturday's open studio- Lillstreet offices will be closed, therefore open studio has been cancelled. Open studio will resume on Monday, January 2nd.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

Happy New Year,
Textile Department

New Magazine- Fiber Art Now

2011-12-29T22:23:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share a new publication with everyone that will hopefully fill the void that FiberArts Magazine left in my heart. Frances Krueger-Jackson, one of our esteemed monitors, showed me this magazine this evening. I hope to get a subscription going for our Textile Department, to add to our library.

Click here to find out more about Fiber Art Now.

Happy New Year!
Camille

creative new years resolution

2011-12-28T08:00:00.004-06:00

it's that time of year again.....a time to reinvent yourself. go ahead and give yourself with the gift of creativity.....winter classes start january 9th and the textiles department has a laundry list of awesome classes to help with your reinvention :) go check them out and make a resolution to sign up!

Subversive Cross Stitch

2011-12-27T12:10:00.005-06:00

The story of Major Alexis Casdagli, who was imprisoned by the Nazis from 1941 to 1945. To pass the time, he began stitching on scraps of canvas and bits of thread. The most outstanding piece is a seemingly innocent sampler with a border design - but the dots and dashes are actually Morse code that spell out "God Save the King" and "Fuck Hitler".

Read more here about his life and how his son continues the tradition of cross stitching today.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/12/subversive_finds.html

HOLIDAY HOURS AT LILLSTREET

2011-12-24T07:46:00.003-06:00

Happy Holidays !

First Time Screenprint on Fabric

We hope that everyone is enjoying the holiday season, even if the weather doesn't quite feel like winter. We wish all our students, monitors and teachers the best and look forward to the new year ahead! Hope to see everyone back in the studio this January....

Remember Early Winter students enjoy open studio access through January 8th. Returning students can still register for weekly open studio through the 8th as well. There will be no open studio the first week of classes, with Winter 2012 open studio returning January 16th.

Below are the Textile Department's holiday open studio hours.

Saturday, December 24th -closed

Sunday, December 25th -closed

Saturday, December 31st - 10am-1pm

Sunday, January 1st- closed

Raggedy London and Beyond

2011-12-23T22:20:00.002-06:00

Well I never heard much about Estonia. Actually it's a Northern European country that my friend recently travelled to and bought this jacket at a little shop named Hula. I was impressed with the craftsmanship so I took some photos to share with you. It's made of a thin wool blend and the facings are a rich red polished cotton stretchy fabric. I like how they piped the inside seams with red bias tape. And the reverse fabric is the opposite of the right side. I went to their website;

http://www.hula.ee/esileht/01/

and here's their rap: This fashion boutique is a project by students from the Academy of the Arts. Creating the brand in 2002, HULA was originally a fashion label before dabbling in home textiles, interior design, accessories and graphics. Today HULA is a highly innovative lifestyle brand, bucking prevailing trends and mass production to create unique products for young-minded people who value individuality and smart detailed craftsmanship. Visit their shop to outfit yourself with a style you won't find anywhere else and become a born-again hipster.

(Well maybe hipster by Estonian standards.)

My friend, visiting me from the UK, told me about Raggedy London so I went to their website

http://raggedyrags.blogspot.com/2010/08/raggedy-london-alternative-fashion-week.html

Here's the dress she got from them. They specialize in upcycling second hand garments and piecing them together in unexpected ways. Since I love recycling clothing the whole idea appealed to me very much. I like how they didn't serge any of the seams. Instead they seem to be topstitched somehow with a less obvious decorative machine stitch. The result was a kind of wavy "lettuce edge" look. The hem is assymetric and it looks to me like only 2 or 3 sweaters were used for this particular creation. So many great ideas out there! Happy Holidays.

Sewing Housewares Class

2011-12-23T08:59:00.010-06:00

We just wrapped up Sewing Housewares. Students had a chance to design and make a home fabric- good of their design. We learned a variety of techniques to be used in construction and finishing, including zippers, mitered corners, quilt binding, button holes and the french seam. Students were busy in class and at home coming up with ideas for new things they could sew. As a special treat on the last class free motion embroidery was introduced. This technique allows you to draw with the sewing machine using a special foot which allows you to move the fabric and make stitches in any direction. Students were very excited about this and were encouraged to practice on their machine at home.

Ellen working on her baby quilt

Ellen's festive fingers have mastered quilt binding!

Ellen used printed flannel that looked like a quilt. Now that she has mastered how to put a quilt together she wants to learn the fun part, piecing! I think her next class has been decided.

Susan discussing which textiles class to take next

Susan's first time free motion embroidery

Ellen's free motion Christmas tree

Felted Ornaments and Small Sculpture workshop

2011-12-21T07:01:00.000-06:00

We had really fun for the four hour workshop (12/9)! Even though all students were first time to apply wool rovings, they made various beads, stocking ornaments, and little containers. Felt making has a lot of potential uses for art making. I developed it combinning with silk when I was looking for my new work several yrs ago. I also found that it works well with stitching. It is easy to make a 3D shape. Hope my students who have taken felting classes will continue to discover your own ways. (Akemi Nakano Cohn)

New! Yarn Painting!

2011-12-20T16:35:00.003-06:00

New Yarn Painting class will begin Jan. 19^th.

Instead of Huichol painting, which used beeswax as a glue to hold yarns on wood panels, this class will use hot glue on a canvas or three-dimensional surface. Students who want to create larger projects are encouraged to enroll in both sessions.

Above is an example of traditional Huichol yarn painting.

Yarn Painting – Huichol (Detail)
Late 20th century, wool yarn and beeswax

Many stories from Huichol folklore are portrayed in yarn paintings. Yarn paintings are created when softened wax is spread evenly over a wood board. The artist then presses strands of colored yarn into the wax. Over 60 different colors of yarn could be used in any one yarn painting.

Update- Today's Open Studio 6-9pm

2011-12-20T12:50:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone,

Due to an unexpected emergency, open studio will be limited from 6-9pm today. There will be no open studio from 1-6pm.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

-Lillstreet Textile Department

Adult Winter Camp- Starts Next Week!

