Sunday, June 20, 2010

Home and Gone Again

I had a wonderful time in Grand Junction!  There were eighteen students in the class, some experienced dyers, others were newbies.  I think I wore them out with all the stuff we did, but all left after two days with fabric they were happy with- and ideas of what to do with the ones they weren't so crazy about.  They were enthusiastic, willing learners- a teacher's delight.  And they were forgiving of my goofs, and had good feedback about what I could do to improve.

Grand Junction is fortunate to have Jane Aldoretta and her Fabric Arts Studio.  She is doing what I want to do when I retire from social work.  She has a large classroom that can do both wet and dry processes, an HQ16 on a frame she rents out, and loads of supplies- most of which I have to mail order.  The room is bright and cheerful- a great place to teach.

I did manage to remember to take a couple of pictures.  I think these are from the second day.


Terri is on the right- looks like she is getting more dyes.  Christie is in the purple shirt, she did some wonderful large pieces of fabric.  Betsy is just to Christie's left.  She looked like she was having a blast, and left with the most colorful skin in the group!  Gjeneve is on the far left- she also did some wonderful fabric.


Jan was right up front.  She's had lots of experience at this, but seemed to be having a good time just playing.  Rita is in the black shirt.  Suzanne is behind and to the left of Rita- I owe her a big thank you!  Susan, my host, is in the back in the pink shirt and apron- I think she is talking to Carol.

Suzanne clued the group in on a local store that carries soda ash in fifty pound bags, and sold me one she had that she hadn't opened yet.  I have hunted without success for this in Utah, so I was thrilled!  Between this, and the fifteen pounds I already had at home, I won't be buying soda ash any time soon!

 We spent some time after lunch on Friday showing the fabric that had been made the day before.  I'll post those later this week.  Right now, it's pushing ten pm, and I need to be up early tomorrow.  It is going to be a long, intense week at work, so I need my beauty sleep.  But more from the workshop later!

2 comments:

Libby Fife said...

Glad that you had a good time. The space looks like it would be wonderful to work in.

Jane said...

I would love to go to a class like this. I have only just started dyeing in the last year and love love love it. I live in Brisbane and there aren't many classes like this. Maybe one day you can visit and give a class here :)