Teacher Spotlight: Sue Bleiweiss

Sue's modern, clean-lined quilts have won many awards over the years. She will teach two classes during the first week of QSDS.  Sue is a fuser: the parts of her quilts that look like they might be pieced are actually fused.

Her five-day class will focus on working this way, starting with sketches then creating a quilt. Line is an important element in her work and that is the focus of her weekend class during Session 2.  She often creates lines from fused fabric But she is also a master of machine quilting, so students are sure to become more confident about their machine quilting skills.

Sue is the author of several books, with another one in the works.  Like many quilt artists, she uses her sketchbook to record ideas and start working out designs.  She authored a book about the wildly successful Sketchbook Challenge.  Check out her classes, the supply lists and more images of her work here:

http://www.qsds.com/teachers2018.html

Teacher Spotlight: Maria Shell

Maria Shell is really on a roll! Her quilt Uptown Rail Fence just won a third place prize at the Houston International Quilt Festival, she has an article in the Oct/Nov issue of Quilting Arts magazine, AND she has a new book out! Improv Patchwork: Dynamic Quilts Made With Line and Shape. It is beautifully laid out and full of useful tips.
Maria will teach two classes during the second week of QSDS 2018.  You will be amazed at what you can create with sets of strips and simple pieced shapes.

Whether you are an old hand at this art quilt game or quite new to quiltmaking, bring your sewing machine and spend some quality time learning from a teacher with lots of great ideas.
 Learn more about Maria's classes and our other instructors and classes at:
http://www.qsds.com/classesbysession2018.html

Teacher Spotlight: Deborah Fell

Deborah knows a thing or two about both art and teaching.  Along with being a professional artist with a whole range of gallery shows and artist residencies under her belt, she was a public school teacher for many years.  She is an expert at creating a supportive and inspirational atmosphere for her students.
Deborah will teach two classes during the first week of QSDS 2018.  Come for her 5-day class and immerse yourself in the rewards of working on a series of small fabric collages.  Don't want to bring a sewing machine?  This is a chance to explore collage and mark-making via hand stitching, so a machine is not an absolute must!

On the weekend, Deborah will add paper and paints to the mix of fabrics and fibers. Bring your sewing machine and zoom along. Deborah has lots of techniques and good solid design advice to share. You are sure to go home energized and ready to continue on your creative journey.
Check out Deborah's full class descriptions and all of our other classes at:
http://www.qsds.com/classesbysession2018.html

Teacher Spotlight - Seth Apter

We are delighted to have Seth Apter scheduled to teach two classes during the first week of 2018 QSDS! Seth is a mixed media artist whose artwork covers practically all the bases: collage, assemblage with found objects, altered books, books made from scratch and much more. Plus he has recently bought a sewing machine and is starting to explore adding more fabric and machine stitching.

Layers are his thing.  With five days or a weekend, (or even seven days) you'll have the luxury to really get into your art, experiment and explore some new techniques.  Come work in (or discover) your own personal style.  Seth is a calm and generous teacher who knows so much about art and design.

Seth is a multi-talented designer.  You may have seen his name on some of your design tools.  He designs stencils, rubber stamps, lines of paint and items for collage.  This is going to be a FUN week!
Check out his classes here: http://www.qsds.com/classesbysession2018.html

Teacher Spotlight - Clare Murray-Adams

Clare is an art quilter who became interested in encaustics (the use of melted wax), for painting and collage.  She brings her fabric and sewing experience to this fascinating medium. During the second week of QSDS, Clare will teach two classes that carry encaustics into a less traditional direction.

The encaustic medium can be used as is, for a mysterious, cloudy look, or you can stencil or drip or paint with pigment to give it a completely different feel.
Clare brings the wax, the pigments and about a gazillion tools for adding texture!

Students will learn to dip fabrics and papers into the wax to create book pages and collages with paper, fabric, threads and found objects.  YES! You can sew through these!
Carry this even further and experiment with forming vessels and small 3-D sculptures.  Here are some small pieces created by her last group of students at QSDS.

If you are thinking about exploring encaustics, or are curious about adding other mediums to your textile pieces, then this is the perfect way to try it out and to learn from one of the best!

Clare's classes are #17 (5 days) and #22 (2 days) on the QSDS schedule.

Check them out and our other classes at:

http://www.qsds.com/classesbysession2018.html

Expect the Unexpected!

When we sign up for classes at QSDS, we think we have a pretty good idea of what to expect.
The exciting part is, that you never know what will happen along the way!

Our fabulous vendors, Kristen Rodrigues (Fiber on a Whim) and Becky Hancock (St. Theresa Treasure Trove), set up their traveling shops offering an eye-popping assortment of goodies. 
Katrina, Becky's skeleton friend, sits in her finery, outside the door to welcome all visitors to the Vendor room.  She will even pose for pictures!

What could be a better inspiration for Susie Shie?  During Sessions 1 and 2 of QSDS, Susie was teaching an art journaling class.  Soon, Katrina the skeleton was recorded in...um...non-living color on the pages of Susie's sketchbook!

 

It just goes to show that we can all be open to all of the inspirations going on around us at QSDS.  Not just those in our own classrooms.  And, who knows... Maybe Katrina will even end up on one of Susie's quilts some day!

Check out all of our inspirational classes at:

http://www.qsds.com/

2017 QSDS Scholarship Auctions

Many thanks to all of those who donated and /or bid on mini quilts at our Friday night Reception & Auctions!
Each Friday night at QSDS we had wine, hors d oeuvres, and lots of laughs with all of the new and old friends that we had made during the week.
Cindy Brendzel and Susan Stevenson both donated mini quilts to the auction.  They ended up bidding on, and winning, each others quilts!!

The funds raised will provide scholarships to QSDS students in 2018!

Would you like to apply for a 2018 scholarship? Check out the application here:

http://www.qsds.com/aboutscholarship.html