2011-12-19T10:45:00.000-06:00

Re-inventing Yourself at Lillstreet- The Sequel

2011-12-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

My long awaited website finally launched in October. Not being someone easily schooled in website development, it was indeed a challenge. But, it's now up and running and orders have been coming in. Hooray!

Next challenge is to learn dye printing so I can add more items to my line, such as scarves. Once creativity is tapped, it seems there are always more things to learn. I'm so lucky I'm part of Lillstreet so I can realize my ideas.

http://www.serb.me/

Save $$$- REGISTER BY DEC 19TH FOR LILLSTREET WINTER TEXTILE CLASSES

2011-12-15T11:37:00.000-06:00

Block Printing on Fabric

Just a friendly reminder that Lillstreet Art Center's early registration discount ends this upcoming Monday, December 19th. Haven't found the perfect gift? Register a friend or family member by the end of Monday to get a $10 or $20 discount on the class! If you become a member, receive an additional $5 to $10 discount on the class.

Membership is an amazing opportunity to receive discounts on classes throughout the year, as well as discounts at more than several local retailers in the city. Members also have the opportunity to exhibit and sell their artwork in the gallery during the annual Student Member Show. I would love to see more representation from our textile students this coming year in the member show!

Digital Print for Fabric

Repeat Patterns for Fabric

Classes start the week of

January 9th and February 13

powerpoint

2011-12-13T23:34:00.003-06:00

i thought i would post a tip for making images for your screen from digital files. while photoshop is the best place to go for adjusting images, i know it's not a program everyone has. that's where powerpoint come in.....i am guessing more people have that installed on their computers than photoshop.

i've been making a bunch of slide presentations for school and found some interesting image effects in the toolbar. it seems to be a good way to adjust contrast/brightness and add a dot pattern to make it more graphic.

below is an image i manipulated. i first went into image effects under color adjustment and adjusted the exposure to up the contrant. i then went back into image effects under halftone effect and added a dot screen. you can safe the newly altered image. the overall effect can turn a detailed photo into a graphic image that should work for screenprinting.

happy printing :)

REMINDER: OPEN STUDIO FROM 2-6PM TOMORROW DUE TO WORKSHOP

2011-12-10T21:56:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone,

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow's open studio, December 11th, will be limited from 2-6pm (normally 10-6pm).

Akemi will be teaching a Felted Ornament and Small Sculpture Workshop from 10-2pm in the print studio. There are 2 spots left, so if you are thinking about joining, click here to register before it's too late.

Giving Creativity

2011-12-10T09:59:00.004-06:00

'Tis the season for giving, so thought I'd share the fruits of the creativity of the Repeats and Patterns class artists extraordinaire. It's exciting to see the development of design ideas over the weeks in the course, and the unique points of view of each students body of work. I'm sure either you, or someone dear to you, would love to lure out the inner designer/artist and now is the time to do it! Give the gift of creativity by signing up for the Winter term of Repeats and Patterns, or by buying gift certificates for those on your holiday gift list. Just take a look at what can be in store fro you . . .

I'm looking forward to seeing you all January 10th on the first day of class and

Happy Holidays to you all!

eak

Historical Freeform Registration

2011-12-09T14:43:00.011-06:00

Greetings all! My name is Liz and I'm the new textiles monitor. I recently graduated from RISD in Printmaking and am well excited to join the Lillstreet team!

A while ago, I visited the textile storage at the RISD museum and got my hands on some yardage of William Morris' 'Larkspur.' This particular piece was blockprinted by Morris and Company in 1875. What makes this piece so special is that the original selvage remains. Looking closely, you can see that there are seemingly random dots printed along the edge of the block.

If we examine the repeat very closely, its clear these dots go throughout the yardage, fitting almost perfectly under the repeat. They are hard to see, but that's kind of the point. These little dots have allowed a loose registration to be built right into the image.

After parsing out the motif that makes up the repeat, you can tell the top right corner of the block has dots on the edge.

These scant eight dots allowed the master printer to print the fabric from the bottom left corner outward with no measurement required. With a little planing ahead of time and a hair dryer, you can do the exact same thing with your screens. Its just enough registration that your image will line up close enough without touching a ruler or Nora's awesome quadrant marker. Just remember to give your dots a big landing zone in your repeat. You'll have less of a headache if you allow some forgiveness and wiggleroom in your registration!

This is just one of a million different ways to register your screens. I'm sure each member of the faculty has a different favorite method you can learn in any of the textile printing classes. Happy Printing, everyone!

-Liz - liz.kozik.net/

Origami Shibori on Silk Pillows

2011-12-06T07:31:00.000-06:00

We all had a wonderful time. All of us were very productive. Acid dyes are easy to use and colors are very bright on silk. We folded silk fabric like "origami" paper folding to make a resist. Shibori always leaves 30% mistery. In Shibori process, we predict 70% of design at the beginning, and there is a space to get a surprise. Depending on what kind of silk, how folded, speed of dye (it sounds strange, but each dye has different speed to penetrate to the fabric). Here are some images we did within three hours. Amazing!!! Students' work: photo by Akemi Cohn

Holiday Workshop at Lillstreet! Suface Design: Applique and Trim

2011-12-05T20:06:00.007-06:00

This past Saturday Lillstreet held free workshops! Surface Design: Applique and Trim in the sewing room invited guests to make a monogrammed felt ornament or sachet. People chose a color for their letter, background and trim. After cutting out the letter it was stitched onto thebackground using the blanket stitch. Guests could then choose if they wanted to make a lavender sachet or a stuffed ornament, or both. They stitched the front and back together with the blanket, whip or stem stitch. Someone monogrammed both sides of their ornament and one person even did the half crossed blanket stitch without any direction! We had a great turnout and two kids even did some sewing. It was a great way to spend the afternoon and I hope the opportunity comes again soon!

