Knitalong!

Did you know that August is a great time to start your Christmas knitting projects? Are you the kind of person that sits down to make handmade presents in November for Christmas, only to realize that you haven't the time? Me too.
Make a change this year and really get started on time! These advanced knitters from Lisa Whiting's class know what's what.

August knitting classes start next week......

Embroidery raises the roof again this Sunday!

I couldn't resist sharing these summery pictures from Camille's Rooftop Embroidery class. Aren't they beautiful? The print that everybody's stitching on is Camille's design- a template that shows all the stitches covered in class. Pretty cool, right?

I have to say, the roof is one of my favorite things about Lillstreet these days. It's the best place to watch the sunset, and the best ever place to have an embroidery class. The new sessions start this Sunday- come over and take in the view with us.

PS- if you're a low commitment kind of embroiderer- there is still room in the weekend Ribbon Embroidery class. (Saturday 2-6)

Monday Artist Studio Sneak Peeks ***Camille Canales***

Today's artist studio sneak peak takes us to Humboldt Park, where Camille Canales has a studio in her home. It's a small space, but it's packed full of beautiful detailed treasures, just like her work. At Lillstreet, Camille teaches embroidery, screen-printing and assorted workshops (scroll down to find out about this weekend's line-up). In addition to being a popular teacher around our department, Camille was also the Textile departments very first artist in resident. Enjoy the tour.....









Camille is offering a Silk Ribbon Embroidery workshop this Saturday from 2-6. There is still space available. All materials provided.

Rongalit Workshop coming up!

Hey all you printers- the long awaited Rongalit workshop with Ursula McCarty is back. August 8th Ursula will be here with her steamer to teach this exciting process. If you've every wanted to learn more about discharging color from fabric (including silk) this is a great once every other year opportunity. I strongly encourage you to register for this one now while there is still space. Printing experience is strongly recommended, but you don't have to be currently enrolled in a print class. We will have coated and ready to burn screens available the day of the workshop, as well as screens with images already burned that you can use.

August Classes

Do you feel the sand picking up speed in the hourglass that is summer? Are you wishing you had made more cool stuff this summer? Well, there's still time! There is still space in lots of great summer Textile classes........from knitting to printing to embroidery to weekend workshops, we hope to see you around the studios in August.

PS- the image above is from First Time Sewing with Andrea Loest- don't all those hats and bags look the coolest?

Giveaway!

This is the first in a series of giveaways from our new storage locker. The winner will receive a free blank canvas tote bag. The totes are 100% cotton and can be dyed, printed, appliquéd, embroidered, embellished, etc. Make it into something cool to haul your stuff around in.

To register to win the bag, leave a comment here- in addition to leaving your name, please list something you'd like to see more of on the blog- inquiring minds want to know! The winner will be randomly selected (using random.com) and announced next Tuesday morning.

Thanks- Good Luck!

The Booklist is Up!

I'm pleased to announce that our book list is now up. I decided to link everything up to amazon.com to make it easier for everyone. Just scroll down on the side bar to find the link- click on the pictured book to get to all the books. They are organized into categories just like our classes are....printing/dyeing, felting, embroidery, etc.
If you've got any other suggestions, just shoot me an e-mail or leave a comment.

Thanks to everyone who contributed!

Monday Artist Studio Sneak Peeks ***Akemi Nakano Cohn***

This week's Sneek Peek takes us to the studio of Akemi Nakano Cohn, who teaches dyeing , felting and Katazome in our department. We've included a handful of pictures with captions below- to see more, check out Akemi's website
Katazome ; putting the rice paste through cut-out paper stencil on fabric.


Katazome: brushing alum on already pasted with rice paste. Madder, Black oak, and walnuts are on fabric.
The fabric is suspended with bamboo stretchers and secured on both sides.


Traditional Japanese way of making bamboo fabric stretchers. It is easy to brush and it makes fabric dry faster.

Akemi is offering a one day Nejiri Shibori workshop this weekend. There is still space in this popular workshop which I highly recommend. Akemi teaches all over the country and the world and we are so lucky to have her at Lillstreet!

Wishing you a weekend of relaxing sunsets....

The Rooftop Embroidery class works on the french knot, the boullion stitch, and more as we watch the sunset over the city.

Wanted- Books!

A few of you have left great book suggestions. As we get closer to posting the list of Lillstreet favorites this weekend, please don't forget to contribute. Our book list will have four different categories- Printing/Dyeing, Knit/Crochet/Felt, Embroidery, and Sewing.
In the meanwhile, let me recommend this book as one with great information on lots of those categories. It's the go to book for embroidery stitches, and it's got great easy to understand directions for knitting and crochet.

Streeterville Artisans Market-Call for Entries

Barbara Goldberg and Mary Baim, two Lillstreet students, are helping to spread the word about the Streeterville Artisans Market. They are particularly looking for textile artists- scarves, pillows, t-shirts, etc.
The market takes place right before Christmas at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Applications are due August 1st. So many of you are making such cool stuff- and screen-printing especially lends itself to making multiples. I encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity! Details below, e-mail artisans@soarchicago.org for more information.

