Crow Timber Frame Barn Art Retreats

Nancy Crow

Nancy has been teaching quiltmaking as an art form for over 30 years; she finds teaching both a very creative experience and uplifting. One of her goals is to help students find a path through roadblocks to a more flexible way of approaching composition. Composition is the focus of all of her workshops in which she proceeds sequentially from beginning to very advanced composition while at the same time introducing many wonderful techniques which can be used in machine-piecing. Nancy promotes machine-piecing as one of the most important ways to work for a quiltmaker, paralleling it to oil painting. Nancy was selected for two national honors: Fellow of the American Craft Council and National Living Treasure by the Museum of World Cultures at the University of North Carolina. The National Living Treasure award honors Americans who work in traditional handicrafts. In addition, she has won many Individual Artist's Fellowships from The Ohio Arts Council. She leads art tours to Peru, Mexico, South Africa, France, and Guatemala, and is the author of seven books, including: Self-Portraits: Mono-Prints, Nancy Crow, Nancy Crow: Improvisational Quilts and Nancy Crow: Quilts and Influences.

Registration form

Nancy’s 2-week classes:

• May 1-6 & May 8-13, 2022 | Strip-Piecing & Restructuring: Parts I & II
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Strip-Piecing & Restructuring: Parts I & II
• Level: Beginner to intermediate
• Prerequisite: Free-hand cutting skills/good machine-sewing skills
• Sewing machine: Yes
• Materials fee: No

• 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 for 2-week classes with Nancy:
$2530 | 10-day Tuition ($1950) & Meal plan ($580)
DESCRIPTION
In this 2-week workshop, carefully thought-out design exercises will promote a more thorough understanding of proportions, color usage, value usage, and figure/ground composition starting from a beginning level and moving on to an intermediate level.

Part I
The technique of STRIP-PIECING is defined as a way of creating brand new “fabric vocabularies” out of existing fabrics that have been cut selvage to selvage. Students will be given a wide variety of design exercises that concentrate on the creation of all sorts of strip-pieced fabric vocabularies. As students learn to strip-piece with an eye to proportions, they will develop the muscle memory needed to quickly cut free-hand a large variety of widths of colors in a very fluid manner while also becoming more efficient machine-piecers. In PART I, the resulting strip-pieced fabric vocabularies will be used in exploring rudimentary figure/ground compositions.

Part I
The technique of RESTRUCTURING is defined as cutting across already strip-pieced fabrics, creating various size segments and shapes, and then combining these multiple parts together to form new patterns while creating brand new compositions. In PART II, new design exercises will be given that outline how to create specific and often more complex and sophisticated strip-pieced fabric vocabularies. Again, in creating these brand new fabric vocabularies, students will develop the muscle memory needed to cut free-hand quickly and fluidly a large variety of widths of colors. Next, new design exercises will push students to cut across and restructure these strip-pieced fabrics in an even more improvisational manner to create ever-more complex structures. Students will experiment with all sorts of cross-cuts that create new SHAPES and LINES (ELEMENTS) out of their already strip-pieced fabrics. These will be sewn together and then recut. These elements will be used in restructuring which means combining shapes and lines into new figures or configurations. Groups of configurations will be strung together or combined with other sewn structures. As a result, students will become more experienced in construction and engineering techniques and more comfortable with generating ideas that promote excellent figure/ground composition.

All New Design Exercises in both PART I and PART II will encourage:
• THE EXPLORATION OF LINE
• THE EXPLORATION OF WIDER WIDTHS OF SHAPE
• THE EXPLORATION OF A WIDER USE OF COLOR
• THE EXPLORATION OF A WIDER USE OF VALUE
• THE EXPLORATION OF A WIDER USE OF GLOWING COLORS
• THE EXPLORATION OF A WIDER USE OF FLAT COLORS
• THE EXPLORATION OF FIGURE/GROUND COMPOSITION from beginning level to a more intermediate level
• THE EXPLORATION OF IMPROVISATIONAL CONSTRUCTION

• Color - and the values of color from light to dark (5 steps in value)—-will be emphasized in all exercises so a great selection of fabrics based on these values must be brought to this workshop. Students will be working in SOLID COLORS and graphic prints, plaids and stripes. Do not bring florals or other types of prints.