"S" with button hole stitch and stem stich

"I" with blanket stitch and running stitch

"S" with blanket stitch, running stitch and pom pom trim

Ho Ho Ho

2011-12-01T11:43:00.000-06:00

TEXTILES HOLIDAY PARTY & SALE

Friday, December 2, 6-10

The halls are decked, and Holiday Spirit abounds.

New art for sale, music, refreshments,

and previews of what you can do!

Messenger bags

Silkscreen repeat patterns

Today's Quilting

Come by and talk to the instructors and students, see what's available for you to learn.

Art is a celebration of Joy... Embrace the Spirit!

Hair Doll

2011-11-30T22:55:00.000-06:00

In-progress project! Visit emitchworks.blospot.com to find out more about it :)

Last Session's Sew Your Own Hoodie!

2011-11-30T08:30:00.002-06:00

The fall session's Sew Your Own Hoodie class was a complete success! Check out these amazing sweatshirts made by the students!

Christine's Cool Hood

Katie's Asymetric Zipper (still in progress!)

Erin's Pro-looking Sweatshirt: with Thumb-holes!

Aliza's Dual Colored Creation

Lara's sweatshirt will be the most complicated of all! I can't wait to see it when it's done!

For more photos from the hoodie class and other past Lillstreet classes, check out my Lillstreet Flickr folder!

xoxo-- Nora

EVERYONE'S INVITED!

2011-11-29T12:39:00.000-06:00

Please join us this Friday in the Textile Studios at Lillstreet Art Center and meet students, faculty and monitors within the department. Enjoy food, drinks, and wonderful work made in our very own studios. Veteran students- bring friends and family to show them where you spend your days/nights in class and open studio!

This event is being held in conjunction with Lillstreet First Fridays, as well as the Lillstreet Holiday Party. There will be music, food, drinks, and lots of artwork throughout the entire building. Make a night of it!

I know that I am looking forward to another great party! It will be so nice to celebrate each other's company alongside the amazing work created within the Textile department!!

EARLY WINTER OPEN STUDIO SCHEDULE IS UP! (schedule subject to change after first week of classes)

2011-11-27T22:07:00.000-06:00

The new open studio schedule is up for the Early Winter Session! (Please keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change after this first week of classes. Always check right side-bar for the most up-to-date information.)

Currently enrolled students can start using open studio time after the first class. If you are a student who has taken a class within the past year, you can register for open studio on a week-to-week basis at the front desk or online. (Print students- you must provided your own screens or rent from the studio.) Once registered, stop by the front desk to pick up an open studio card. You MUST present the card to the monitor on duty each time you sign in.

Email camille@lillstreet.com with any questions. We look forward to seeing you around Lillstreet!

3D EMROIDERY STARTS MONDAY!

2011-11-24T22:22:00.000-06:00

french knots on Papi Tree, Detail

   3D EMBROIDERY

I am so excited to start my new 3D EMBROIDERY CLASS this Monday! I have been working on the design for a new sampler to screen-print for all students enrolled in the class. This class will focus on learning stitches that really 'jump' or 'pop-out' from the surface of the fabric. We will be using perle cotton thread, as well as chunky yarns and regular embroidery floss to create unique embroideries that really stand out. We will also learn how to use stuffing or batting to create a padded shapes and surfaces.

Class Description

Expand your embroidery skills by learning some new complex, relief-effect stitches such as the woven picot and the raised stem band. Every student receives a newly designed silkscreened sampler to work on each week. Couching, beading and basic stuffing techniques will also be covered. All materials provided. New floor-standing embroidery hoops make it easy to stitch comfortably during class and open studio.

1-4pm

Monday, November 28, 2011 to Monday, December 19, 2011

Camille Canales

In my own artwork, I really enjoy achieving a relief effect on a 2D surface. Embroidery is the perfect medium to give the illusion of a flat surface, and reveal depth and texture as the viewer is drawn in closer. Hope to see you in class on Monday!

padded applique on Cavemouth, detail

SAVE THE DATE!

2011-11-21T15:00:00.001-06:00

LILLSTREET TEXTILES PARTY/SALE DECEMBER 2!

and art vs. craft is this saturday in milwaukee!

Quilts, Quilts, Quilts

2011-11-21T10:33:00.005-06:00

There was some beautiful work being made in Quilted Projects this term. Check it out!
Liz is mixing funky contemporary fabrics with a vintage table cloth to make a dazzling house top quilt.

Carolina pieced a field of white stars in a blue green sky and machine quilted it with vines and leaves.

Rosalia is working on a giant king sized quilt made of blocks of vintage green and blue fabrics with amazing bits of applique and embroidery mixed in. (Sorry about the poor photo, Rosalia!). This ambitious project will keep her busy for a while!

Isabel started this beauty in Gabriella's crazy quilt class and worked on quilting and binding it in our class. There is so much detail in this piece that you just can't see in the photos - the textures are fantastic and her daughter is already using it in her bed!

Sheri incorporated a bit of the handy work she created in Camille's embroidery class to make this simple and lovely square dance quilt. She also completed two other projects which used some of these same vintage fabrics. All hand quilted!

LAST DAY OF OPEN STUDIO TODAY! GET YOUR PRINTING AND SEWING ON!

2011-11-19T00:01:00.001-06:00

Just a friendly reminder that today, Saturday November 19th, is the last day of Fall open studio. There will be no open studio on Sunday November 20th due to a Shibori Workhop in the print studio. (There's still a couple of spots open and time to register!)

Open studio for the Textile Department will resume Monday November 28th, as well as the Early Winter classes. You can register for open studio a week at a time ($40/week), or save money by signing up for a class and having open studio access from November 28- January 8th. Do the math, that's less than $25/week for 6 weeks of open studio, in addition to a class!

The open studio schedule will be posted some time next week, as always on the right side bar.

What will you make this Winter at Lillstreet??

Alternative Needlepoint Wraps Up!

2011-11-18T20:32:00.015-06:00

Here are some images of my students and their work for Alternative Needlepoint, which just wrapped up this past Monday night. I had a great group of people, and everybody participated and created some amazing work!

