EARLY WINTER OPEN STUDIO HOURS

Here are the open studio hours for this early winter session.  The hours in red are tentative, and subject to change by the end of the week.  Final open studio hours will be posted next Monday.  Some classes are just starting this week.

Textiles Open Studio and Class Schedule
EARLY WINTER 2010  November 29- January 9th


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






Mon        1-4 1st Time Embroidery- Camille (sewing room)
               6:30-9:30pm 1st Time Knitting- Jesse (sewing room)  
               6:30-9:30pm 1st Time Print on Fabric- Camille (print room)
                                    Open Studio 10-6pm Nora (print room)
     
Tues        6:30-9:30pm First Time Sewing -Amanda (sewing room)
                                   Open Studio 5-9pm Kate (print room)
              

Wed        6:30-9:30pm 1st Time Papermaking- Heather (print room)
               6:30-9:30pm Housewares- Sayward (sewing room)
                                   Open Studio 10-6pm  Amanda (print and sewing rooms)
 
Thurs      6:30-9:30pm Easy Repeats- Camille (print room)
               6:30-9:30pm Garment construction- Nora (sewing room)  
                                   Open Studio 2-615pm Frances (print and sewing rooms)
      

Fri          Open Studio 6:30-9:00pm Kate (print and sewing rooms)  
       NO OPEN STUDIO DECEMBER 3 DUE TO HOLIDAY PARTY.
      
Sat         10-1pm Shibori- Akemi (printing room)
              2-5pm Messenger Bag- Nora (sewing room)
                                   Open studio 230-6pm  Heather   (print and sewing rooms)                            
                          Workshops scheduled: 12/4 & 12/11 - NO PRINT OPEN STUDIO
      

Sun        2-5pm Holiday Sewing- Johana (sewing room)
                                  Open Studio 10am-4pm Johana (both rooms)                        
                          Workshops scheduled: 12/5 -NO PRINT OPEN STUDIO
               


Open studio availabilities subject to change before December 6th.

Email camille@lillstreet.com if you have any questions.

Artists in Residence Open Studio & LillStreet Art Center Holiday Party and the Textiles Department Sale & Party!!!

Dear All,

We would like to invite you to the Artists in Residence Open Studio on Friday December 17 2010 at 7p.m. Please mark it in your calendar, as We would love you to participate in it. Please e-mail me joha@johanmoscoso.com for further information. I would appreciate it if you could share this information with your colleagues.

Also We would like to invite you to the LillStreet Art Center Holiday
Party and the Textiles Department Sale & Party!!! On Friday
December 3rd at 6- 10pm on the 3rd floor. Share some wine and snacks
with students and faculty and do exciting shoping!!!
Instructors and monitors will be selling their work:
-Felt
-Tea towels 
-Pillows
-Zip bags And more!!!!!
Be part of the Lillstreet community!!!

We hope to see you there! 

Flags at Lillstreet Art Center

I have been posting about my interest in phonics. This can be seen in the flags that are on the roof at Lillstreet!!! They display the process of using the shape of the mouth to represent a sound. In this case the shapes represent “Lillstreet Art Center Chicago”. Check them out!

choosing between a wood or aluminum screens

james here. i just wanted to talk about the differences between wood and aluminum screens. i recently made the switch to aluminum and thought i would let you know some things i learned along the way.

we all probably start with wood screens. i did. in undergrad printmaking, we bought our first, enormous wood screen and it took nearly a week to prepare it for use. i think we applied four coats of shellac before meticulously taping the frame with duct tape. it was a labor of love.

i knew there were metal frames as an option but it was not until i started taking classes at lillstreet that i considered buying one. i had thought they were pretty expensive and was pleasantly surprised to find that they do not cost much more than a wood screen.

it's not that i do not like wood screens; it's just that the overall practicality of aluminum screens wins me over. wood screens need to be duct taped to help keep water away from the wood to prevent it from warping. aluminum screens are ready to go and never warp. there always seems to be water trapped in crevices even after you dry off a wood screen. aluminum screens dry almost instantly. though i have never had a screen restretched, i think peeling all of that duct tape off a wood screen would be a nightmare. aluminum screens are ready to be restretched. the difference in weight between the two is huge. aluminum screens are as light as a feather. this takes some getting used to when printing though. you have to apply more pressure to help your screen stay put. lastly, wood wins in the sound department. it gets pretty loud when an aluminum is clanking around in the sink but i can live with that.

i bought my aluminum screens from pocono mountain screen supply. they send them fast and shipping is not too bad if you order a few screens for you or a group. you can also easily purchase them at chicago silk screen supply.

i started with a 158 mesh but have decided to go with 137. i found i was having difficulty when printing with thickened dyes and the looser 137 mesh seems to have helped the alginate get through my screen. my imagery does not seem any less sharp either so i will stick with 137 for now.

maybe consider buying an aluminum screen next time around.....you might be pleasantly surprised too.

