Crow Timber Frame Barn Art Retreats

Carol Soderlund

An artist and educator for 25 years, Carol’s curiosity about the range of color derived from blending yellow, red, and blue dyes led to the creation of her Color Mixing system for dyers. Carol encourages the freedom of mixing color by eye with results-based samples to guide the student, and also teaches simple methods for reproducing color on cloth.

A former high school teacher, Carol loves to develop original course material and share this knowledge with her students. Carol was nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2013 and again in 2015 by the International Association of Creative Arts Professionals.

Carol is co-author of Playful Fabric Printing with Melanie Testa. She has shown her quilts in juried venues across the country, winning awards including Best of Show at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas.

Carol’s web site

Registration form

New classes created for the Crow Barn Timber Frame Barn!
Carol has developed two NEW exciting classes for participants wanting to achieve a more sophisticated range of flat and glowing solids for their own compositional work. Students will learn how to get the results they want.

• October 8-13, 2017 | Layers upon Layers
Open or Close

Layers upon Layers
• Level: Intermediate to advanced
• Zig zag sewing machine: No
• Materials fee: $60
• Dye facility usage fee: $30

Tuition & Meal plan per 5-day class:
• $915 - Tuition ($675) & Meal plan ($240) | paid in full as soon as possible

DESCRIPTION
Distressed surfaces are endlessly fascinating to artists. Weathered doorways, crumbling walls, eroding hillsides, peeling paint, and rusted metal grab our attention as they partially reveal and partially conceal. These surfaces speak of time and of process. They open the door to our inner thoughts and invite us in.....

In this class we will develop experimental approaches to the layering of color and visual texture on cloth. Students will choose to develop either
• 20-30 smaller (fat quarter sized) pieces displaying a range of techniques, but visually related in color themes
• 4-6 larger pieces (1 yard or more) that focus on one or two aspects of the processes presented and use related imagery

We will use natural fibers, primarily cotton and silk, both opaque and sheer. We will build layers on the cloth, considering the effects of
• layering translucent dye and opaque paint
• layering value and hue
• layering textures in low water immersion
• layering textures created by resists
• layering stitch and patch

To develop the vision, we will brush and screen, mask and monoprint onto white pfd OR onto previously dyed, patched, and stitched cloth, using any or all of the following:
• Procion MX fiber reactive dyes
• soy wax and corn dextrin as watersoluble resists
• acrylic-based paints and mediums
• discharge paste

SUPPLIES
(Please label your own supplies)

Choosing fabric to bring:
PFD is cotton that is Prepared For Dyeing, that is, it has no fabric finishes, sizing, etc. that can prevent dye uptake. Unfortunately, these fabric finishes can rarely be completely removed by prewashing, so dyeing ordinary white cloth will not give nearly as good results as dyeing pfd.

Places to order: www.dharmatrading.com, www.prochemical.com

If you plan to hand-stitch any of the cloth, the pfd called “print cloth” is a good choice, as the lower thread count makes it easier to needle. All
types of pfd are fine for machine work.

Bring your choice of pfd cotton, silk, linen, or rayon - or a combination of all of these - a minimum 5 yards. Sheer silk organza (one yard or more, if you like) will be useful for layering experiments. Carol will have some available for purchase. Some people love scrim and cheesecloth, too. Also bring 2-3 yards washed muslin or extra pfd to use as an under-cloth when printing.

Previously dyed fabrics (optional): If you have dyed cloth previously, bring some “dogs” - hand-dyes that you would like to change radically
by overdyeing or overprinting.