Need something better than therapy this holiday season?

2011-11-18T12:15:00.003-06:00

Need something to ward off those holiday blues? Get busy like Santa's elves and make something!

Join multidisciplinary artist, Sarah Montgomery in the Sewing Housewares class on Thursdays this December to make something special for yourself or to give as a gift. Once you learn to make things, it's the gift that keeps on giving! Hope to see y'all there!

Turkey Work

2011-11-16T12:36:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is in the air at Lillstreet... just look around!

And in the Textiles Sewing Room there's some Turkey Work going on.

And that also means it's time to sign up for Early Winter classes. Call Today!

Lillstreet Textile Students: Apply Now! for the 2011 Holiday Party/Sale

2011-11-14T17:05:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone,

After having our meeting regarding the December 2nd Textile Department Holiday Sale/Party, we have decided to invite students to join.

We have 3 spots for students, and they should apply by this Friday, November 18th. (I know it is short notice, but it is a very informal application process.) Students will be notified Monday, November 21st. Long-time students, as well as students who have plenty of work already made are encouraged to apply. Work must be made at Lillstreet and represent classes we offer in the Textile department.

The event will take place alongside Lillstreet's Holiday Party on Friday, December 2nd from 6-10pm in the textile studios. Food and drinks will be served. Work will be on display and for sale in both studios from teachers, monitors and students. Friends, family, and all are invited and welcome to attend. There will also be a raffle with Kate's pinata like last time :)

All participants are expected to contribute to the food, drinks, and decorations of the studios, as well as set-up and clean-up. Everyone is responsible for handling their own sales and must provide their own way of taking payment.

To apply, pick up an application in the Textile department hallway or email camille@lillstreet.com. Current students should be receiving an email with the electronic application from their instructors.

We look forward to seeing your applications!

Best,
Camille

Bounty of Beauty

2011-11-10T10:04:00.006-06:00

Greetings to you All on this oh so brisk November day here in Chicago. I've got just the thing to keep you warm, on the inside, at least! Take a look at this incredible and inspiring body of work from the students of the Repeats and Patterns class. We're wrapping up the Fall session already and are sad to have to wait until January to take the next session.

It's easy to recognize each students work as they all have a very unique point of view. These are the bounty of Renee who continues to astound us all with her elaborate designs printing with stencils - yes, I said stencils!

This beauty is from Catherine who's love of deep, rich colors and geometric shapes abound in her collection. Here's a glimpse of what happens when she ventures outside of her love of all things blue - it's incredible, right!!!

Here's Renee (we're lucky to have two very talented Renee's in class this session) expertly executed repeat on a denim she'll be using to make a jacket. The exciting use of metallic ink give's it that little bit of shimmer and shine. Here she is again carving one of her amazing designs into a lino block - can't wait to see it printed!

Here's Wendy's first ever block print. It's pretty special, don't you agree? You can certainly see her design aesthetic in each of her patterns, and her eye for scale and composition keeps getting ever more refined as the weeks go by. What amazing work!

Jordanna continues to astound us all with her fearless use of bold colors and layering. What I love most about her work is you never know what's going to come next. She has become a great example of one who takes chances and ends up with beautiful and unexpected results!

Hope this inspires you to register for the Winter Session of Repeats and Patterns beginning in January. I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!!

eak

Art Openings In Chicago

2011-11-09T10:13:00.003-06:00

In the Lining an exhibition of new work by Scott Jarrett

@ Heaven Gallery

1550 N Milwaukee, 2nd floor

Opening Friday, November 11th, from 7PM - 11PM

On view through Friday, November 4th

Now the winter is around the corner we have to look for inside doors activities. Chicago is having a lot of them -for free. Museums have free entry days or if you are a teacher you can get for free to almost all of them by showing you ID. We are lucky to have a huge talented emerging artist community that it is very active. Basically every weekend there is an opening and one the websites that is good to check out is http://www.thevisualist.org.

For this Weekend there is the opening n Lining an exhibition by Scott Jarret and the School of the Art Institute has open studios

4:30-5:30 p.m.
Columbus Building, 280 S. Columbus Dr., basement & mezzanine

5:30-7:30 p.m.
MacLean Center, 112 S. Michigan Ave., floors 10, 12, 15, 16, & 17

7:30-8:00 p.m.
116 S. Michigan Ave., floor 11

8:00-8:45 p.m.
Sharp Building, 37 S. Wabash Ave., floors 2 & 12

8:45-10:00 p.m.
Sullivan Center, 36 S. Wabash Ave., floor 3

When	Fri Nov 11 4:30pm – 9pm Central Time

OPEN STUDIO IS IN THE HOUSE

2011-11-07T22:26:00.000-06:00

November Craft Fairs!

2011-11-03T18:13:00.003-05:00

Below are two of the many holiday craft fairs happening this season. Please post other November fairs.

The DIY Trunk Show
Saturday, November 19th from 10 am to 5 pm at Broadway Armory Park

Art vs. Craft
Saturday, November 26th from 10 am to 6pm in Milwaukee

We (qylaar) will be selling at both fairs......and so will some other lillstreeters!

A View of October's Flags: Yuko Uemura

2011-11-02T10:58:00.000-05:00

Last month we had the privilege of displaying Yuko Uemura's quilted flags on our rooftop installation space. I hope that you had a chance to see them either in the gallery, where they were on display indoors for the Ravenswood Art Walk, or flying high on top of Lillstreet Art Center.

Here's what Yuko has to say about her flags:

"I wanted to send something unique from Japan because it is a part of who I am and a big part of my inspiration as an artist. Two years ago I moved into my grandmother's house - where I discovered many scrap pieces of fabric and textiles that she used to make kimonos.
I was inspired by the colorful fabrics that I found - many dating back over 40 years. I used a patch technique to combine the many scraps of textured fabrics. My hopes are that when people see my flags they will see the creativity and many years of traditions found in Japanese culture."