Final projects from Textiles Department

 I can't believe how fast time flies!  In the past 10 weeks students in the Textiles Department have cranked out some amazing work.  I want to share some of the final projects from my students in class this session. Get ready for an album of fabric greatness...

Final Projects from Monday night's Advanced Screenprinting on Fabric class

 

Tomorrow starts a new round of classes.  Visit again to see work from our newest Textile's students...

Best,
Camille

Sewing Book Reviews

Wether you're a beginner or a more experienced sewer, having a good library can be just as important as having the right tools. A basic sewing reference book is always useful (the Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing is a good one), but there are many more books available covering more specific projects and techniques.
Stitch by Stitch by Deborah Moebes is a nice project based beginning sewing book. The step-by-step photos are easy to follow, the projects are cute and range from a simple piped pillow-case to a blouse. The book comes with a cd to print patterns for the projects- not quite as convenient as including the patterns themselves, but probably easier than having to measure them out by hand. It covers most of your basic sewing techniques along with the projects, and would make a good reference for a beginning sewer.

Alot of the First-time sewing students have been saying they would really like to be able to repair their own clothes. Stitch n Fix by Joan Gordon is a really exhaustive collection of mending how-to's. Unfortunately the graphic designer got carried away, and every page is full of little cartoons and cut and paste scissor icons - its so cluttered that it can be hard to find the actual steps for the projects. That said, this book teaches everything from darning holes by hand to how to take in a blouse for a better fit, as well as other techniques that you don't see in the sewing books that focus on constructing things from scratch.

Finally, more beautiful books from Japan. Both of these would be appropriate for an intermediate sewer- or an ambitious beginner. Linen, Wool, Cotton by Akiko Mano features very simple patterns and clear diagrams. You'll have to measure & mark them out yourself, but the projects are made mostly of rectangles so it shouldn't be too hard. There are patterns for several bags and aprons, as well as simple clothing to make.
Carefree Clothes for Girls by Junko Okawa actually comes with printed patterns. The emphasis is on hand-sewn, rustic details- there are alot of raw edges in this book, but everything looks comfortable and easy to wear. It also closes with hooks and eyes or buttons, so if putting in zippers causes anxiety there's no need to worry.

SDA Meeting in Review & My Favorite Material and Suppliers

Hi!
Two weeks ago the LillStreet Textile Department hosted the Illinois Chapter of the Surface Design Association's quarterly meeting. We had a really good turn out. We had people from LillStreet and people who are members of the SDA (but not from LillStreet) attend. We had a lot of fun with show and tell after the initial discussion about the SDA. The day ended with a short tour of LillStreet for those who were unfamiliar with it lead by Camille Canales and then a small group of us wondered downstairs to the cafe for lunch. The next quarterly meeting for the Illinois Chapter of the Surface Design Association will be held on January 29th, 2011 at the Fine Line in St. Charles, Illinois. Please feel free to come to the next meeting.
On another note I wanted to talk a little about my favorite materials and my favorite suppliers for those materials. Any of you who have read some of my past posts know that I am really into felting. So needless to say my favorite material is wool, all kinds of wool. Second to wool would be silk. Wool and silk together are simply divine! I have four favorite suppliers of wool (listed below with links):
Marr Haven Wool Farm
http://www.marrhaven.com/

Wild Turkey Felt Woolworks
http://www.wildturkeyfeltwoolworks.com/WoolPriceList.html

New England Felting Supply
http://www.feltingsupply.com/

Yarn Barn of Kansas
http://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/Fibers/departments/281/


My four favorite suppliers of silk are:
Dharma Trading Company
http://www.dharmatrading.com/

Thai Silks
http://www.thaisilks.com/

Vogue Fabrics
http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/home.php
(you can also buy wool roving from Vogue Fabrics in Evanston on Main Street)

...and last of all, I like to get silk from thrift shops. Sometimes you can find silk scarves but you can also find silk skirts and shirts which can be cut up and repurposed.

