No workshop, single room.
No workshop, shared room.
(spouse/friend/partner) sharing a room.
Priscilla Bianchi [15 remaining]
The Stripe Revolution!Priscilla uses Guatemalan striped fabric in her work. She presents a fun approach to the subject of stripes, demonstrating different, simple and surprising ways in which they can be used effectively in quilts. Discover how to interpret and use directional prints and how to mix and match precious fabrics for a unique, ethnic flair. Broaden your knowledge of color, value, texture, and principles of design like balance and contrast.Level: Confident Beginner to Advanced
Kim Brownell [18 remaining]
Undersea GardenJump into the world of embellishments and fabric manipulation! Create an undersea art quilt by combining fabric with trims, yarns, trinkets, and doo-dads (such as buttons, beads, charms, laser-cuts, and old jewelry). Students will learn how to take fabric, a variety of textiles, mixed media, embellishments, and everyday household objects and turn them into fun sea creatures. Let your creative juices flow while learning new techniques.Level: All
Deborah Fell [19 remaining]
Building Quilts Using Architectural ElementsUsing fragmented architectural elements, learn the power of line, and how scale creates depth and ambiguity in an art quilt. Using imagery of architectural elements on cloth, fusing and layered cloth construction will be taught. Emphasis will be learning how to start a series. This is a student driven workshop, with students defining their long and short term goals for the workshop. Sign up early because there is pre time needed for fabric preparation. I have been working on an architectural series for over ten years and have about 70 quilts in the series. I have learned a lot and would like to share this knowledge with you.Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Becky Goldsmith [15 remaining]
Choose Your Own Adventure — An Independent StudyGive yourself the gift of time to sew. Tap into Becky’s extensive background in all areas of quilt-making as you design, color, and/or construct the project you want to make. Your project can be pieced or appliqued, traditional or improvisational, geometric or pictorial, sewn by machine or by hand. This is your time to work in a beautiful setting without interruption from the outside world. Whether your quilt is new or in progress, this class is for you!Level: All
Cindy Grisdela [8 remaining]
Adventures in Improv Quilting ClassLearn to create your own original quilts without patterns or templates using improvisational piecing techniques. Students will learn to let go of the “rules” and piece blocks and elements in an intuitive, free form fashion. We will explore contemporary Improv techniques including curves, wonky triangles, confetti pops, insets and more. The elements don’t necessarily have to follow a block format, and nothing has to be the same size—puzzling the composition together is part of the fun. Best of all, there’s no way to make a mistake in my class! We will discuss using color fearlessly in your quilts as well as simple design principles to create an original dynamic composition. Let your inner child come out to play! Basic sewing skills and a machine in good working order necessary.Level: All
Ellen Lindner [20 remaining]
Design Your Own Nature QuiltTurn a favorite nature photo into your own original quilt! You’ll start with Ellen’s photos and supplies, giving you a stress-free opportunity to do multiple exercises. During that time you’ll gain the skills and confidence you’ll need to tackle your own photos. Your goal will be to interpret your photo, rather than to reproduce it exactly. Ellen will provide examples and exercises to help you loosen up and depict your image more loosely. This is an exciting way to work which will show YOUR hand in your pieces. A raw edge collage technique will ensure speedy results so you’ll be able to create TWO quilts.Level: Artistic courage, no art skills necessary
RaNae Merrill [19 remaining]
Free Motion Mastery – in a weekDo you want to learn to do free-motion quilting but don’t know where to start? Can you do a few patterns but want to expand your creativity? Have you taken other classes and failed? This is the class for you! RaNae’s unique teaching style and tools will get you quilting successfully on your first day, and you’ll learn dozens of patterns in class. You’ll learn how to break down any pattern into simple shapes, and how to look at a quilt and decide what to quilt where. You’ll go home with a finished quilt, saying “I can do FMQ!”Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Mary Pal [14 remaining]
Cheesecloth Imagery on TextilesAdd texture, interest and drama to figurative imagery with Mary’s unique method of using simple cheesecloth. This not only makes portraits easy to do (think color-by-number!) but is also great for animals (like dogs, cats, horses) and for textural landscapes. Black and white imagery is dramatic, but you will explore ways to add color to both the background and cheesecloth. Through exercises, slide shows, and demos, Mary leads you through her easy techniques for creating with cheesecloth. First you create two simple projects, a landscape and a portrait, to learn the fundamental methods, and then with Mary’s guidance, adjust your selected reference photo to create your own personal composition.Level: All
David M. Taylor [Sold Out]
Animal Artistry through AppliquéDavid Taylor’s quilts are often mistaken as paintings, and that makes him very happy. His works are adapted from photographs, and his technique evolved from his love of jigsaw puzzles. In this workshop, students will learn the secrets to his craft. Topics include his unique pattern drawing method and freezer paper appliqué technique. A strong emphasis is placed on fabric selection (bring as much as you can to the class) and using those fabrics wisely. Students are required to submit image options in advance of the workshop.Level: Intermediate
Jeanette Walton [10 remaining]
Adventures in Paper PiecingLearn to paper piece the Judy Niemeyer way! Whether you’re a devoted “Judy Groupie” or a newbie wanting to try your hand at paper piecing, here’s your chance to create a visually stunning quilt while you master foundation paper piecing and learn Judy’s cutting and organizational techniques. Jeanette will help with choosing your colors, reading the pattern, and start-to-finish assembly. Get ready to learn all the tips and tricks to level up your quilting. Choose from any Quiltworx.com pattern. Quilt shown is Time Traveler. Yes, you can do that! Jeanette Walton, a Judy Niemeyer Certified Instructor, will guide you through, step-by-step, to making your gorgeous quilt.Level: Confident Beginner, prior paper piecing experience not required.
Non-Workshop
Non-Participant ESS attendee. Please only select this option if you are wanting to be a part of the Empty Spools Seminars programs but don't wish to take a class. If you are a non-workshop companion do not select this option unless you need a separate room. Use the section at the top of the page if you are sharing a room.
Please select a 2nd and 3rd choice teacher in the event your class cancels.
Sewing Machine Rentals
A limited number of Bernina sewing machines will be available for those who cannot travel by air with their own machines. Reservations and payments may be made through the Empty Spools Registration. Sewing machines are provided by The Cotton Patch of Lafayette, California.
Yes, it's okay to send me text messages including confirmations, changes, and updates. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. View our terms of service & privacy policy.