The call for 2012 installation proposals is up on our OPPORTUNITIES AND CALL FOR ENTRIES page, as well as on our ROOFTOP FLAG INSTALLATION SPACE ARCHIVE, where you can view previous artist installations. Click on the above links for more info on how to apply. We look forward to seeing your submissions!!!

Scroll down for more photos of Yuko's flags:

First-time Sewing Fall

2011-11-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

First-time sewing students hard at work in the studio this fall. Its always exciting to see everyone get so far in just 5 weeks!

The current class is only 3 weeks in, and they're already finishing up aprons - including pockets with ribbon trim.

Both - Los dos

2011-10-31T21:27:00.000-05:00

Handspun Yarn From Newspaper

2011-10-28T18:41:00.004-05:00

I'm two weeks into teaching my Alternative Needlepoint class, and things are going well. I've got a great group of students who are all excited about discovering new approaches to an old craft. We've been covering some basics to start off, but now everybody has their materials and has started their individual projects. Watch here for images of their pieces in the near future.

Browsing around the web, I found an interesting page on creating handspun yarn from newspaper. The designer's name is Greetje van Tiem. I think the yarn has a nice look and feel to it, so I think we will probably add it to the class. So little time...

BLACK OUT

2011-10-25T17:53:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of having a joint show with my old instructor, Darius Hill, who is the chairman of the Visual Arts department at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham, AL. The show was a big hit and will be up from October 13th-December 16th so if you're in the area go have a look! The show is titled Black Out: Issues of Race in Aesthetic Choice. My work deals with the celebration of my natural African American hair through screen printed textile work including repeat patterns and collage found objects. Here are a few images of my work from the show. To see more of what I've been up to, check out my blog emitchworks.blogspot.com!

Open Studio is Open

2011-10-25T07:00:00.007-05:00

Open Studio is available to all currently enrolled students, and is in addition to your class time. It's a valuable part of your experience at Lillstreet and should not be missed.

Every student has access to 30-40 hours weekly of open work space in the Print and Sewing rooms. There are seven tables in the Print room, and twelve machines in the Sewing room, so there's plenty of space for your projects. This also includes the dark room, and all other facilities available to help you practice your craft. Monitors are in the studio and can give you access to supplies you might need. In other words, it's all there waiting for you.

Don't miss Open Studio. It will turn your three hour class into 35-45 hours of time to practice your new skills. Even if you only use part of that time, it will definitely help you get the most out of your Lillstreet experience.

Dancing On Sticks / Bailando sobre las ramas

2011-10-24T09:52:00.000-05:00

During this Fall in OxBow summer school of art and artists' residency I had the space and time to work more with video. Here is one of the video I did.

Song No hago más na' by El grand Combo de Puerto Rico
Canción 'Y no hago mas na' del Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

Yuko and me

2011-10-22T11:08:00.004-05:00

P.S. Here is a photo of Yuko in the gallery, Tokyo, Japan. She seems doing very well; she prints at her lovely large studio looking down the Pacific Ocean. She is active showing her work various places. Since my son lives near by, I would love to visit her studio next time. (by Akemi)

solo exh. "Cycle of Renewal" 2011

2011-10-22T10:48:00.002-05:00

I was invited by the gallery for a solo exhibition in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan (9/27-10/8, 2011). Approx. 250 people came to see. Since I was in the gallery all the time (!!!), I had a chance to talk with them. It was good to hear their comments and to see their reactions. Although I use natural dyes and indigo with rice paper and silk, many people did not pay attention use of natural dyes. They noticed the designs and combination of colors. They liked the content of each stories. It was a challenge how to install pieces to create lovely shadows effectively. (by Akemi Cohn)

-photo by Nori Hamachi-

new look for the studio

2011-10-21T10:28:00.004-05:00

you might have noticed we've made a few changes in the studio. we're always looking for ways to make the studio even better. recently, mera took to the ladder and painted up a storm.

she turned the archway between the 2 print rooms into a huge chalkboard. it's an awesome display for the t-shirts, onesies, scarves, totes, etc. we sell. the pole next to the wall also got some chalkboarding and it's there to update you on upcoming classes and events.

lastly, the darkroom go some too......we're hoping to post exposure times and tips.

i'll post pics once i get to the studio tonight.

PS....thanks mera!

ON THE LINES

2011-10-19T22:16:00.000-05:00

UPDATED FALL II OPEN STUDIO SCHEDULE

2011-10-16T12:38:00.000-05:00

Textiles Open Studio and Class Schedule

Oct 17- Nov 20

Session II: Fall

**Please note: Open studio is only for currently enrolled Textile students. Please sign in and sign out with a monitor every time.**

Monday 10-1pm (every other Monday) Embroidery-Camille (sewing room)

6:30-9:30 Alternative Needlepoint- Young (sewing room)

6:30-9:30 First Time Screen- Camille (print studio)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 2-6:30 Kate

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 2-6:30 Kate

Tuesday 2-5 First Time Sewing- Amanda (sewing room)

6:30-9:30 First Time Sewing –Johana (sewing room)

6:30-9:30 Dye Printing- Nora (print studio)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 10-6 Young

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 10-2 Young

Wednesday 6:30-9:30 Repeats- Elizabeth (print studio)

6:30-9:30 Sew Your Own Hoodie –Nora (sewing room)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 10:30-6:30 Kathleen

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 10-:30-6:30 Kathleen

Thursday 6:30-9:30 Garment Construction –Nora (sewing room)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 1-9 Frances/Ruby

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 1-6:30 Frances/Ruby

Friday 10-1 Drawing w/ Sewing Machine- Camille (sewing room)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 5-9 James

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 5-9 James

Saturday 10-1 Quilted Projects- Sarah (sewing room)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 10-6 Mera/Ally

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 2-6 Ally

Sunday 2-5 First Time Sewing- Johana (sewing room)

2-5 First Time Screenprinting- Allison (print studio)

PRINT OPEN STUDIO: 10-2 Erin

SEWING OPEN STUDIO: 10-2 Erin

(No sewing open studio 10/30 and no print open studio11/20 due to scheduled workshops)

Midterm Madness

2011-10-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

Greetings All!