Anyway, I hope you all have a good weekend and a great Thanksgiving next week. Thank you for reading my post!

Jesse Breytenbach- pattern inspriation

Today I wanted to share with you the work of Jesse Breytenbach. She is an illustrator and print maker out of Cape Town, South Africa.

She does hand block printing, with linoleum blocks and silk screen ink on cotton, linen and cotton linen blends.

She has many lovely products but I wanted to look at her fabric yardage, they are simple repeats.

I like her color palettes and that you don't need to get too complicated with your designs to create something unique and beautiful.
-Kate

http://www.jessebreytenbach.co.za/
http://jezzeblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jezzeprints

SOFA and Intuit 2010

Last weekend was SOFA Chicago, and as a person interested in craft and art (and with a buy one get one free coupon from the Reader in my pocket) I decided I should check it out. Sadly, there wasn't a lot that I loved at SOFA, but happily, the Intuit show, which shared floor space with SOFA this year, had a lot of great work to admire. My favorite piece, hands down was this beautiful Navajo Rug presented by the Hill Gallery from Birmingham, Michigan.

The rug depicts a deity called a Yei and a bear. Most Yei rugs depict multiple Yei figures as they appear in the annual 9 day healing ceremony which occurs every year after the first hard frost of winter. I do not know the particulars of the iconography of this specific rug, but I imagine that the Yei figure, who has wrapped her body around the bear on three sides, is reminding the bear that it is cold outside and it is time for him to go to bed for the winter. As the short days of winter are upon us and the dark mornings make it so difficult to wake up every day, I think this theory explains why the bear has such a contented smile on his face!

holiday craft fair season

it's holiday craft fair season again! qylaar (jordana and i) is busy printing and sewing so we are ready to sell at these really awesome craft fairs.

DIY trunk show is a super great show that starts off the season.
november 20 from 10am to 5pm in chicago
http://www.diytrunkshow.com/

art vs. craft is in milwaukee and i love milwaukee. the people there are great. period.
november 27 from 10am to 6pm in milwaukee
http://artvscraftmke.blogspot.com/

renegade craft fair holiday sale is jam-packed with handmade goods and is 100 times better than any mall.
december 4 + 5 from 11am – 7pm in chicago
http://www.renegadecraft.com/holiday-chicago

please comment below about any other fairs you know this holiday season. we can make a list of sorts. we need to support the folks who make stuff. plus, it is always a way nicer gift to give someone.

oh, and if you make stuff and have never sold at a fair, get out there and apply.....the world is waiting for you :)

Printing T-shirts and other fabric goods..

Hello all,

Here are some photos of new work from my Beginning Screenprint on Fabric and T-shirt Printing students.  The Fall session is winding down fast! 

Monday evening the Advanced Screenprint on Fabric students will be displaying their final projects- approx. 3yds of printed cloth.  The work will be displayed in the hallway showcase area on the 3rd floor.  Keep a look out for Lillstreet's finest Textile printers!  (And the last week of class will showcase work from my Beginning Print on Fabric students.  They are new to printing and have been really ambitious this term.)

Best,
Camille

Sewing Books

Here are some books that I really like to use for different projects.






The New Complete Guide to Sewing -Readers Digest- this doesn't skip any steps, it has very clear illustrations for everything. Is a really good book for beginners and has a lot of details, but you need some basic knowledge. It also explains techniques for assembling, stitching, alterations and seams. It is a good source for when you need to remember a specific process to make your projects.






For alterations Fast Fit: easy pattern alterations for every figure. by Sandra Betzina and Fabulous FIT by Elizabeth L.Liechty and Judith Rasband. These books are easy to read and their instructions are very clear. You do need some experience using the machine and knowledge of sewing vocabulary to take advantage of them.





If you would like to combine your sewing skills and electronics then other books that are worth reading are Fashion Geek: Clothes, Accessories, Tech by Diana Eng and Fashioning technology: A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting by Syuzi Pakhchyan









Switch Craft: Battery-Powered Crafts to Make and Sew by Alison Lewis and Fang-Yu Lin.






Also Fashionable Technology: The Intersection of Design, Fashion, Science and
Technology by Sabine Seymour for inspiration.

