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 17 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 classes

• September 30-October 5 & October 7-12, 2018 | Lines, Curves, Circles, Figure/Ground Composition: Part I & Part II
Open or Close
Lines, Curves, Circles & Figure/Ground Composition: Part I & Part II
• Level: Intermediate to advanced (students must be practiced in free-hand cutting and construction and expert at machine-piecing)
• Zig zag 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:
• Both weeks (10-day class) of this special workshop with Nancy are to be taken back-to-back. No registrations accepted for only one week.
• $945 x 2 weeks | Tuition ($695 per week) & Meal plan ($250 per week)
DESCRIPTION for Part I
This workshop begins with an intense study in the “creation of line(s) and their spatial relationships” when grouped together with other line(s). All lines will be cut freehand while sharpening one’s eye to stronger proportions. These initial exercises will be done in solid black and solid white. Many small sewn-together compositions will be created. It is hoped that participants will begin to see line as a very important element in quilt-making.

Afterwards, this workshop will begin to address other kinds of geometric shapes such as curves and circles in machine-pieced compositions while moving into color and more degrees of values. These new design exercises will investigate evermore sophisticated relationships within a composition.
All work will be done in direct machine-piecing using a broad range of solid colors (commercial or hand-dyed). NOTE: Marbled fabrics are not appropriate for this class nor are splotchy hand-dyed fabrics.

Students will be given timed exercises that explore classical design concerns such as COLOR, VALUE, PROPORTION, SHAPE, CURVES, CIRCLES, AND LINE RELATIONSHIPS. Lots of SEED IDEAS will be GENERATED.

DESCRIPTION for Part II
An energizing and thought-provoking (different from those in PART I) group of design exercises has been developed for this new workshop with the intention of strengthening one’s understanding and practice of figure/ground composition. Students will work freehand, cutting by eye all the parts of each compositional exercise while learning to better engineer the construction of a composition. Lines, shapes, and curves will be used to develop geometric configurations.

There will be a STRONG EMPHASIS on geometric LINE AND SHAPE CONFIGURATIONS…plus…the USE of FLAT & GLOWING COLORS/VALUES. In this workshop, a variety of sewn-together compositions will be created that will incorporate percentages of FLAT & GLOWING COLORS/VALUES making it very important that each student bring appropriate fabrics. Fabrics of choice will be a broad palette of hand-dyed or commercial solids and values. NOTE: Marbled fabrics are not appropriate for this class nor are splotchy hand-dyed fabrics. All sewing will be done in direct machine-piecing.

Students will be given TIMED EXERCISES that explore classical design concerns such as COLOR, VALUE, PROPORTION, SHAPE, CURVES and LINE RELATIONSHIPS. SEED IDEAS will be GENERATED that could be used for working-in-a-series. One-on-one and group critiques will be integrated into the class.
• MAKE SURE YOU BRING A GOOD SKETCHBOOK (not a yellow lined pad of paper), DIGITAL CAMERA and SMALL PRINTER!!!
• Do not come with an agenda! Be open to experimentation and working quickly!

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
• Packing Tape if shipping boxes (plus return labels)

Optional Books:
- 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
- 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
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 each of:
• SOLID BLACK and SOLID WHITE

1 yard or more of:
• SOLID COLORS (commercial or hand-dyed) in the widest range you can afford to bring & be sure to include both flat & glowing colors - 80 to 100 different colors. We will use a lot of solid colors so bring a good range that includes darks, medium and light values of Browns, Blues, Greens, Reds, Golds, Yellows, Oranges, Purples, Violets, Etc.

2 yards of:
• BRIGHTS are essential for this workshop and they are defined as hot lime, hot pink, acid yellow, bright red, bright orange, bright turquoise, bright medium blue, bright lavender, bright medium purple, bright medium green
• GRAYS light, medium light, medium, medium dark, and dark values

• Please wash and shrink all fabrics! No need to iron though if you fold at end of drying cycle.
• Please bring the glowing version … AND … the flat version of as many colors as possible.
• We will use everything listed above so do not decide to leave anything out!
• Bring enough variety so you are not hamstrung!
• Do not bring prints.

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 30+ 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 flat version of as many colors as possible.
• Remember that ANY COLOR … and … ANY VALUE of ANY COLOR can be GLOWING or FLAT.
GLOWING colors: Are colors that are mixed with yellow which creates a glowing effect radiating off the surface.
FLAT colors: Are colors that are mixed with black which increases the dullness, creating a subdued and flat sensibility to the surface. There is absolutely no glow radiating off the surface.