It's been a fun filled several weeks since the term began and rather than keep the creativity all to ourselves, I thought I'd share it with you. Take a peek at what we've been playing with in the Repeats and Patterns class.

From an exercise to create simply

repeated and sometimes surprise

patterns as seen in these first five images,

to tighter straight and drop repeats

from regal crowns to soft, willowy mums.

I think one of the most exciting things about the print classes here at Lill is the incredible diversity of style and creativity among the students that makes the environment much more inspiring, which brings new elements to our own work, so that we all are teachers.

We've got five more weeks to go and I know you'll want to see what we've been up to, so stay tuned!

eak

DIGITAL IMAGERY FOR PRINT ON FABRIC

2011-10-13T12:12:00.007-05:00

I've been teaching a great class designed for screenprinters who want to utilize the computer as a tool for repeating patterns and screening out images. This class was first offered in the 2011 winter term and will be repeating again in the winter term in 2012. I also taught this class through the summer but have been taking a break for the fall to get back to teaching in the studio. Keep a look-out for this class for winter! All levels are welcome.

Here's the class description:

Digital Imagery for Print on Fabric

(10 weeks)

Work in Lillstreet’s digital lab to create dynamic imagery, patterns and graphic images in preparation for screenprinting on fabric. Learn how to digitally generate imagery and manipulate photographs using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Students will have access to both the digital lab and Textile studios. Open to all levels. Prerequisite: First-Time or Beginning Screenprint on Fabric and basic computer knowledge.

Sunday 2-5pm

Starts January 15 $340, Members $330

Last Days in OxBow

2011-10-13T07:38:00.003-05:00

This fall I was fortunate enough to work at the Ox‐Bow School of Art & Artist Residency. I had a great experience. Here are some pictures of the lagoon at OxBow and Saugutck.

Opening Reception- Lillstreet Student Member Show & Sale

2011-10-11T15:36:00.001-05:00

Lillstreet's gallery is showcasing work this week from the student members from all of the art departments: Textiles, Printmaking, Glass, Metals, Painting and Drawing, Digital Arts, Ceramics.

The opening reception will be this Friday, October 14, from 6-10pm.

Our very own Frances Krueger-Jackson, a long time student and now monitor, has work on display. (I love her felted wall hanging!)

Wondering how you can show your work in Lillstreet's Gallery? Become a MEMBER! Members receive discounts on classes throughout the year, as well as receive discounts at a variety of local merchants, including Dick Blick. You also receive a free t-shirt or tote bag. Once a year, student members get a chance to display and sell their work in the gallery. I would love to see the Textiles Department have a greater presence next year! Click here for more info: http://lillstreet.com/membership

Alternative Needlepoint starts next week!

2011-10-10T22:21:00.001-05:00

And there is still time for you to get registered!

Last week, I held a demonstration of the class as part of the Ravenswood Art Walk. One of the students who attended expressed to me her desire to learn more about color, and was enjoying the use of freehand in making samples. The demonstration was a lot of fun and I think the people who attended had a great time. Here is an image of one of the samples I made during the demonstration:

During the actual session, we will spend a lot of time exploring color theory, and I will be encouraging everyone to experiment with any materials that can be used in a needlepoint context. We will be making tote bags as an optional final project, but anybody who just wants to explore techniques, color, and materials will have my full support.

The class is scheduled for Monday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30, beginning October 17th and running through November 14th.

2nd Tuesday Lecture Series!

2011-10-06T17:41:00.002-05:00

This coming Tuesday (October 11 from 7-8pm) you are invited to listen to 3 of Lillstreet's talented artists-in-residence discuss their work and philosophies. Maybe see you there!

Jodie Mack, GLI.TC/H and Craft

2011-10-05T03:04:00.003-05:00

Earlier last month I mentioned my interest in new media glitch techniques and how that relates fiber and craft. Today during a class critique, one of my peers mentioned that I look at the artist, Jodie Mack a woman who participated in the 2010 GLI.TC/H festival and explores these ideas through short video animations. Her piece, "Glitch Envy" demonstrates similar formal concepts that I'd like to translate into my quilts. Jodie's use of sound, collage, and distorted imagery are key elements that I found very successful to that particular work. Below, is some footage of "Glitch Envy"from the film festival, as well as a few screen shots of my own source work that I am using for my quilts.

"Glitch Envy"

Jodie Mack 2010
Be sure to check out her website and vimeo account too.
http://vimeo.com/jodiemack

Source images from my quilts:

From Nicki Minaj's, "Super Bass"

also from "Super Bass"

from Rihanna's, "Only Girl"

Works in progress
Alexandria Eregbu 2011

Yuko's Flags @ Ravenswood Art Walk this past weekend

2011-10-03T19:41:00.000-05:00

October is going to bright and colorful with Yuko Uemura's newest flags for Lillstreet. Installed this week, Yuko's flags are quilted fabrics from Japan that are over 40 years old. They are so lovely and unique, a sure treat for the eyes during the onset of the Fall season.

Yuko was a monitor in the Textile Department for several years, and we are thrilled to have her work on display. This weekend Lillstreet participated in the Ravenswood Art Walk, where we chose to display some of her flags in the gallery to generate excitement for the upcoming installation. Make sure to look up next time you are at Lill, and check out Yuko's flags!

Sew Your Own Hoodie Class in Action!

2011-10-01T22:19:00.006-05:00

We're already a couple weeks into the fall semester and my Sew Your Own Hoodie class has dived headfirst into their projects! Here are some photos of the students making paper patterns from their favorite hooded sweatshirts! After the paper patterns are done, we'll use them to make design/size alterations so that each seamstresses hoodie will be a one of a kind masterpiece!