Students must read the fabric list and supply list and come prepared. These lists are accurate!!! Note regarding the fabric lists:
• Concentrate on collecting DARKS and MEDIUM DARKS!
• Concentrate on collecting LIGHTS and MEDIUM LIGHTS!
• Concentrate on collecting BRIGHTS!
• Concentrate on collecting FLATS and GLOWINGS!
• Concentrate on collecting PLAIDS!
• Concentrate on collecting STRIPES!
• Concentrate on collecting GRAPHIC GEOMETRICS!

Students will learn to work more effectively, more efficiently from "instincts" and "intuition" so come with an open mind and no agendas, ready for growth and for risk-taking!

PRESENTATION
- Optional but important: Each student should come prepared with a digital presentation/laptop or 3-6 actual quilts and be prepared to make a short (3-5 minutes maximum) but articulate presentation about their work including future goals. The Crow Timber Frame Barn provides use of a digital projector connected to a laptop.
SUPPLIES
- Sewing Machine
- Needles/Bobbins
- Digital Camera/Printer (Canon SELPHY printer recommended)/Paper
- Scissors/Thread/Rulers
- Swing Arm Lamp
- 24” x 36” Cutting Mat
- 7’ x 7’ Batting/Flannel (White) on which to pin work (optional)
- Extra Large Rotary Cutter and Blades
- Iron/Iron Cleaner (optional as Barn has irons)
- Ball-Head Pins (very fine and regular size)
- Small Water Spray Bottle for Ironing
- Glue to Adhere Snapshots into Sketchbook
- Multiple Outlet Power Strip/Adaptors/Heavy Duty Extension Cords
- Sketchbook/Pens/Other Supplies You Want
- Painter’s Blue Tape - 1” or 2” wide roll of tape for securing long strips of fabric when cutting
- Packing Tape if shipping boxes (plus return labels)
Optional Books:
- NANCY CROW | DRAWINGS: MONOPRINTS & RIFFS, 2020, University of Nebraska Press (catalog from Nancy’s exhibition at the International Quilt Museum) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- COLOR IMPROVISATIONS 2 & CIRCULAR ABSTRACTIONS: BULL’S EYES QUILTS, 2016, (books from two exhibitions curated by Nancy) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- CROSSROADS, 2007, Breckling Press (catalog from one of Nancy’s exhibitions) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- NANCY CROW, 2006, Breckling Press (book covering Nancy's work from 1989-2005) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- NANCY CROW, MONO-PRINTS: SELF-PORTRAITS: FOCUS, 2012 - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
Unfortunately, the following titles are out of print, but your local library may have them or order on Amazon.com.
- GRADATIONS: FROM THE STUDIO OF NANCY CROW, Quilt House Publishing
- NANCY CROW: WORK IN TRANSITION, American Quilters’ Society
- NANCY CROW: QUILTS AND INFLUENCES, American Quilters’ Society
- NANCY CROW: IMPROVISATIONAL QUILTS, C&T Publishing
FABRICS
6 yards or more each of:
- SOLID BLACK and SOLID WHITE
2-3 yards each of:
- BRIGHT COLORS - bright red, orange, acid yellow, lime, turquoise, blue, apple green, pink, lavender, etc. (very saturated bright colors … the brightest color that are never darker than medium value)
1 yard or more:
- GRAPHIC PRINTS (graphic prints means very simple prints with patterns in rows or columns)
- PLAIDS
- STRIPES
I caution you not to bring mostly middle value solids, rather bring a wide variety, including these 5 steps in value:
- Light values
- Medium light values
- Medium values
- Medium dark values
- Dark values
2-3 yards each of: (bring 5 steps in value)
- GRAYS (wide range in light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark)
1 yard or more of each color:
- SOLID OPAQUE COLORS (wide range in light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark values so you can be free to work) - reds, pinks, blues, teals, greens, limes, violets, browns, yellows, golds, oranges, purples, maroons, turquoises, rusts, etc.
- TANS (wide range in light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark)
- OFF-WHITES (warm white, cold white, cream)
- Bring BOTH the GLOWING and the FLAT versions of as many of these colors as possible.
- Please wash and shrink all fabrics! No need to iron though if you fold at end of drying cycle!
- We will use everything listed above so do not decide to leave anything out.
- DO NOT BRING FAT QUARTERS.
- Bring enough variety so you are not hamstrung!
NOTES REGARDING FABRIC SUPPLY LIST
Yes, the rumor is true!!! Yes, I do ask that each student bring lots of fabrics. My personal theory embraces the belief that one will be freer to be creative if one has many fabric choices available in class. After 35+ years of teaching, I consider each class I teach to be on a graduate level and therefore I expect students to arrive prepared with all necessary supplies. In that regard, I have outlined those fabrics we will use in this class. For some students, my fabric supply list will seem overwhelming in quantity and variety, while for other students, the selection they bring will never be good enough.

