Traditional embroidery stitches can lay the foundation for creative embroidery and textile art on nontraditional surfaces. Anna will demonstrate how to stretch and manipulate well known stitches to incorporate them onto surfaces like watercolor paper to express texture and feelings. You are invited to play with threads, paint with watercolors, stitch down beads or found objects and draw with pens. Be spontaneous with your stitch choices and color theme. Open your mind to explore using threads on paper, merging art with our concept of the traditional trade of hand embroidery.
Price $80, includes all fees and supplies listed as Instructor Brings:
Materials Instructor Brings:
Materials Student Brings: Recycling is closely linked to textile art – please use what you have!
TBSDG May Member Meeting
Date & Time: May 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Location: King of Peace MCC, 6085 Park Blvd Pinellas Park
Please arrive a few minutes early so that we can all socialize and start the meeting on time.
Mini-Demo: May's mini-demo will show you how to create "momigami" which in Japanese means "kneaded paper." Momigami is a type of paper that feels similar to fabric and can be manipulated into various forms to be used as mixed media for gift wrapping, bookmaking, journals, lampshades, collages, jewelry, handmade cards, book covers, and even wallets. We will demonstrate methods to make momigami papers, provide resources to purchase supplies and inspire you with examples of how and where you can use momigami papers in your art work.
Show-n-Tell: We are all anxious to see show-n-tell items in-person, but please limit your number of items to three, so that everyone will have a chance to "show-n-tell." If you attended last month's workshop, please bring your created items to share.
A "Free Table" will be available for the free exchange of no longer needed surface design materials and supplies. Please check the table before you leave the meeting to be sure to take home with you anything you bring that does not go home with someone else.
TBSDG June Member Meeting
Date & Time: June 9, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
Mini-Demo: TBD
Kawandi is a unique style of patchwork quilting using recycled saris and fabric scraps created by the Siddi women of India. The Siddis are a Black ethnic minority in India descended from the Bantu people of Southeast Africa who were brought to India in the 17th century on Portuguese slave ships. Almost all Siddis today subsist as agricultural and casual laborers, and as domestic help. The earliest Siddhi settlers who fled Goa and entered the Karnataka forests of North Canara, made the forests their home and started cultivation.
The Siddis of Karnataka are known in recent years for their unique style of quilting called kawandi. Kawandi are assembled by a complicated process of quilting that makes their style distinct from surrounding groups. The process involves taking recycled fabric scraps and arranging them in stylistic geometric patterns, sometimes embedded with religious symbols. Quilts are usually made for family members by older women who can no longer work in the fields, but young women are starting to design and make them for sale.
The non-profit organization Siddis Women Quilting Cooperative (SWQC) was created in 2004 in an effort to provide a source of income to the community and quilt makers. In 2011 an exhibition titled “Soulful Stitching: Patchwork Quilts by Africans (Siddis) in India” was shown in the Museum of the African Diaspora, helping these quilt makers and the community to gain recognition. This is where California quilter Margaret Fabrisio, first encountered kawangis and began her journey to India to discover how they were made. As a result, she introduced Siddi style quilting to the USA. See examples at Fabrizo Gallery.
During this one-day workshop, you will learn basic techniques and complete (or make significant progress) on a 16 x 20 quilt. Note: Making Kawandis is not for every quilter. A sewing machine is not used as Kawandis are pieced together by folding the edges only and assembled with running stitches. However, once you make your first Kawandi, you may find it is addictive!
Instructor Elizabeth Neily