--Nora

UPCOMING CRAFT SHOWS

2011-09-29T19:41:00.000-05:00

NOVEMBER 20 DIY Trunkshow, Chicago, IL

NOVEMBER 27 Art vs. Craft, Milwaukee, WI

NOVEMBER 4-5 Detroit Urban Craft Fair, Detroit, MI

NOVEMBER 4-5 Renegade Craft Fair: Chicago, Chicago, IL

DECEMBER 5 HoverCraft, Milwaukee, WI

What's on the lines in the textile room

2011-09-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to post some work I see coming out of the textile room. I shot them and paired them up. From animals to patterns to abstraction they tell us that people are having fun at Lill Street studio. Keep it coming.

my exhibition in Tokyo, Japan

2011-09-26T07:35:00.004-05:00

I am in Tokyo, Japan for a solo exhibition. It opens tomorrow! I installed today. The new pieces are used washi (Japanese rice paper), dyed in indigo, then hand cut with a knife. The gallery is in Ginza, Tokyo, and it runs for two weeks. As a custom, I stay in the gallery everyday and talk with people!!! It is good to observe their reaction and hear some comments, but I would be exhausted by the end of the show. The image is "Cycle of Renwal #3". Dyed japanese rice paper in indigo, painted cutch and black oak. Put them together with a scroll technich. Hand cut out with a knife. Red paper was added. (by akemi cohn)

2011-09-21T20:22:00.010-05:00

Hello everyone!

I'm Alexandria Eregbu, (or Ally) a newer addition to the Textiles family this year and I'm so happy to be a part of it. So far at Lillstreet I have been able to monitor in the sewing lab and work as a teaching assistant for the First Time Screenprinting on Fabric class in August. All of it has truly been a great experience. One of my favorite traits about this art center is the wide range of diversity that seems to traffic in and out of the space. I've also really enjoyed the laid back and relaxed nature of the studios and classrooms. This quality seems to allow room for experimentation and making mistakes, which helps shape and facilitate growth and creates a comfortable and dynamic learning environment for students, first-timers... and especially art makers.

So I'll tell you all a little bit about myself...
I am a junior studying my BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in performance and fiber and material studies. My work investigates social identity through exploration of the body and attempts to understand how my role functions within any given environment. I am interested in interpreting the body as a spectacle and the relationship of the gaze between myself, as an artist and my viewers. Currently, my performance is investigating a recently observed role that I have acquired as what seems to be a commonly perceived “sexually attractive” young Black woman and how this new identity works and serves purpose within my own community. Public response, outside of the institution, has been essential to my work because it has allowed for me to more accurately develop a critique of this connection.

In my fiber practice I am working on a series of glitched Hip-Hop music videos images that will be translated into a quilt using screenprint, image transfer, and dyeing techniques. Prior to this new content, I was working primarily with hair, making sculptures and installations that provided several narratives from different memories that progressed from my childhood and into becoming an adult.

For more examples of my work you can visit either of my websites:
Alexandria Eregbu
vimeo

Looking forward to being on board with you all and anticipating the fall season,
xoxo
Ally

The Inaugural Steamer Run!

2011-09-21T09:27:00.007-05:00

Just yesterday, the students in Screen Printing with Thickened Dye class got to be the first to witness our brand new Bullet steamer in action! Huzzah!

Printing with dye is a lot more tricksy than printing with ink; instead of sitting directly on top of your fabric, dye needs to be chemically bonded with the fibers. Dye powders are mixed with a thickening agent (sodium alginate) to make it print-able but, once the fabric is washed, the only thing remaining attached is the color. Your fabric ends up as soft as it was before you printed on it!

The shiny, new bullet steamer comes into play after you're done printing but before you wash your fabric. All of those chemicals that make up the sodium alginate tend to cause the colors to bleed when you submerge your fabric in water... but with the steamer, the chemicals are STEAMED out! Here's a little slideshow about how we did it in class:

In order to protect our images, we wrapped our fabric in newsprint.

The fabric is fully encased so that it doesn't end up touching other parts of fabric or the metal steamer insert!

Then we rolled the wrapped fabric around the insert so that the paper won't touch the inside of the steamer silo. (Water condenses inside the steamer- but if our fabric gets wet, the colors will bleed before the chemicals have a chance to evaporate!)

After 35 min in the steamer, we remove our fabric and machine wash it in cold water with some tide and a color-catcher. Throw it in the dryer and done!

We will be doing tests throughout the session to figure out the absolute best condition for the steamer to do it's job.

In order for students to be able to use/take advantage of the new steamer, you will have to take a dye printing class (check out the winter catalog, when it becomes available, for next sessions classes) or the upcoming Steamer Basics Workshop: Saturday, October 1st, 2-5pm. Hope to see you there!

--Nora

www.fiberistanora.com
www.fiberistanora.etsy.com
http://fiberistanora.blogspot.com

FALL OPEN STUDIO SCHEDULE POSTED -> Check sidebar for schedule!

2011-09-19T09:09:00.001-05:00

Schedule subject to change ...Always check sidebar for updated schedule.

Let the Repeats Begin!

2011-09-15T09:51:00.012-05:00

Day one of the Repeats class and the students are off and running, quite literally as seen in this playful unicorn print!

We begin with a straight repeat exercise to get everyone familiar with the basics and from the looks of the results, these folks will be mastering the technique in no time. You can see how some images are more suited to a looser repeat, the unicorns, while

both the circle patterns don't require as much space and can be much tighter.

Both the coral drops and the blue trees could be repeated tighter or looser, depending what the desired end use is and whether there is to be another image in the negative space that's left.

We'll keep you updated on our works as the class progresses. Stay tuned for more visual delights!

eak

AT OxBow

2011-09-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

OxBow!

I am very glad to be at OxBow School of the arts. Here are some pictures:

This is the entrance of the studios at the Bogart building where some arttist have their studios

My Studio has two windows!

The Turtles!!!

More info go to www.ox-bow.org

Pattern making at Lillstreet

2011-09-13T12:25:00.002-05:00

Its time to share some work from the Pattern making and Fashion Design class this summer! We had a great time. All the skirts you see here are completely original, one of a kind designs made to fit perfectly!