About solid colors - the more shades you have to work with, the more you will learn about how to work with color. Color is Joyous!!! Color does not cause pain!!! Take DELIGHT in color!!! Working in color does not mean only using BOLD colors or HOT colors; working in color means learning to be versatile in all types of colors.

I caution you to not bring mostly middle value solids, rather bring a wide variety, including these 5 steps in value:
- Light values
- Medium light values
- Medium values
- Medium dark values
- Dark values
Any color can be GLOWING or FLAT:
• GLOWING tones are any colors mixed with yellow and which have a glow coming off the surface.
• FLAT tones are those colors mixed with black and which emit a dullness, energy draining very subdued nature.

Many students arrive with their own hand-dyed solids or stacks they have purchased from other dyers. By all means, bring hand-dyed if you want but they need to be opaque and not have multiple values swimming across them ... meaning white or light splotches on dark colors.

However, flat solids (dyed commercially) are equally acceptable.

I usually work with flat colors or my own subtly dyed flat colors. My own palette includes approximately 500 shades.

I cannot specifically tell you to only bring 1 yard cuts of each color because I know we will be using at least a yard or more of some to many colors depending on each student’s color preferences. If you bring a yard of each – say 5 blues, 5 reds, 5 yellows, 5 greens, etc., but one each in light values, medium light values, medium values, medium dark values, & dark values, that would be better than not having enough. So bring 1 yard of as many colors as you can afford and shorter lengths for the rest.
• May 22-27 & May 29-June 3, 2022 | Master Composition
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Master Composition: Finding your Voice
• Level: Very advanced / Post graduate - participants must have previously studied with Nancy Crow a minimum of 7 times and will have prepared a brand new body of work before class begins
• Sewing machine: Yes
• Fee for professional presenters: $200

• SORRY, class is full

Tuition & Meal plan for 2-week classes with Nancy:
$2530 | 10-day Tuition ($1950) & Meal plan ($580)

DESCRIPTION
Master Composition is designed only for those artists who have studied with Nancy at least 8 times and who have begun or who have already established their own voice. This work cannot be derivative of Nancy Crow’s work! Each artist must come with brand new work finished within the past two years showing their progress; each artist must come with the designated professional presentation on their own development; and each artist must be prepared to work self-directed and independently when there is time during the two weeks of class.
• June 5-10 & June 12-17, 2022 | Sets & Variables I & II and Sets & Variables III
Open or Close
Sets & Variables I & II and Sets & Variables III
• Level: Intermediate to advanced
• Prerequisite: Free-hand cutting skills/very good machine-sewing skills
• Sewing machine: Yes
• Materials fee: No

• 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 for 2-week classes with Nancy:
$2530 | 10-day Tuition ($1950) & Meal plan ($580)
DESCRIPTION for Sets & Variables I & II: Using a Simple Motif & a Compound Motif
Sets and Variables I & II is based on exploring the use of a simple geometrical motif and its compound version in compositions. A MOTIF is defined as being a simple figure (a theme) that is repeated in some manner. COMPOUND MOTIF: The compound version of a simple motif is simply the opening up of spaces in the simple motif so the ground shows through in those spaces.