Monday Artist Studio Sneak Peeks ***Andrea Loest***

Starting today, we're rolling out a new Monday morning blog feature- artist studio sneak peeks. Inspired by design*sponge, I thought it would be fun to give our blog readers and students little photo tours of our teaching artists.
For this first week we're showing Andrea Loest. Andrea is a grad student at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Fiber and Material Studies department. Her first time sewing, garment design, and weekend sewing workshops are a huge hit around Lillstreet. Come check out the collection of re-usable grocery bags that the first time sewing students make every term. Here's a view from Andrea's studio at SAIC.....


If you've been wanting to take a sewing class but haven't had a lot of time to commit, you're in luck! Andrea is offering a Sun Hat Workshop this Saturday from 2-6. It's a one time, make it all in an afternoon kind of workshop. Hope to see you there! Stay tuned next Monday for a tour of Akemi Nakano Cohn's studio.

Thanks for coming out!

Thanks to all the great Lillstreet people who came out to the opening at Packer Schopf last night. I really appreciate it! xo- Rebecca

Reading List

If you're like me, summertime is about reading and catching up on all the things that I made note of during the year. The "on hold" section of my Chicago Public Library account is a long list at this time of year. To make the most of summer, I'm starting to compile a Textile Department reading list, and I need your help.

Please leave your favorite textile related books in the comments section of this post. I'll wait a week or so for everyone to submit and then I'll post the selections.

What are your favorite reference books for printing, dyeing, felting, embroidery, knitting, sewing, etc? Let us know......Thanks!

Still Room in Two Great Sunday Classes!

Attention attention! If you've been waiting until the last minute to sign up for a really fun class, please sign up for Intermediate Knitting with Lisa Whiting or Embroidery with Camille Canales. Both are slated to be great classes, and the embroidery class is even happening up on the new roofdeck. Come watch the sun set over Chicago while you learn all about french knots and feather stitches!

Rebecca Ringquist Art Opening at Packer Schopf this Friday

Rebecca Ringquist, who teaches embroidery and screen-printing in our department, has an opening this weekend in the west loop. Details below. Hope to see you there!

PACKER SCHOPF GALLERY

Event Date, Friday, July 10, 5PM – 8PM Contact: Aron Packer, 312.226.8984

MAIN GALLERY: SIZE MATTERS!!!

This summer group show features mostly large-scale work maximizing our space upstairs….making you laugh or cry….and whatever might be in-between.

Rebecca Ringquist – textile with fractured narratives executed in hand embroidery and machine stitching.

Mark Crisanti – multiples of cast resin small human figures with bird heads…. one cannot tell if they are flying or falling.

Laurel Roth/Andy Diaz Hope (collaboration) – a tapestry with imagery of genetically altered animals and plants done in a European tapestry tradition.

Victoria Fuller – Safety Star… a Buckminster Fuller-esque starburst made from fluorescent orange street cones.

Jenn Wilson – an epic American landscape painting of a stag hunt executed in a traditional, yet contemporary manner.

Michael T. Rea – self-portrait sculpture of the artist as Hans Solo “frozen” in carbonite, complete with tongue-in-cheek bulging appendage reinforcing the title of the show!

Jud Bergeron – wood tower of letters, jigsaw cut in the enlarged handwriting of the poet, who wrote the poem the sculpture is based on…. It is one entire poem, entitled Second Chances.

Renee McGinnis – a machine-age interpretation of the Merchandise Mart flanked by McGinnis’ new twins as Cupids flying over a post-apocalyptic topiary Garden of Eden.

Don Cameron – A large oil painting of digitally-textured aesthetic violence.

Catherine Jacobi – 'Mary' is a skull formed from wood veneer layers, carved wood and the history of one woman through her reclaimed documents.

David Hooker – multiple piece ceramic wall sculpture of a house spewing funny things out of its smokestack….some hand-done and some from molds.

Doug Smithenry – grid version of Coming Out Online, in which teens out themselves on YouTube, arranged in the colored layers of the gay pride rainbow flag.

Artists’ Reception: Friday, July 10 5 – 8 PM

Exhibition dates: July 10 – August 15

Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11:00AM – 5:30PM

942 WEST LAKE STREET CHICAGO, IL 60607

T312.226.8984 F312.432.1235

WWW.PACKERGALLERY.COM

PACKER@PACKERGALLERY.COM

Open for Business!

Starting today, our sales locker is officially open for business!
We've got: Fabric by the yard (Cotton Muslin and Silk Organza), Textile printing inks, textile detergent, and a bevy of cool stuff to print on, including silk scarves, cotton tote bags, cotton handkerchieves, cotton bandanas, t-shirts, dish towels, and more.

In an effort to make your life easier, we are stocking all this stuff so that you don't have to run to the store or order it online yourself. We've got great prices. I hope you'll check it out!

Summer Classes Start Today!

Summer classes start today at Lillstreet. I hope to see you this week- there's a new supply cabinet full of stuff for students this summer, as well as new flags on the roof- come on by to check out Rachel Walker's beautiful bird flags. Or wave from the el-train as they blow in the wind. You can easily see the flags from the el, the metra, the sidewalk, or a bicycle.