Leni offers a variety of workshops and talks based on her three books.  She is also happy to customize a workshop, talk or trunk show to fit the specific needs of your group.

Talks

Talks, including trunk shows of her work and powerpoint presentations can be given in conjunction with workshops or alone.  Some of the more popular topics include:

• Leni’s process
• Color, Value and Print Scale
• Critiques

Workshops

Workshops usually run one or two days, but can be arranged for several days.  More popular topics include:

Thread Sketching and Thread Painting

Based on Leni’s book Thread Painting, this introduction to both thread sketching and thread painting begins with a review of free motion stitching.  Students then learn how to use free motion to do thread sketches–without having to draw or trace.  Thread sketches are filled in, leading to thread painting on commercial fabric and thread painting using a computer printed base.  Students will learn the difference between direct thread painting and thread painted applique.  Threads and machine tension are also covered in this one day workshop.   For a second day of workshop, students work on a thread painting of their choice with Leni’s assistance.

 

Photo-inspired Art Quilts

Raw edge machine applique fabric collage as it is shown in Leni’s book Photo inspired Art Quilts is explored in this one or two day workshop.  Organizers have the option of choosing one pattern from which all students work, or allowing students to work on art quilts from their own photos, or patterns from the book.  Instruction begins with discussion of creating a pattern from the photo, how to choose fabric, building the fabric collage, and finishing.  Thread painted accents, both direct and thread painted applique are covered, including a discussion of threads.

 

Faces in Fabric, Faces in Thread

This two day workshop begins with the raw edge machine applique techniques from Leni’s book Photo inspired Art Quilts, as students recreate the 12″ square face from Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.  Although the techniques they learn are applicable to any photo inspired art quilt, we will focus only on the creation of faces, and details like eyes and lips.

The second day of this workshop explores using thread to create detail in a face, using the face from Leni’s “An Outstretched Hand” as the study.  Students will learn direct thread painting techniques that will serve them well in any future thread painting they wish to do on any art quilts.

 

3-Fabric Quilts

For students more interested in updated traditional quilts than art quilts, any quilt can be chosen from Leni’s book 3-Fabric Quilts to be completed in this one day workshop.  Quilts range from very simple for beginner quilters, to more complex for advanced quilters.  We will work on smaller quilts so most students will leave the workshop with at least a completed quilt top, if not the finished quilt.

 

 

Workshop Requirements

Student number is limited only to the capacity of the room.  All workshops are dry, and require only minimal equipment.  Students are expected to provide their own supplies and bring their own machines to use.

Please contact Leni for more information on workshops and talks