It is the responsibility of each student to think about which shapes & combinations of shapes could become new fresh motifs, to draw up many, many ideas in their sketchbook, and then, to actually cut out and sew together as many black/white simple motifs as possible. After making samples of simple motifs, compound versions of each of the simple motifs should be made. Making both these simple and compound motifs out of fabric will enlighten the student as to which motifs are both visually effective and which are easy to sew together. The size of the motif samples can be approximately 8” x 8” up to 12” x 12”. Keep black figure on white ground on the first round; make the reverse of each also with white figure on black ground.

On the morning of the first day of class each student is to have all of their motif ideas pinned to their work wall, with simple and compound versions side-by-side. At some point, the student will be expected to choose one of their motif ideas and love this chosen motif enough to work with it throughout all given design exercises during the week. The chosen motif will become the set; then variables will be added as part of each timed exercise. Figure/ground composition, value and color usage will be emphasized at all times, so each student must come prepared with the very best assortment of values, in solids, (commercial or hand-dyed) in as many color families as possible. It is important that the range of values includes very light colors, medium lights, mediums, medium darks, and darks. This class requires very individual thinking and total concentration, and is meant to be challenging! The method of working will be a journey about discovery and will require an attitude of risk-taking! The design exercises will stimulate thinking and hopefully help to develop more individual work.
• Students must come prepared with motif ideas!

DESCRIPTION for Sets & Variables III: Using a Linear Motif
Sets and Variables III is based on exploring the use of a LINEAR motif and its compound version in compositions. A MOTIF is defined as being a simple figure (a theme) that is repeated in some manner. COMPOUND MOTIF: The compound version of a simple motif is simply the opening up of spaces in the simple motif so the ground shows through in those spaces.

It is the responsibility of each student to think about which lines & combinations of lines could become new fresh motifs, to draw up many, many ideas in their sketchbook, and then, to actually cut out and sew together as many black/white simple motifs as possible. After making samples of simple motifs, compound versions of each of the simple motifs should also be made. Making both these simple and compound motifs out of fabric will enlighten the student as to which motifs are both visually effective and which are easy to sew together. The size of the motif samples can be approximately 8” x 8” up to 12” x 12”. Keep black figure on white ground on the first round; make the reverse of each also with white figure on black ground.

On the morning of the first day of class each student is to have all of their motif ideas pinned to their work wall, with simple and compound versions side-by-side. At some point, the student will be expected to choose one of their motif ideas and love this chosen motif enough to work with it throughout all given design exercises during the week. The chosen motif will become the set; then variables will be added as part of each timed exercise. Figure/ground composition, value and color usage will be emphasized at all times, so each student must come prepared with the very best assortment of values, in solids, (commercial or hand-dyed) in as many color families as possible. It is important that the range of values includes very light colors, medium lights, mediums, medium darks, and darks. This class requires very individual thinking and total concentration, and is meant to be challenging! The method of working will be a journey about discovery and will require an attitude of risk-taking! The design exercises will stimulate thinking and hopefully help to develop more individual work.
• Students must come prepared with motif ideas!

Note: All design exercises will be done in solid colored fabric using machine-piecing techniques. Each exercise will result in a composition. Keeping a sketchbook with excellent notations will be vitally important throughout the workshop; therefore, it is required that students bring a digital camera and a small digital printer (such as the Canon Selphy printer) to use as a tool for keeping track of works-in-progress. Since students will be pining work as it progresses onto the wall, they should bring at least 2 boxes of fine but short ball-head pins.

All exercises will be done by direct machine-piecing. Come with an open mind and no agendas, ready for growth and for risk-taking!

