Lesley Riley | Fabricologie

Fragment Fabric Collage

(1 day)

A class for anyone who loves fabric, collage or color.  Using a variety of fabrics (your own and the class stash), you will learn how to combine color and texture, motif and scale to create mood, memories and magic.

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How to Grow Wings

Build a safe nest. Be patient. Take a Leap of Faith. These and other tidbits of wisdom become a part of the illustrated journal you will create in this inspirational and empowering class. I am sure you are familiar with illustrated journals, the ones with quotes and/or small images scattered throughout otherwise blank pages. These succinct words and illustrations serve as inspiration and reminders of all that is right and good. Your very own How to Grow Wings journal will become a repository for all of your hopes and dreams and develop into a lasting reminder on how to make them come true.  Not only will you learn how to make a beautiful book out of fabric, papers, paint and transferred images and text, but while you are working I will share my thoughts, techniques, experiences and wisdom on how to actually grow your wings and take flight. 

You will work with watercolor paper (learning a few cool painting techniques) and a few decorative, scrapbook or background papers you bring from home, and even a supplied set of feathered wings, to create a 2 or 3 signature, ribbon-bound journal with fabric covered board covers and a fabric spine. Design and personalize your pages by transferring both text and images from the 4 provided sheets of pre-printed TAP covered with all things avian.

This is a project that you will turn to again and again, adding the words, art and inspiration that will chronicle how you grew, unfolded, flapped and took flight towards your dreams. This class is suitable for all levels. No bookbinding experience is necessary. You should be able to complete the book in class.

Making Meaning - A 2-Day Process Workshop

Life is a constant search for answers, for an understanding of life's secrets and wonders.  Occasionally you can catch a fleeting glimpse of a universal truth, in an artfully crafted phrase, an image that draws you in or a work of art that touches your soul. What if you could plot a course that guided you to discover (or re-discover) your own unique path to express life's magic and wonder? This is a class for artists, writers, or anyone – both beginners and experienced - that enjoys self-discovery and making meaning

The most successful works of art are the ones that convey the soul of the maker. You know it when you see it, but how do you achieve it in your own work?  This class will help you find and communicate what is in your soul. We will use music and movement, images and words, the written world of quotes, prose and poetry - freedoms and barriers that will shake your body and stir your soul. You will create inspired artwork using TAP transfers, word play, new color combinations and spontaneous responses to your new awareness. These tools will help you awaken your soul and stretch your creativity. There will be fun solo and group assignments, color and word play and many surprises.

You will create your own, unique-to-you, colorful, handmade, book full of artwork, discoveries and guideposts that you will be able to return and refer to again and again. You've learned so many art techniques, now find out how to create the magic and follow your star. Leave your ego at the door and come prepared to look at your artmaking experience in a new way.

(This class is a combination of Navigation & Shake the Body - Creativity on Steroids)

Navigation - Charting a Course to Your Soul

Life is a constant search for answers, for an understanding of life's secrets and wonders.  Occasionally you can catch a fleeting glimpse of a universal truth, in an artfully crafted phrase, an image that draws you in or a work of art that touches your soul.  What if you could plot a course that guided you to discover your own unique path to life's magic and wonder?

In this class, you will become the navigator and your captain will be Lesley, a certified creativity coach.  Your guides will be image, music and the written world of quotes, prose and poetry; which you will use to chart a course to find and follow you inner soul, a course that will guide you in your life and add magic to your art.  There will be fun solo and group assignments, color and word play and many surprises.

You will create your own celestial map, a unique-to-you, colorful, handmade, spiral bound book full of your art, discoveries and guideposts that you will be able to refer to again and again on your journey through life. The class lasts a day, but the magic lasts a lifetime. You've learned so many art techniques, now find out how to create the magic and follow your star.

Shake the Body - Stir the Soul

The most successful works of art are the ones that convey the soul of the maker. You know it when you see it, but how do you achieve it in your own work?  This class will help you find and communicate what is in your soul. We will use music and movement, images and words, freedoms and barriers that will shake your body and stir your soul. You will create inspired artwork using TAP transfers, word play, new color combinations and spontaneous responses to your new awareness. Leave your ego at the door and come prepared to look at your artmaking experience in a new way.

Image Printing and Transfer: A Demo/Lecture

Learn how to successfully print or transfer your photos and artwork to fabric.

This demo-lecture will demystify the process. Lesley will demonstrate and discuss preparing photos for fabric printing and transfers as well as the pros and cons of various transfer methods, printers and inks. Lots of samples will be passed around.

Making Time for Making Quilts

Discover the 23 time (and attitude) management secrets that turned Lesley Riley, a working mother of 6 and lapsed quilter into an internationally known artist, author, workshop instructor, magazine editor and now entrepreneur.

The Fabric of My Life

Lesley Riley began quilting in 1971 but didn’t hit her stride until 2000. Find out what happened in-between, how she found her way and where she is headed now. An illustrated story.