Silk Painting Class Photos

Claudia Fluegge taught basic silk painting using a variety of materials to a completely full class on Saturday. Here are a few photos of her "happy campers."

Free Holiday Art Nights in December

FREE Holiday Art Nights on Wednesdays in December
5 to 7:30 pm (open late for these special event nights)

• Free and open to anyone.
• Bring your family!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gift cards and RECYCLED PLASTIC PLACEMATS
Wednesday, December 2nd

Roberta Delgado will demonstrate a simple printing technique to your produce beautiful personalized cards.
Marci Sednek will also demonstrate how to produce laminated recycled plastic placemats using the same process used for our signature OFFBAGs.

• Both products are great ideas for the holidays.
• Bring your recycled plastic to use and share.
• Free and open to anyone.
• Bring your family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ornaments and GIFT CLOTHING AND SCARVES
Wednesday, December 9th

Susan Tische will be on hand to show how to turn recycled fabrics into the coolest attire.

Also we will be producing pass-around ornaments. What is this? Small groups of artists will sit around a table of materials and work for 5 minutes on an ornament design and then pass it to the next artist. The ornament is passed around the group until it returns to the originator in its finished glory! Great spontaneous fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holiday gift bags and paper
Wednesday, December 16th

Our last Holiday art night this year will feature decorating paper and folding gift bags using stamps, paints, markers, glitter and anything else you can find in the studio that touches your spirit!

New! Free Weekly Embroidery Class thru Sept. 22

Learn or practice your Embroidery with Karen Hart, our longest commuting artist from Pittsburgh.

She will lead an open, all-levels class every Tuesday in the studio from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., through September 22 (or perhaps a bit longer if we can persuade her to stay through Balloon Fiesta).

Karen brings a lifetime of experience working with fabric and is patient, knowledgeable, and possesses a great sense of humor.

Anyone interested in embroidery is welcome to attend to learn and share with the group.

Thank you, Karen!

Sharie's Studio Journal: I'm back!

Greetings everyone:

I have been out of the studio for about two weeks a bit "under the weather", but am back in the swing of things. It is great to be back in the studio and watch all that happens there. Some new faces always great to see new friends there.

The Earthquakes and Hurricanes show is coming to an end and if you missed it you missed a wonderful show.

WE are making "pitchy Patch" and making room for the puppets to get a face lift and get ready for the Folk Art Festival.

Come on down and bring your friends to make art and/or help get ready for the folk art fest. It is a lot of fun. We love all the help and participation. See you soon Sharie.

The Littlest Quilters

Of course, big people stopped by our art booth, too, but it was the tiniest quilters that warmed our hearts at the most recent Summerfest. The theme was Country night, hence our community quilt project. We precut 12 x 12 squares of upholstery fabric, and our visitors sat and cut out scraps of fabric to glue to them.

Here are a few of the youngest artists in town, with permission from their parents, of course. They took great pride in hanging their squares onto the community wall.

Felting Workshop Review

Sharie's Studio Journal

The Felting Workshop was fun and informative. I learned something I did not know - a loose translation of how felt came about - a man walking across the desert in uncomfortable shoes padded them with wool. The shoes were easier to wear in his trek. At the end of his journey he removed the "wool" and found it had packed and meshed together to make felt. Here are a few pics of those participants in the workshop. The result -- a piece being held up by the young man.

Felting Workshop: Felting Art...From the Start

Saturday, June 27, 2009
10 am to 12 pm

Immerse yourself in the natural, magical technique of felt making!

Individual wool fibers are laid out and a hands-on process combines the wool with soapy water to create a non-woven fabric called felt.

Drawn from the ancient Central Asian craft of felt making, the material created by this process is nothing like the acrylic squares found in craft stores. Students will have the opportunity to make an individual finished product such as a felt rope bracelet, bookmark, coaster, or penny pouch.

Note to people with wool allergies, we will be using natural wool fibers in our projects.

Instructor Jane Heider has fourteen years of teaching experience and a life long passion for art making.

Cost: $15
All materials will be provided.
Please call OFFCenter to register.
Class limit: 10 people -- don’t wait too long on this one!

