Intermediate Crazy Quilt Classes

Several ladies have been asking about the registration window for the Intermediate Course. Well, thought I'd take some time today and give you the "scoop".
Last year, I offered the Intermediate Class for the first time...and had about a dozen ladies sign up for this pilot class. We had a wonderful time, and they did some amazing and beautiful work during the Autumn and Winter months.

While I "thought" that I had done a good job of limiting the class to just the basics...it was quickly apparent that there was just TOO MUCH information to have just a continuing single class. AND, I had a second problem...what was included was just a small fraction of what I WANTED to include.

So, after much thought and pencil to paper...I have developed a plan.
I'm going to be offering a series of Intermediate Level Classes. If you choose to take them all...you could consider it a "Course". Each class will have parts or tasks...and you receive the next task as you complete the prior one...same process that I use in the Basic CQ Course.

I am going to continue to require that students take and finish the Basic CQ Course before taking any of these Intermediate Classes. Here are my reasons for that:

1) The classes are held on a private blog...which works a bit differently than a public blog. In the Basic CQ Course, each student learns how to properly get registered and use the blog for class. This sounds simple...but takes several days for some students to work out the "bugs" of actually getting logged in and maneuver around the site.  So, by requiring this basic class first...students will know how to use the blog as a teaching/learning platform...and I will not have such a high curve of "getting started" in the intermediate classes.

2) Tasks are completed and photos are published to the class blog. Feedback comes from me in the form of comments; and from other students in the form of positive remarks. Subsequent tasks are emailed upon completion of the prior task. This method of processing through a course curriculum is new to most. It is my "method of teaching" and having the basic course allows everyone to have a good working knowledge of my teaching methods and the rhythm of a class taught by me.

3) Information presented in the Basic Course will not be repeated in the Intermediate Course. But, the information will be built upon. So, students that do not get the handouts on Templates, Embroidery Stitches, Ribbon Stitches, Basic Design Principles, etc. will not have these to refer back to in the Intermediate Course.

4) The Basic Course has nothing to do with a person's skill level. It can be taken by anyone. If you are comfortable with the material provided you can move through the class in a couple of weeks. If you have more constraints on your time or your talents...you can use the entire 12 weeks provided in the schedule for you to complete the course.

Okay...this is getting long winded...so let me just end by giving you my proposed breakdown of Classes for the Intermediate Crazy Quilt Course (ICQC) upcoming Classes.

ICQC-101: Piecing Crazy Quilt Blocks

101-A-Working with printed images

101-B-Color theory

101-C-Selecting fabrics

101-D-Designing blocks

101-E-Adding lace and trims

101-F-Piecingblocks

ICQC-102:Working w/Paints, Dyes, Inks

102-A-Backgrounds

102-B-Silk Ribbon

102-C-Lace

ICQC-103: Embellishing w/Threads

103-A-Combination seams expanded

103-B-Monograms

103-C-Basic Motifs

103-D-Motif Vignettes

ICQC-104: Motifs w/Fabrics & Threads

104-A-Fabric manipulations

104-B-Applique

104-C-Raised Applique

104-D-Working w/slips

104-E-Stumpwork

ICQC-105: Embellishing w/Ribbon

105-A-Silk Ribbon Florals

105-B-Manipulating ribbons

ICQC-106: Embellishing w/Objects

106-A-Beaded seams

106-B-Clusters and trails

106-C-Filling w/beads

106-D-Cabochons and handmade buttons

I would love to hear your feedback and ideas about this proposed Course content. If I've left out an element of CQ work that you want to know more about...let me know.

These classes may overlap in the scheduling...and will not be offered in order necessarily. These will be technique classes and not have to rely on each other as a rule. But, having a block to work or practice on is important...and understanding COLOR THEORY is even more important...so I am making the ICQC-101 Class a per-requisite for the other ICQC Classes. The others can be taken in any order however.

Registration for the ICQC-101: Piecing Crazy Quilt Blocks Class will open on 26 February...so mark your calendars.

I will provide a general supply list for each course prior to registration. Some are still being worked out...and when they are all completed...I will also post them on the blog under the Classes Page. As of now, I'm still in the planning or editing phase for each. They will be announced as they are completed. If you have taken the Basic CQ Course...then you know how detailed and complete my instructions are...so these students will understand that it takes time to do this writing and stitching of the models. The rest of you...well, you'll just have to trust me that it will be worth your time.

All of these classes will be FREE...at no charge.

There will be a need for supplies of course...which will cost money...unless you have things in your stash that you can use. Hopefully, you will! I'm also okay with you substituting different colors of ribbon, paint, dye, etc.

My goal is to share information and yet, not require you to mortgage the house to learn new techniques.

Now, that's not to say that a "GOOD SIZE STASH" is not worthwhile...because it most certainly is! And, I'm all for Shopping Trips! And mine are all usually on-line...Ha!

Hugs to all!

Edited to Add: The next BASIC CQ Class will be open for registration on 2 May. However, the current ongoing class is moving along so fast...I am toying with the idea of opening another one in February...so keep watching shawkl.com for that too. Hugs,