More Retreat News

Art With Loose Threads

Oct. 28-30

Gananoque Inn and Spa

Pat Lemaire is the Queen of embellishing and texturizing fabric.At this retreat she will be covering everything 

to do with Shiva Sticks as seen below with her take on our fish theme.

Wendo Van Essen is our resident artist and like to work in three dimension.below you see her 3-D fish in all it's glory, if you want to know how to do it, join us.

Our format is warm and encouraging, demos will be presented non stop, and kits will be provided for a nominal fee. All you bring is your sewing machine, your threads, and anything else that you may want to do.

The numbers are kept small (20) so that the instructors are able to give lots of individual help.

After 65

Hi everyone, It's been a busy time.This month I turned 65, quite a milestone I think. For a few months while approaching this date I started to feel old and finished. But after wallowing in self pity for awhile I realized that I could not give up on my dream of having a solo show in Toronto.So onwards we go.

First of all every day I need to take care of my body, especially if I want to do all of this stuff.I have become a high maintenance woman and it has nothing to do with hair, makeup or clothes. I do yoga so I don't get stiff, I go to aqua fit to stay strong without hurting my knees,I meditate so I don't go crazy in my head and I have to eat well which means taking the time to prepare food. Now it is 11 a.m. and I can start to sew.

Since January I have been exploring new and exciting techniques which I will share with you. I have been taking pics of all the steps in my new process so that I can blog about it.More to come as I am not quite finished with this piece.

But the Loose  Threads, Wendo Van Essen,  Pat Lemaire and myself, have been busy preparing for our next Fibre Art Retreat. My offering on this weekend will be everything to do with sheers.Layering,cutting away, burning and trapping are all techniques that I will demonstrate.Our theme is fish and below you will find my sample.The pattern will be in the retreat instructions.

Can you see the holes that were burned on the yellow to create texture?

Fish scales burned in the orange sheer on the pink cotton fabric.

We are holding our retreat at the beautiful Gananoque Inn and Spa  . Check it out, our rooms will be on the water, our work room is at the same level on the water,the food is great, the rooms are fab, and mini spa treatments are available for those who are so inclined.

Pat Lemaire will be covering all things to do with Shiva Sticks and Wendo Van Wesson will be teaching you how to make fabric sculpture. Come and join in on the fun. 

Email me if you would like me information. catelaw@ripnet.com

Loose Threads Fibre Art Retreat

This last weekend a group of fibre art enthusiast joined the Loose Threads ( Pat Lemaire, Wendo Van Essen ,and Cathy Breedyk Law) for a journey into various fibre techniques. Since we had the whole range of experience from sewing virgins who had never even used a sewing machine to accomplished fibre artists who exhibit their work we needed a fun ice breaker.

We made bracelets out of our left over bits. below are two finished pieces.

Lovely way to use up those glamorous scraps!

Also Eric Simkins from Kingston joined us the train everyone how to take care of their machines. We artist seem to take great license with our babies and they do need tender loving care.

Nancy brought along a wonderful hand appliqued quilt to share. Completion time= 2 years.

Being a rock hound, Nancy interprets them in fibre.

Wendo and Marie creating fibre trees with a wire base.

Helga played with her embellisher and created this fibre piece. Marie found her the perfect backdrop.

Frances a prolific fibre artist explaining her piece. Detail to come later.Maybe tomorrow.

Eleanor tackling free motion the first time at a sewing machine. Pretty brave.

Denise also in her glory making those tree parts come alive. Not too shabby for a first go.

And Barb with her beautiful quilt. Lots of hours and lots of patience.

With no phones and food prepared for us we worked from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Fabulous.It didn't matter to us that it was snowing outside.

It's almost retreat time

Here are the projects that we "THE LOOSE THREADS " will be demonstrating at our weekend retreat in Chaffey's locks. Felted roses,making a felted sheep, embellishing,stamping,using wash away stabilizers, tailoring techniques, bag construction and free form knitting will be covered.

Teachers are available the whole weekend for one on one help and there will be studio time with show and share, teachers and delegates alike.

It promises to be a fun weekend with lots of inspiration for everyone. You can as much or as little as you want. If you are more interested in watching rather than doing you are certainly welcome to do so. There will be worksheets given out for each project demonstrated.If you would like to do one of the projects you can sign up to purchase a kit from the teachers. Or if you would like to work on your own stuff , that's fine too.Mr Simkins will be there to give workshops on taking care of your machine and has offered a special rate to have your machine serviced.

We will be at the the Opinicon Resort Hotel, where we will be staying in log cabins and enjoying the fabulous food in their dining room.

Come and join us from Oct.23rd-25th. A little getaway just after the busy Thanksgiving season.

For more info contact me at catelaw@ripnet.com

More Fall Retreat News

For one of our demos we will each be showing you different ways to make a beautiful scarf. These scarves make lovely Christmas gifts, don't take too much time, and can use up your scraps. October is a good time to start. Pat and I will be using a wash a way stabilizer to make ours. Wendo will be using a gorgious wool as a base. You can order a kit for the one you want to make or you can bring your own supplies.Without giving too much away here are some samples.

Wendo's felted roses on wool.

Pat's petal scarf.

Pat's use on various fibres.

Cathy's silk squares.

Come and join us on the weekend of October 23-25th at the Opinicon Resort Hotel, in Chaffey's Locks. click on the resort and check it out , it is lovely.

For a registration form and more information contact me at catelaw@ripnet.com

Exciting Retreat News

Art With Loose Threads Retreat

featuring

Pat Lemaire Wendo Van Essen Catharina Breedyk Law

We had so much fun last year that we decided to organize another fall retreat at the Opinicon Resort Hotel in Chaffey's Locks.

Keep October 23-25th free for this important event.

Only 20 spaces available $395 double or $445 single , prices have not gone up.

More info to come.