From around the house, or the office supply store:
• notebook and pen
• 20+ sheet protectors for handouts
• 1” three-ring binder
• stapler and staples
• Sharpie or other permanent marker that will write on plastic
• a handful of strong rubber bands

From around the house:
• old clothes or a paint smock to wear
• rubber gloves - both the thin nitrile or latex ones from the pharmacy, and the heavier dishwashing kind
• old towel or paper towels for cleanups at your table
• small pair scissors or snips, seam ripper
• embroidery floss and pearl cotton in white or light colors
• embroidery needles to use with the above thread
• scissors to cut paper and plastic
• 6-10 cups for dye mixing (8-16 oz)
• 2 cottage cheese-type containers (16 oz)
• 1 set measuring spoons (tsp, tbsp, etc.) from the dollar store (to be used for dyeing only in future)
• 12 plastic picnic spoons for stirring
• 1 box Ziploc freezer bags, 1 gallon size

From around the house, or maybe the hardware store:
• stamps, Thermofax screens, stencils, sponges, or other favorite tools (I will also bring some for class use)
• flat objects for texture: Some ideas include plastic fencing, dish drainers, flat grids, low relief plastic, metal, or rubber objects such as tile spacers, rubber washers, etc. Fill a Ziploc bag with them. If you have no clue about this, don’t worry, because I will have lots for student use!
• tools for applying wax: empty metal can for making circles, other found objects to dip into wax and stamp with such as cookie cutters, potato mashers, hardware items, etc. Again, I will have lots for student use!
• two 5 gallon buckets - if you are driving
• masking tape in 1” and 2” widths - the ordinary, not BLUE tape!
• duct tape (we will use a half roll or less)
• 1 plastic drop cloth, at least 2 mil in thickness
• 3-4 brushes: a 2” foam brush and cheap bristle “chip” brushes, 2” and 3” size
• (optional) respirator equipped with acid gas or multi-gas filter if you wish to do discharging. I use the household filter from Lowe’s: https://www.lowes.com/pd/3M-Chemical-Respirator/3652073

The Silkscreen:
If you have a silkscreen that is blank, not imaged, bring that.

If you do not have a silkscreen, I will order one for you, and have it shipped in time for our workshop. Buying a screen in this manner will allow us to have a discount for a group buy, and free shipping to the workshop. This is not included in the supply fee, but you can pay me in class. In previous classes when I have done this, students really liked the convenience and value.

We will be using a screen such as this one from Dick Blick: http://www.dickblick.com/products/printers-edge-aluminum-screen-printing-frame/#description

The Thermofax screen:
The last item to discuss is the Thermofax screen. I will use my Thermofax machine to make one screen for each student as part of the supply fee. You can use your own imagery, or choose from Thermofax screens I have designed.

A Thermofax screen is a very simple way to print personal imagery on your cloth, and can be used with paints, dyes, or discharge pastes.

I am sending you a separate information sheet on Thermofax screens six weeks ahead of the workshop, so that if you are unfamiliar with them, you can learn more about them. I will need to hear from you about your choice of design by September 25, 2017. This is all covered in the information sheet I will send you.

Materials fee:
The materials fee includes Procion MX dyes and auxiliaries, fabric paints, soy wax and corn dextrin, Thermofax screens, and tools for student use, and complete written instructions.

If you have any questions about the materials list or the course in general, please contact Carol
• October 15-20, 2017 | Chromaticity: Flat and Glowing
Open or Close

Chromaticity: Flat and Glowing
• Level: Intermediate to advanced - Some previous experience with Procion MX dyes required
• Zig zag sewing machine: No
• Materials fee: $50
• Dye facility usage fee: $30

• SORRY, class is full To be placed on waiting list, please send in registration & deposit. If space does not become available, a full refund will be issued.

Tuition & Meal plan per 5-day class:
• $915 - Tuition ($675) & Meal plan ($240) | paid in full as soon as possible

DESCRIPTION
In this workshop we will be delving into the relationship between color and light. As David Hornung says in his book Color:
“The relationship between color and light is one of the most powerful aspects of two dimensional art. Light itself has a mysterious psychological effect. To see light appear to emanate from within a group of colors is an arresting visual experience.”

Of course, as artists in cloth, we want to translate these ideas to fabric, creating cloth that can convey pure, glowing color, that appears luminous when used, and creating partnered hues that are less glowing, less luminous, ready to be used as contrast in compositions.

To this end, students will learn three methods of creating flat/glowing pairs in hand-dyed cloth with Procion MX dyes, using color recipes provided as well as color inspiration they bring from personal inspiration files such as paint chips, photographs, and swatches.

