Two Classes this Week

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to take a class on "How to Photograph Quilts" sponsored by SAQA and taught by a nice young man named Luke Mulks who has been a photographer for C&T Publications where he gained a lot of knowledge and experience. This was his first class and he went to great lengths to make it a success. I learned that for $75 to $500 I could equip myself for a home studio that I lack the space to accommodate. I did get some ideas about doing what I have been a little differently. Luke provided a 26 page handout which I will be happy to share, answered my ever present tech questions, and offered to respond to future questions we have. He is a generous and enthusiastic teacher. From what I learned, I would think it would make sense for a group of quilters to share the cost of lighting set ups and either find a place to use and work as a group, photographing several peoples quilts on the same day, or allow people to pass the equipment around, figuring out their own setup. Their would also be the possibility of hiring Luke to photograph several of our quilts on the same day, either locally or at his place in San Ramon.

My other class was a SCVQA class with Sylvia Pippen, in Sashiko and hand applique. Another person generous with her knowledge, she manifests the "Aloha Spirit" of her Hawaiian home, even inviting us to come to the Big Island for workshops she teaches at her house. I'm sure that would be inspiring and a great vacation! My reason for taking the class was to learn her hand applique technique which seemed more precise than the Nancy Brown method I learned in a SCVQA workshop last fall. Sylvia uses a Mylar template material and heavy starch to get the edges of the appliques turned under, then glue bastes them in place. Since her love of floral designs enables her to use pattern pieces multiple times, the Mylar is very practical. Larger applique pieces where only the edges need to be starched might be doable with the Katie P. M. "tracing paper spray glued to poster board" method. The Sashiko is lovely but I think it takes a lot of practice to get the stitches precise and even. The traditional is white on indigo but I was reminded that I have painted the white thread in the past and liked the effect. I did learn the proper way to do it and it is a good portable "lap" project.