10 Things You Can't Sew Without!

There are a few things that, obviously, you can't sew without: fabric, a sewing machine, thread... But there are a few other tools and tricks that make a home sewing studio oh so much more functional. Here are my top 10 (additional) things you can't sew without:

1. Scissors

I have three pairs of scissors: Fabric Scissors, Craft/Paper scissors and snips. It might seem excessive to have so many but... I promise you, they're each useful for different actions.

2. Rulers/ Measuring Tools

Measuring tape: good for measuring the body and fabric that is longer than a normal ruler. Great for measuring anything flexible! Tailors ruler: good to keep by your sewing machine to measure small things like seam allowance. Large clear plastic ruler: Awesome for measuring on a grid and marking with a straight edge.

3. Self Healing Mat/ Rotary Blade

If you're ever sewing anything with straight edges, it's worth investing in one of these! Protects your tables and helps measure your fabric!

4. Fabric Markers

Pencils, Tailors Chalk, Marks-B-Gone... anything that let's you mark up your project in a non-permanent way.

5. Iron/Water

You can't sew without an iron and you can't iron without water!! Irons make everything you're working on look more professional and behave better.

6. Pins/ Needles

Lots of pins. I prefer the "quilting pin" (long body with a yellow plastic top) because they are super long and easy to grip. But any sewing pins will do. I also highly suggest keeping some hand needles around for detail or basting emergencies.

7. Seam Ripper

ESSENTIAL! Being able to take out seams and sew them again takes a lot of the unnecessary stress out of sewing.

8. Sketchbook/ Drawing Tools

Taking notes, drawing plans, remembering ideas for future projects.... Having a sketchbook handy is always a good idea.

9. Q-Tips

Cleaning your machine on a regular basis will help keep it running smoothly. Q-tips are the perfect tool for getting into those dusty little spaces behind your bobbin case, etc.

10. Music!

Because having fun in the studio is the most important part!

(written by Nora Renick Rinehart.)

Sewing Resources Old and New

One of my favorite things about sewing and pattern making is that its a craft that has stayed pretty much the same for a good long while now. Except for dealing with invisible zippers, and all those decorative stitches on your sewing machine, the techniques we use to turn a hem or make a pleat are just like what everyone did 100 years ago, and before the sewing machine was invented (just more slowly and by hand).
In the studio this summer, I was working on a pattern when the power went off. It was great to realize that it didn't matter- all I needed to keep working was my pencil and paper and a large collection of rulers. Another benefit is that beginning sewing manuals are pretty much all the same, and using an older one is fine! A brand new book will often have more photos, and really old sewing books can be harder to follow- but they make up for it in charm, and some can be found online for free. The Encyclopedia of Needlework by Therese de Dillmont covers basic sewing techniques, as well as lace making, knitting, and is beautifully illustrated. Also recommended: The Vintage Sewing Reference Library , a rather bare-bones website with a lovely collection of sewing and patternmaking books from 1900-1950. Check out The New-Way Course in Fashionable Clothes Making (from 1926) if you need to review, say, mitered corners.

For brand new techniques, the book on my wish list is Pattern Magic by Tomoko Nakamichi. Only just this year available in english, it takes head-spinning constructions in fabric and makes them almost approachable with clean diagrams and simple text. If you ever wanted to make a skirt that swallows itself up one side like a black hole, this is exactly where to start.

-Amanda

1st Time Screenprinting Class on Fabric

Description of class:

Use this class to prepare for the hand-made gift giving season. Learn the basics of stencil and photo-emulsion printing to create unique prints for yourself or for friends and family. Print on onesies, tote bags, t-shirts, scarves or loose yardage. Students may bring in fabric or purchase fabric and blanks in class. Materials fee: $20 includes basic ink kit.

Here are some photos from my last class. Everyone was a very talented, adventurous bunch and became printing machines. The general theme seemed to be re-use, re-cycle, and re-vamp, but most importantly experimentation!

Ginger cleaned out her closet and re-vamped it by printing new designs to spruce it up. What a great way to recycle!

Ana became a master of repeats.

Ana also printed her design on a few gorgeous t-shirts.

Karla’s hand-drawn, abstract organic designs really made an impact once screenprinted on to t-shirts and tote bags.

Ginger printed on old leather belt straps and bicycle tubes. She’s going to make them into wrist bands.

Olga printed a beatiful drawing of baby birds symbolizing all three of her beautiful daughters. She then printed 3 t-shirts of this design to give to each one.

What a hoot! Jenny experimented with metallic inks we have for sale in the textiles department in the sales locker.