FIBER FANFARE

Sharie's Studio Journal

Well it was just that - a FANFARE! We had about 200 attendees and everyone looked to be having a great time. The story tellers were great and had good audience participation and interactive stories. And the fashion show - what can I say - it was a show! Ilene emceed and did a fabulous job. Ayren not only modeled her own creation but provided the music for the models to strut their stuff down the runway. It was a great collaborative effort between Hip Stitch and OFFCenter. We appreciate the loan of some great vintage hats from Larry's Hats. Thanks to everyone who helped make this one of the liveliest events held at OFFCenter. GREAT JOB designers, artists, models, and the many volunteers!!! Without you we could not have done it. Sharie

Fiber Fanfare Opening June 18, 5-8 p.m.

• Multimedia artist & storyteller Brenda H. Marley!
  
• Acclaimed storyteller & educator July Rose!
  
• PLUS the Fiber Fanfare Fashion Show!
  
• with hats from Larry's Hats!
  
• Wear your finery! Surprise Raffle!
  
• See The Pez Suit by Steve White!

From flags to felt, fleece to frills. From fringe to filament...frippery to fuzz and flax to flannel. Exploring the many ways in which artists express themselves through fiber.

Many fiber-related items on sale in the gift shop too!

Show on exhibit through July 28, 2009.

Further Evidence of the Harts' Generosity

The reorganized sewing center looks so inviting with not 1, and not 2, but now 3 sewing machines! This area of the studio had become increasingly in demand as Karen Hart, a part-time Albuquerquian and artist friend of OFFCenter, had shared her sewing skills with studio artists younger and older.

Last night after our monthly Board of Directors meeting, we snapped a couple of photos of "the twins," Karen and Gil's anniversary gifts to . . . OFFCenter! There they sit, idle at this late hour, our new "speed demons" for seamsters and seamstresses, sturdy machines for our many quirky projects.

Thank you again, Karen and Gil!

Happy Anniversary

Sharie's Studio Journal


HAPPY ANNIVERSERY TO THE HARTS

Karen and her hubby Gil have been in and out of OFFCenter for many months now and have pitched in and been very supportive to OFFCenter whether in Albuquerque or back home. Well Sunday June 7 they celebrated their wedding anniversary by donating two new sewing machines for use by OFFCenter artist. The machines have some really nice features. Thank you for this great gift to OFFCenter. Sharie

FIBER FANFARE

Sharie's Studio Journal

Hi folks,

Here is more on the FIBER FANFARE:

Art Opening "Fiber Fanfare" June 19 5-8 PM
Exploring the many ways in which fiber artists express themselves. Storytelling preformances by Brenda H Marley and July Rose plus an "Oh, Oh, Oh It's Fabric" Fashion Show!!!

For more details, call or drop by the studio.

Sharie

FIBER FANFARE June 19

This date is fast approaching and we don't want anyone to be left out or miss this upcoming event at OFFCenter. Art is done with so many varied media and fiber / fabric is not so readily recognized as art in general. We really want to honor and highlight all forms of art so we are having FIBER FANFARE to do this for artist who use fabrics and fibers to make art. If you are interested in participating and want to submit art for this show there are entry forms available at OFFCenter and the last date for art to be accepted for the show is end of day 5:00 PM June 12 no exceptions. The show opening and reception will be June 19 starting at 5:00PM til 8:00 PM(ish). We will have a fashion show vintage hats and apparel. The sculpture is by OFFCenter artist Joey Goss. Fiber Art can have many looks from Joey's great sculptures to painted canvas floor cloths to recycled denim jeans in the form of purses or gift bags that look like cowboy boots. and much more. You don't want to miss any of this beautiful art. A story teller to share her story with us. There will be food and lots of fun and art to look at and purchase. Remember OFFenter Gift Shop for unique one of a kind gifts for friends and family. Don't forget those graduates. We also have gift certificates available. Hope to see you there!! Sharie

Soft Sculpture Mermaid Workshop April 18, 2009

with Kathleen Schweizer!
.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
.
Please Call OFFCenter to register.
.
Cost: $40.
All materials will be provided.
Scholarships are available.

