Archive of A Previous Program
Friday & Sunday, October 3 & 5, 2008
 

at Duncaster - Bloomfield, CT

Needle Painting Class with Tanya Berlin
2 day workshop -- beginner to advanced embroiderers

Choice of two designs; wild rose or burrowing owl

In this class, the student will work the needle painting design using a single strand of DMC embroidery floss in the needle at one time, in the method of long and short stitch.  This is an intriguing technique, using the threads as your paints on a closely woven fabric to create a realistic picture.  Several professional stitching techniques will be covered when we work the design, i.e. starting and finishing thread, the use of a split stitch line, and working the design as a 3-dimensional piece.  Different embroidery stitches will be used, i.e. split stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, and long and short.  Most importantly, the technique of blending long and short stitches so that they shade beautifully and how to position the stitches so that they lay smooth will be covered in the class.  The student goes home with the knowledge of how to design a piece, transfer the design onto the fabric, and all the information required to complete the embroidery.

Schedule for Friday and Sunday:
        9:30 AM to 12:15 PM         Morning class
        12:15 PM to 1 PM               Lunch, show and tell, and announcements
        1 PM to 4 PM                      Continuation of class

What to bring:
        A sharp pair of small sharp embroidery scissors
        2 pairs of 9" stretcher bars
        Tacks – at least 50
        A mechanical HB pencil nib size 0.5 or 0.7 or a sharp HB pencil
        Optional: Light and magnifier and frame stand
                        *Tanya recommends bringing a light with an extension cord
                        as it will be easier on the eyes
        Anything you'd like to share for show and tell

Here are directions to Duncaster:  (Official address is 40 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT, but we would like you to enter the building on the Mountain Avenue side)

84 Westbound [from Manchester]:
Take Rt. 291, exit 61.  Follow Rt. 291 to Rt. 218 exit.  Take left onto Rt. 218.  Follow for about 3 miles.  Take right onto Rt. 189 and follow to the center of Bloomfield.  Take a left on Rt. 178.  Continue straight on Rt. 178 for 1.4 miles.  To use the new front entrance, turn right onto Mountain Avenue and continue approx. ½ mile to entrance on the left into Duncaster.  From the Loeffler Road entrance or the Mountain Avenue entrance, once on the campus, visitors should follow the signs to the Aquatics & Fitness Center Entrance.

84 Eastbound [from Farmington]:
Take exit 41.  Go left on South Main Street [which becomes North Main Street at West Hartford Center] for 4.6 miles to Rt. 185.  Turn left on Rt. 185 for 1.8 miles.  Turn right on Rt. 178.  To use the new front entrance, after about ½ mile turn left onto Mountain Avenue and continue approx. ½ mile to entrance on the left into Duncaster.  From the Loeffler Road entrance or the Mountain Avenue entrance, once on the campus, visitors should follow the signs to the Aquatics & Fitness Center Entrance.

91 [North or South]:
Take exit 36.  Go west on Rt. 178 for 4.5 miles to the center of Bloomfield.  At the traffic light continue straight on Rt. 178 for 1.4 miles.  To use new front entrance, turn right onto Mountain Ave. and continue approx. ½ mile to entrance on the left into Duncaster.  From the Loeffler Road entrance or the Mountain Avenue entrance, once on the campus, visitors should follow the signs to the Aquatics & Fitness Center Entrance.