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.
• October 14-19 & 21-26, 2018 | Working in a Series: Part I & Part II
Open or Close
Working in a Series: Part I & Part II
• Level: Advanced (student must be a good machine-piecer and skilled at cutting improvisationally. Need to have studied with Nancy multiple times)
• Zig zag 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:
• Both weeks (10-day class) of this special workshop with Nancy are to be taken back-to-back. No registrations accepted for only one week.
• $945 x 2 weeks | Tuition ($695 per week) & Meal plan ($250 per week)
• This brand new 10-day class has been specifically developed for students desirous of working in a series in order to explore one idea in depth using machine-piecing techniques.

DESCRIPTION
This workshop is intended for anyone who wants to begin or who has begun to develop a group of quilts that significantly relate one to the other in concept, composition, figure/ground relationships, use of motifs, scale, use of color, use of surface design fabrics, etc. This 10-day workshop will accommodate any of the following three approaches. Registered students must email me by August 20, 2018, telling me which APPROACH below they plan to follow.
- Approach #1: The student begins a series in fabric at home and adds to this series exploring new territory during the 10-days. Size of works is up to the student. Help and critiquing will be offered as wanted. ***For this approach, students will be in charge of the fabric selection they bring to class knowing that whatever they bring should support what they hope to achieve.
- Approach #2: The student comes prepared to class with initial ideas only - perhaps as sketches in sketchbook or worked up as paper collages. Once in class the student begins creating a group of fabric sketches or small pieced compositions, experimenting with these ideas that could possibly become a series. Help and critiquing will be offered as wanted. ***For this approach, students will be in charge of the fabric selection they bring to class knowing that whatever they bring should support what they hope to achieve.
- Approach #3: A group of formal exercises will be presented to loosen up creative energy. These exercises will be done using machine-piecing and fabric and will activate imagination and thought processes towards developing a series. Help and critiquing will be offered as wanted. ***For this approach, students will be in charge of the fabric selection they bring to class knowing that whatever they bring should support what they hope to achieve. If wanting to do APPROACH #3, then it will be imperative to bring 6-8 yards of black and 6-8 yards of white. I have no way of knowing exactly how much black and white will be used but both will be well stocked.
PRESENTATION
Each student must come prepared to give a well-organized, thoughtful talk about their work. This talk can either be built around 6-10 or more actual quilts or be presented as a digital talk. This articulate (5-8 minutes maximum) presentation must include a reference about future goals and why one is taking this class. The quality of the presentation should be as well done as possible as though asked to present at a museum to an audience. 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
• Packing Tape if shipping boxes (plus return labels)

Optional Books:
- 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
- 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
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:
6-8 yards 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 are never darker than medium 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

• Please wash and shrink all fabrics! No need to iron though if you fold at end of drying cycle.
• Please bring the glowing version … AND … the flat version of as many colors as possible.
• We will use everything listed above so do not decide to leave anything out!
• 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 30+ 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. Overall during the class, we will use many solid colors, but still.... please bring the requested prints. When choosing both solid colors and prints to bring to class, be sure to bring both glowing (warm) and flat (cool) tones.

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 flat version of as many colors as possible.
• Remember that ANY COLOR … and … ANY VALUE of ANY COLOR can be GLOWING or FLAT.
GLOWING colors: Are colors that are mixed with yellow which creates a glowing effect radiating off the surface.
FLAT colors: Are colors that are mixed with black which increases the dullness, creating a subdued and flat sensibility to the surface. There is absolutely no glow radiating off the surface.

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 unless these are being used purposefully in works-in-a-series.

Flat solids (dyed commercially) are equally acceptable.

I usually work with my own subtly dyed solid 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.

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

Nancy Crow

Nancy’s classes

• September 30-October 5 & October 7-12, 2018 | Lines, Curves, Circles, Figure/Ground Composition: Part I & Part II

Lines, Curves, Circles & Figure/Ground Composition: Part I & Part II

DESCRIPTION for Part I

DESCRIPTION for Part II

PRESENTATION

SUPPLIES

• October 14-19 & 21-26, 2018 | Working in a Series: Part I & Part II

Working in a Series: Part I & Part II

DESCRIPTION

PRESENTATION

SUPPLIES