In addition, we will learn four ways to create solid or nearly solid fabrics—two using low water immersion techniques and two using machines. To this end, Carol will bring tabletop machines for student use, and will discuss the methods of using larger machines for solid color dyeing. Students will dye up to one yard cuts of fabric pairs, testing the various methods presented.

Swapping and sharing of color recipes and samples will follow, so that students will emerge with a notebook of flat/glowing pairs and how to achieve them in their own studio practice, as well as yards of paired flat/glowing cloth.

Sustainability in dyeing has become an increasingly important topic. Methods of water conservation, both in dyeing and washout processes will be addressed.

SUPPLIES
(Please label your own supplies)

Fabric:
• 10-12 yards fabric for further dye explorations
PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric recommended. In addition to cotton, you may bring some silk, rayon, linen or tencel. • • Optional: samples of your dyed fabric and/or photos of your work

Office supplies:
• notebook for note taking and a pen
• pencil with a working eraser or a separate eraser
• three-ring binder: 1” thick
• 40 CLEAR page protectors (buy in bulk at office supply store) - do not buy those that have holes through the main section of the page protector. You want the ones with holes through a band on the margin.
• Scotch double sided tape 1/2” wide - enough to total 30 yards of tape
• masking tape
• stapler plus extra staples
• Sharpie (permanent marker)
• calculator

Cutting tools:
• small pair scissors for paper and one for fabric
• rotary cutter - bring a fresh straight blade as you will cut through numerous layers at once. The large (60 mm) cutters work the best for this. The 45 mm cutters can work but you must have arm strength.
• rotary cutting mat - 11” x 17” or larger
• Quilter’s plexiglas ruler - 6” x 12” is suggested size. Must be at least 12” long
• Optional: June Tailor Shape Cut ruler - the large size with slots at least 11” long
Sign up for JoAnn’s newsletters and they will send you 40% off coupons. The Shape Cut Ruler WILL NOT WORK for this class unless you have the 60 mm cutter, because of the number of layers we cut.
• Optional: bed risers for raising tables for cutting. The Barn has quite a few of these.

Plastic containers:
If you are flying, these items can be obtained at the grocery store after arriving. Check with Carol first, because there may be extra supplies of these available.
• 15 plastic party cups and 10 plastic picnic spoons - 16 oz. clear cups are nice, but the red Solo cups are fine
• one plastic orange juice bottle - 1.79 L Simply Orange brand (or limeade, etc.)
• three 6 or 8 oz. pointy top bottles - these will hold your dye supply at your table
• one plastic shoebox - measures about 13.5 x 8.2 x 4.8 inches. The exact size is not important…this is for reference.

Other items:
• Straight pins for use on design wall
• Iron and ironing pad, or old terry towel - if you are driving
• adhesive lint roller from the dollar store
• rubber gloves - both the loose dishwashing kind that extend up the arm, and the close-fitting latex or nitrile kind
• one roll paper towels, and one old towel for wiping spills - if you are driving
• two 3-5 gallon buckets - if you are driving
• one large strong plastic spoon - at least 12” long - straight, not bent is better
• one box of one gallon ziploc bags
• apron or old clothes
• graduated cylinders - if you have some from previous classes, bring your 10, 50 and 100 ml cylinders. I will bring extra cylinders to share.
• one or two high density foam rollers from the painting department of the housewares store
• Panda washing machine - Carol will bring a number of these machines for class use. However, if you are driving and want to bring your own, feel free.

Materials fee:
The materials fee covers all the dyes and necessary chemicals, handouts and swatch book pages, and all the fabric necessary for the sample book. Carol will bring a variety of other equipment to use in class.

If you have any questions about the materials list or the course in general, please contact Carol

Images of Carol Soderlund, student work and classes at the Crow Timber Frame Barn

Carol Soderlund

• October 8-13, 2017 | Layers upon Layers

Layers upon Layers

DESCRIPTION

SUPPLIES

• October 15-20, 2017 | Chromaticity: Flat and Glowing

Chromaticity: Flat and Glowing

DESCRIPTION

SUPPLIES