PRESENTATION
- Optional but important: Each student should come prepared with a digital presentation/laptop or 3-6 actual quilts and be prepared to make a short (3-5 minutes maximum) but articulate presentation about their work including future goals. The Crow Timber Frame Barn provides use of a digital projector connected to a laptop.
SUPPLIES
- Sewing Machine
- Needles/Bobbins
- Digital Camera/Printer (Canon SELPHY printer recommended)/Paper
- Scissors/Thread/Rulers
- Swing Arm Lamp
- 24” x 36” Cutting Mat
- 7’ x 7’ Batting/Flannel (White) on which to pin work (optional)
- Extra Large Rotary Cutter and Blades
- Iron/Iron Cleaner (optional as Barn has irons)
- Ball-Head Pins (very fine and regular size)
- Small Water Spray Bottle for Ironing
- Glue to Adhere Snapshots into Sketchbook
- Multiple Outlet Power Strip/Adaptors/Heavy Duty Extension Cords
- Sketchbook/Pens/Other Supplies You Want
- Painter’s Blue Tape - 1” or 2” wide roll of tape for securing long strips of fabric when cutting
- Packing Tape if shipping boxes (plus return labels)
Optional Books:
- NANCY CROW | DRAWINGS: MONOPRINTS & RIFFS, 2020, University of Nebraska Press (catalog from Nancy’s exhibition at the International Quilt Museum) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- COLOR IMPROVISATIONS 2 & CIRCULAR ABSTRACTIONS: BULL’S EYES QUILTS, 2016, (books from two exhibitions curated by Nancy) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- CROSSROADS, 2007, Breckling Press (catalog from one of Nancy’s exhibitions) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- NANCY CROW, 2006, Breckling Press (book covering Nancy's work from 1989-2005) - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
- NANCY CROW, MONO-PRINTS: SELF-PORTRAITS: FOCUS, 2012 - signed/dated editions available at the Crow Timber Frame Barn
Unfortunately, the following titles are out of print, but your local library may have them or order on Amazon.com.
- GRADATIONS: FROM THE STUDIO OF NANCY CROW, Quilt House Publishing
- NANCY CROW: WORK IN TRANSITION, American Quilters’ Society
- NANCY CROW: QUILTS AND INFLUENCES, American Quilters’ Society
- NANCY CROW: IMPROVISATIONAL QUILTS, C&T Publishing
FABRICS
3 yards or more each of:
- SOLID BLACK and SOLID WHITE
- SOLID COLORS (wide range in light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark values) so you can be free to work – Reds, Pinks, Blues,Teals, Greens, Limes, Violets, Browns, Yellows, Golds, Oranges, Purples, Maroons, Turquoises, Rusts, etc.)
- GRAYS (wide range in light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark)
- TANS (wide range in light, medium light, medium, medium dark, dark)
- OFF-WHITES (warm white, cold white, cream)
- Bring BOTH the GLOWING and the FLAT versions of as many of these colors as possible.
- We will use everything listed above so do not decide to leave anything out.
- Please wash and shrink all fabrics! No need to iron though if you fold at end of drying cycle!
NOTES REGARDING FABRIC SUPPLY LIST
Yes, the rumor is true!!! Yes, I do ask that each student bring lots of fabrics. My personal theory embraces the belief that one will be freer to be creative if one has many fabric choices available in class. After 35+ years of teaching, I consider each class I teach to be on a graduate level and therefore I expect students to arrive prepared with all necessary supplies. In that regard, I have outlined those fabrics we will use in this class. For some students, my fabric supply list will seem overwhelming in quantity and variety, while for other students, the selection they bring will never be good enough.

About solid colors - the more shades you have to work with, the more you will learn about how to work with color. Color is Joyous!!! Color does not cause pain!!! Take DELIGHT in color!!!

Working in color does not mean only using BOLD colors or HOT colors; working in color means learning to be versatile in all types of colors.

I caution you to not bring mostly middle value solids, rather bring a wide variety, including:
- Light values
- Medium light values
- Medium values
- Medium dark values
- Dark values
• Please bring the glowing version… AND… the dull/flat version of as many colors as possible.

• Remember that ANY COLOR… AND… ANY VALUE of ANY COLOR can be glowing or dull/flat.

Many students arrive with their own hand-dyed solids or stacks they have purchased from other dyers. By all means, bring hand-dyed if you want… but not splotchy with white splotches on all colors.

But solids (dyed commercially) are equally acceptable.

I usually work with my own subtly dyed solid colors. My own palette includes approximately 500+ shades.

Regarding fabrics: I recommend 2 yard cuts or larger because I feel happier with a minimum of 2 yard cuts. But please feel free to come with 1 yard cuts if this will facilitate having a much broader range of values. But please do not blame me if you run out of any color as I have no way of knowing which colors you will use up.