This is not a workshop but a “playshop!"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Working with colors found in the ocean (teals, aquas, greens, blues) you will create a sweet soft sculpture mermaid. First you will learn to create a 2-D wire armature, then shape the armature so that it becomes a 3-D framework. Next you will cover the basic framework with fabric and then the real fun begins -- embellishment!! .

If you’ve previously taken one of Kathleen’s classes, you know that she will provide you with an abundance of materials from which to choose -- you will work with fabric, sequins, beads, shells, yarns, ribbons, feathers and more. Feel free to bring any items you would like to incorporate into your mermaid figure. If you have a pair of needle-nose, round-nose, long-nose or conical-nose pliers, please bring them with you to class.

Click Kathleen's picture to visit her Etsy shop!

. . . . .

Reinventing T-Shirts Workshop

Saturday, March 14, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Cost: $20.00 (scholarships are available)
Please call to confirm

Come transform your old forgotten tee shirts into a new fashion statement! Beginner and advanced sewers are welcome to come and have fun artfully recycling.

Bring at least two of your tee shirts and all other materials will be provided.

Tirzah graduated with a BFA from Xavier University with an emphasis in sculpture and has been working as an art teacher in Albuquerque for three years where she has had the opportunity to work with a large variety of student populations.

Intro. to Silk Painting with Claudia Fluegge

Sunday, March 15, 2009 1-4 pm
Cost: $45. All materials provided. Class size limited to 12.

Reservations required – must pay in advance. Scholarships are available!

Painting on silk is a playful and colorful adventure. If you have never tried it, this is your chance to take an excellent class with the accomplished instructor and artist Claudia Fluegge. Claudia has won numerous national awards for her silkpainting work and currently exhibits at Weyrich Gallery in Albuquerque.

Class participants will start by stretching a white piece of silk over a frame. Then Claudia will lead you through an exploration of basic silk painting techniques such as salting, outlining, and applying dyes with a paintbrush. Usually there is enough time to make two pieces. Finished pieces must be steamed to fix the dyes. Claudia will charge $2 per piece if you would like her to do the steaming for you. If you have previously taken this class, she would love to have you back to do more painting!

Stitching with Sequins Workshop -- Feb. 14

Saturday, February 14, 10am – 1pm

Mary Tafoya will help you solve the mysteries of sewing sequins to fabric using several different stitches, with and without beads: spot stitch, lines, scales, and floral motifs.

In this class, you will work on fabric and felt to create a sampler of stitches that Mary has explored and discovered over several years studying old European, East Indian and Asian surface embellishment and embroidery.

Mary Tafoya is a nationally known beadwork artist, teacher and writer whose work has been featured in numerous books and exhibitions. Currently, she works in various media and creates a line of recycled jewelry for her online shop. http://www.marytafoya.etsy.com/.

Be sure to bring reading glasses if you need them!

Cost: $35. Scholarships are available. Registration required. 12 person maximum. Call 505-247-1172

Mary Dubois Tie Dye Workshop, Sat. Aug. 30

Make beautiful art with silk paints using sun, salt,
leaves, feathers, and cardboard.  Bring a white T-Shirt
and create tye-dye designs using vibrant colors. The sun
sets the dyes and prevents fading and bleeding. No more mess
and cost withthis new silk and muslin painting technique.
It's easy and fun!

Mary Dubois has 33 years experience selling and teaching art in many mediums. Mary is currently
teaching silk painting, ceramics, and beading at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). Mary is published in Artist
USA and Surrealism in the 21st Century. Mary's work can
be seen at websites http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.surrealismnow.com&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEtj7_iTWEdI7greeieBydh5f_ufg
and http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rainbowartists.com&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFZbcKYpPkQ2z4UWHwB63dPN8Du5A.

Workshop fee: $45.00

Batik and Tye-Dye Workshop

Join Gasali Adeyemo at Off Center Art on July 5th & 6th for a Batik and Tye-Dye workshop.

Gasali hails from Nigeria and more recently from Santa Fe and is back at OFFCenter to present another two day workshop on Batik and Tie Dye. The workshop will be held from 10:00 to 4:00 PM both days in the OFFCenter Art Studio with a break taken for lunch.

The fee is $25.00 for both days. Sign up soon for this wonderful opportunity.