Melanie Testa

Craft NAPA 2016, soy wax, embroidery, small works!

We are blog hopping, and I certainly hope that you might jump over to every name on our hopping list and comment (list is at the bottom of this post). There are great prizes in store if you do, but you must comment! And! I am hoping you might consider registering at Craft NAPA and take one of my classes, or a class from another fantastic teacher in our ranks.

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You Can’t Resist This! is a class that uses soy wax as a resist along with paint on cloth for an easily accessible way to build layers of color, texture and line. Soy wax is a champion in the resist department. It is super easy to use, easy to clean up, and it creates gorgeous cloth with depth, beauty and vibrancy. 

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In fact, I find soy wax resist, and building layers of color and texture to be addictive, like eating potato chips. And it is a good thing, because I have begun making quilts out of my fabrics, you can see one here. Being able to both make pleasing cloth and use it, is instrumental to making more cloth!!

Small Works

Small Works, Big Impact is a one of my most favorite classes to teach. Working small has had a huge impact  😉 on me as an artist. Working small can help you create larger works, if that is your goal, but they are also easy to complete, they sell well, as most folk have a small wall available to hang a well chosen small work, and I think it is also a great way to learn new techniques. Working small also lends itself well to working in series.

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The techniques we will use in this class include using tulle and sheer cloth overlay, fusible webbing and collage, in addition to finishing techniques. And remember, small works do not limit the possible subject matter to explore! Check out my gallery and Breastless Beauties pages to see more small works.

I have been creating and updating a pattern for what I am calling the 'Gather your Sew-plies!!' sewing chateliane (which is free on my blog). In this purse in particular I used the 15 Minutes Play idea, my idea was to use new materials (wool batting, fabrics new to me, and embroidery stitching). It worked, this is not a purse or flow of fabrics that I would have used had I not played with this idea. melanietesta.com/tag/gather-your-sew-plies/

The Gather Your Sew-plies!! purse is a great sew-on-the-go item for the studio as well as the coffee shop. The purse has a back pack styling that remains close to your body, while carrying the essentials, needles, thread, thimble, pins, scissors and embroidery floss. The purse pattern will be supplied, and we will focus on using embroidery as a means to Journal with Fabric and Embroidery

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The purse I show here uses stitch to enliven a fantastic commercial fabric. If you would like to see more purses, click here and scroll downward.

I would love to teach and work from you. I very much look forward to meeting up, enjoying Napa, making new friends and enjoying old friends too. I do hope you will register!

Here is a shout out to the wonderful CRAFT NAPA sponsors, BERNINA and Meissner Sewing and Vacuum Centers. 

BERNINA Made to Create Right

 

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PLEASE comment on this post if you want to win great prizes. All comments go into one big grand prize drawing that will happen after Pokey’s blog post.

Comments close on Dec 10th. 

The grand prize is a $500 Gift Certificate from eQuilter.com! 

I will award one commenter on this blog with a copy of Dreaming from the Journal Page. So, please, comment. Also!! Check out all the blogs listed below and comment freely.

Nov 30- Jane LaFazio – http://janeville.blogspot.com/

Dec 1 – Lynn Krawczyk – http://smudgeddesignstudio.com/blog/

Dec 2 – Judy Coates Perez – http://www.judycoatesperez.com/

Dec 3 – Jenny K. Lyon – http://quiltskipper.com/blog/

Dec 4 – Jamie Fingal – http://JamieFingalDesigns.blogspot.com/

Dec 5 – Melanie Testa – https://melanietesta.com/blog/ (Here you are!)

Dec 6 – Elizabeth St. Hilaire – http://www.paperpaintings.com/

Dec 7– Leslie Jenison – http://leslietuckerjenison.blogspot.com/

Dec 8- Carrie Bloomston – http://www.carriebloomston.com/blog/

Dec 9 – Cheryl Sleboda – http://blog.muppin.com

Dec 10 – Pokey Bolton – http://pokeysponderings.com/

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Glenda Hoagland

    The soy wax resist is really beautiful. So glad that your are creating such wonderful pieces. Good luck with your classes.

  7. Fiona

    I adore the soy resist technique – I’d love to try that out. The little birds are gorgeous too.

  10. Alison Moncrieff

    I am so intrigued by soy wax resists! Must fool around with that stuff soon. Very excited to meet you and learn from you in Napa at the Gather Your Sewplies Purse fest. ❤️

  15. Shiloh

    I am so glad for this blog hop because I am finding new artists to follow. I am very excited to explore your blog and learn more from you even if I can’t attend the retreat. I have a passion for expressing myself through this medium and you have inspired me to create smaller projects to aid in my larger works.

  18. Jeannie

    There isn’t a place I’d rather be than in a classroom with you in California. Well, maybe a bar, giggling and telling tall tales.

  19. Skye

    another wonderful post. The use of soy wax, I never gave thought to, it has always been petroleum or bees wax. I love the results. Beautiful dabric for the next piece you work on.

    I really love the birds that you create. Bird represents freedom for me, and bees represent life for all living things. Without them, there would be no us.

    Another wonderful blog! Thank you Melanie for sharing. We are the lucky ones with the ability read of you process.

    Namaste’ Skye

  23. Libby Williamson

    I’m so looking forward to meeting up with you in Napa. I’m joining you in your soy resist class. Can’t wait! Can’t wait! Really Can’t wait!

  28. Sandy

    The Napa retreat is going to be so much fun, and I’m so disappointed I can’t be there! I’d love to dive into one of your classes. Thanks for the opportunity to win a great prize!