A-line skirt in jersey, with attached waistband and sash.
A-line skirt in pale green linen, fully lined in cotton.

This skirt was designed with a yoke, so that the pattern of trees would always face up

I'm sure there's many more to come- once you've finished a pattern, of course, you can make more! And once you know the basics of pattern making, you can alter patterns or make new ones for endless variations. Keep your eyes out for more pattern making classes at Lill Street- its a great way to advance your sewing skills.

Quilted Projects

2011-09-13T12:22:00.004-05:00

Fall is the perfect time to start a quilt project (or dig out an old project that was just too warm to work on in the summer). I spent my summer making samples: Curves, Petals, Cathedral Windows, Seminole Piecing, Paper Piecing, and more, and I can't wait to share them with you. There's still time to sign up - join us!

Quilted Projects begins Saturday, September 17 - 10 am to 1 pm for 10 weeks - hope to see you there!

Greetings everybody!

2011-09-12T00:12:00.000-05:00

Hi all,

I introduced myself briefly a few weeks ago, but now that the sessions are starting, I wanted to give everyone a little more of my background.

I am originally from Seoul, South Korea. While living in the U.S., I've lived and studied in both San Diego and Chicago. I graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an MFA in Fiber & Material Studies.

In my process, I mix textiles and fibers with everyday materials to create narrative work. My narrative is an exploration of how people interact with each other in daily life. In order to achieve that, I created a single character that appears in each piece. The character represents humanity in the most general way possible. This character could be old or young, male or female, big or small. The most important element is the context in which that character exists for each piece.

While at Lillstreet, I am going to be adding more elements of repetitive pattern making to my work. I'll be attending Beginning/Advanced Screenprinting on Fabric, and Garment Construction. It will be nice to have facilities to use toward this end again, so you will be seeing a lot of me!

In the immediate future, I am making final preparations for an exhibition coming up next week at the O'Connor Gallery at Dominican University, out in River Forest. It is a two person show featuring myself and Amy Honchell, who is one of my former grad school professors at SAIC, and is curated by Angela Bryant. The opening reception for the show is on September 21st from 4-7 p.m., and I will be taking part in an informal artists' lecture that day at 3 p.m. The show runs from September 21 through October 26.

Watch this space for further updates on my progress. Talk to you soon!

COME VISIT US AT RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR THIS WEEKEND!

2011-09-09T09:05:00.007-05:00

Lillstreet Art Center is excited to be part of Renegade Craft Fair this Saturday and Sunday!

Stop by our booth (#224- between Honore & Wolcott on the southside of Division Street)....look for the flags screenprinted by the textiles department :)

There will be workshops, demonstrations, and special class discounts for Fall classes! Textiles will be doing demos Saturday and Sunday from 1:30-3:30pm. Check out our Facebook page for more info.

First-Time Screenprint on Fabric classes start Monday!

2011-09-07T13:07:00.001-05:00

Monday is the beginning of our Fall session at Lillstreet Art Center. There's still time to get your last minute registrations in for our First Time classes. Here are the two options:

Monday evenings, 6:30-9:30pm starting September 12
Sunday afternoons, 2-5pm starting September 18

Click here to register!

This is the last full session of the year! Want to have access to the studio for a weekly rate? Take classes this Fall to become eligible for open studio on a week-to-week basis during our Early Winter Interim session (November 28- January 8).

Halloween and the holidays are right around the corner! Prepare yourself by screenprinting awesome prints onto fabric for your costume. Or be an early bird and start printing t-shirts, tote bags, onesies, whatever for your friends and family.

Lillstreet Textiles at RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR this weekend, Sept 10 & 11th

2011-09-06T15:14:00.000-05:00

Visitors can explore the finer side of fiber with textile workshops and demonstrations all weekend provided by Lillstreet Art Center, who has been supporting artists through residency programs, gallery and studio space, and education since 1975.

Visit Lillstreet Art Center at Renegade Craft Fair to see workshops, demonstrations, and special class discounts for Fall classes! (There's still time to register, classes start next week!!)

Saturday, September 10:

11am-1pm: Digital Pinhole Photography Demonstration
1:30-3:30pm: Screenprinting Hankies Hands-On Demonstration
5-7pm: Glass Fusing Demonstration

Sunday, September 11:

11am-1pm: Letterpress/Relief/Etching Hands-On Demonstrations
1:30-3:30pm: Fabric Dyeing Demonstration
5-7pm: Band Rings & Bracelets Workshop

http://www.renegadecraft.com/chicago

Stop by and say hi to Nora and Camille who will be performing the demos.... Hope to see everyone there!

What a Incredible Web They Wove

2011-08-31T08:07:00.003-05:00

While doing an internet search for textile and fiber art exhibits in Chicago, I came across something that stopped me in my tracks. Okay, as you know, the making of silk from the cocoon of the silk worm is a fairly demanding process. Imagine if you will extracting silk threads from over one million Golden Orb spiders, who by the way were not harmed and were released into the wild after the process (not kidding), and turning those threads into an amazing hand woven brocaded textile. Conceived and manifested by Simon Peers and Nicholas Godley in Madagascar, the golden textile, often referred to as the "8th Wonder of the World" is on loan to the Art Institute and it's the last opportunity to view this incredible piece before it leaves the United States. When will you ever have something this extraordinary cross your path, so go, now!!!

For more information about the exhibit and the artists, check out www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/exhibition/spidersilk and www.godleypeers.com

eak

Marimekko's printing factory

2011-08-30T20:11:00.000-05:00

Step inside Marimekko’s printing factory for a look at how its iconic textiles come to life.

Here's a slide show;
http://www.dwell.com/slideshows/helsinki-ink.html?c=y&paused=true#ixzz1VVHtRZQA

Here's an article.
http://www.dwell.com/articles/helsinki-ink.html

YOU'RE INVITED

2011-08-29T23:11:00.000-05:00