We are happy to schedule a studio day for you at your convenience! 
$50 per person for full day [6 hours], $25 each for half day [3 hours]. 
We're located in south central Indiana about 25 minutes southwest of Bloomington,
20 minutes east of Bloomfield. Topics are flexible and we can do as much as
you want in a studio space already set up for dyeing. 
No stress, just a lot of color and fun. 

Photos from the Spring 2008 Marbling class:

    Sharon raked the dye and laid the scarf on.

 

Here are some of the finished pieces.

                 

 

Class Schedule

Call for participants:

If you're interested in joining a Vein of Gold class this summer (2011), contact me.

 

May 20-21, 2011

White Violet Center. St. Mary of the Woods College. Terre Haute, Indiana.
Classes: Color Harmonies; Dyeing on Protein Fibers with Acid Dyes

June 3, 2011

Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival. Johnson County Fairgrounds. Franklin, Indiana.
Class: Tunisian Crochet

June 4, 2011

Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival. Johnson County Fairgrounds. Franklin, Indiana.
Class: Beginning Spinning with a Drop Spindle.

 

Class Descriptions

Creativity

The Artist's Way
A rewarding, gentle way to identify the creative blocks in your life and expand your creative possibilities. We use The Artist's Way text by Julia Cameron. 

Vein of Gold
A continuation of Julia Cameron's techniques for being more creative using her text, The Vein of Gold. We use your own artwork [artplay] as a way to get into and around the issues that might be cramping your artistic style. 

 

Colory Theory

Color Basics
Introduction to color theory. Learn color terminology and discuss various color theories. Become more comfortable describing colors and noticing the differences between colors and how they interact in various physical contexts. 3 hours

Color Harmony
A follow-up to the Color Basics workshop. Become more comfortable putting colors together and discussing your individual responses to specific color combinations. Get extensive practice using the terminology from the Color Basics class and using different types of color harmonies. 3 hours

Color Notebooks
Make your own color notebook containing page after page of color combinations for you to try. Analyze and discuss different color harmonies. Participants bring magazines and catalogs to cut up and share. Other materials needed: notebook, plastic sleeves. 3 hours

 

Crochet

Easy Crochet Flowers
Learn to make two types of crochet flowers - a plumeria and a camellia. Flowers are a great way to use yarns left over from other projects and they make perfect accessories. Free patterns.

Tunisian Crochet
Take your crochet to the next level!  Tunisian crochet is a simple and lovely old form of crochet that can be used for everything from blankets to baby clothes.  It looks especially beautiful when used with brightly variegated yarns, whose colors pool when used in knitting.  By the time you leave, you’ll know how to do the simple Tunisian stitch, plus extra fancier stitches as we have time.

Dyeing & Marbling

Beginning Marbling on Fabric
If you’ve ever wanted to try marbling on fabric, this is a great way to start. Each participant will learn to use marbling medium, paints, and tools on 10 pieces of fabric [8 of cotton 12x12; 2 silk hankies 11x11]. There is time to experiment and gain enough experience to produce pieces you really like. 3 hours.

Dyeing Silk Scarves
Learn several techniques for getting interesting patterns with dye on silk, and take your own completely finished masterpieces home. There is time to do 4-5 scarves. Appropriate for adults and children as young as 3 years old. 3 hours

Drop Spinning
An introduction to spinning with a drop spindle. This workshop is appropriate for individuals with or without any other spinning experience. We cover a little history, a little fiber and a lot of practice. 3 hours. 

Warp Painting
Experiment with painting your own pre-wound warps for weaving. There is time to do 2 warps. Protein warps can be rinsed in class. Cellulose warps must be taken home to batch over night, then rinsed the next morning.

 

Spinning

Beginning Spinning on a Drop Spindle
In just a couple of hours, you can learn to make your own yarn on a drop spindle!  Drop spindles have been in use for more than 6000 years because they are very portable and easy to use.  Learn to spin without investing in a spinning wheel.  No previous spinning experience is necessary.  Once you’re ready for a wheel, all of the skills you learn here will make it easier than ever to spin on a spinning wheel. 3 hours.  

Beginning Spinning Wheel Spinning
An introduction to spinning with a spinning wheel. Learn to make your own yarn from wool. Discuss different types of fibers and fiber preparation.   Extensive hands on practice.  3 sessions, 3 hours each.

Intermediate Spinning Wheel Spinning
Go beyond wool! Get some experience spinning with fibers such as silk, cotton, alpaca, angora, mohair, soy silk, ingeo, etc. Practice making 2 and 3 ply yarns.  Materials extra. [fiber availability varies] 3 sessions, 3 hours each. 

 

Especially for children

Introduction to the world of fiber [for children]
This demonstration was developed for use at Honeycreek School [1872 schoolhouse with historical interpreters] in Bloomington, Indiana. Children are introduced to the idea of making clothing from fiber and see how a garment goes from fleece to yarn to cloth. Some hands on. 2 hours

Introduction to the world of herbs [for children]
Another Honeycreek School demonstration. Children explore the idea of what an herb is. Hands on discussion of cooking herbs, medicinal herbs and aroma/vermifuge herbs. No tasting allowed without parent present. 2 hours