Category Archives: workshops

New Class, New Giveaway!

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Back to School Time!

Autumn always makes me nostalgic for the first day of school. The change in the weather signals that it’s time to gather your school supplies, learn new skills, and reunite with friends.


Would you like to return to school too? Then why not join my new online class on Creative Spark, Fused Art Quilts: Tiny Homes.

Tiny Homes #3 by Laura Wasilowski

I’ve taught Tiny Homes for over 20 years. And in each and every class my students create amazing artwork. Artwork that is unique to them.

But, as this is an online class, you’ll receive a lot more information. There is time to explore design options, demonstrate fusing techniques, and discuss embellishing with hand embroidery. And you can watch the steps over and over again!

Win a T-shirt!

One of your first lessons in Tiny Homes is to go over the Rules of Fusing from the Chicago School of Fusing, where I am Dean of Corrections.

We discuss fusible web, how to fuse fabric, what not to do, and tips on creating fast, fearless artwork with fused fabrics.

And in celebration of the Chicago School of Fusing and Tiny Homes, I’m giving away a rare and collectible T-shirt (size XL) printed with the coveted Pressing Matters at the Chicago School of Fusing logo.

You may be the lucky winner if you leave a comment on today’s blog post. The giveaway for the T-shirt will be closed on Monday, September 13. I’ll announce the winner later in the week.

Accidental Design?

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Your next quilt composition can begin with a simple design trigger like this bias-fused collage of light blue and purple fabric. It has so many possibilities! Creating artwork from design triggers is common practice if you are an improviser. I call this method of making art accidental design.

Being an accidental artist is the topic for my current online class with Quilter’s Affair. Students create design triggers after building several fused collages. Then they use their scraps and collages to develop compositions based on those design prompts. Here’s what became of my design trigger. In keeping with my quest for the perfect vase, I created this striped vase for skinny flowers placed on an orange doily.

Tiny Homes Make Me Happy!

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Tiny Homes #3 by Laura Wasilowski

This quilt is an example made for my online class at Quilter’s Affair called Tiny Homes. I demonstrated how to construct the quilt top in the class but not how to add the hand embroidery. That came later after all the filming was “in the can” as they say.

Tiny Home #3 (detail) by Laura Wasilowski

An advantage of my teaching an online class is that I spend less time lugging luggage and racing through airports. That means I have more time to stitch quilts like Tiny Homes #3. So I’m enjoying my summer of relaxation by adding hand embroidery to quilts and free-form embroidery designs. I hope you’re enjoying a relaxing day too!