Wednesday, June 24, 2015

FIBREWORKS KINGSTON launches 2015/2016 Series of Weekend Workshops with a return visit from GORDANA BRELIH

As Coordinator and Registrar for FIBREWORKS I welcome you to another season of truly magical Weekend Workshops.. and here is the first one for the 2015/2016 Series, being introduced here today... 
YOU are invited to join me in welcoming Gordana back to our classroom this fall!


Putting It All Together…Connecting

  Fragments
Gordana Brelih, Instructor
September 18-20, 2015
St. Lawrence College
945 Portsmouth Ave
Kingston, ON
Friday evening Lecture/Trunk Show 7-9 pm
Two Full Workshop Days 
Saturday and Sunday 9:30 - 4 pm
The Sunken Palace, Gordana Brelih
Traveling with THREADWORKS 2013 
Do you ever wonder what to do with your many samples from different workshops, fabric scraps, lace, eco-dyed silk, wool, beads, metal finds? You will work closely with Gordana over this weekend of stitch and design play to develop the plans to create all new work as you "put it all together". Your work may be collaged onto black felt while planning  one special dimensional piece, or you might consider mounting your design stretched onto a frame…
There are so many options this dynamic artist uses in her own prize-winning art that will be shared during this fun-filled, design focused workshop. Time to explore, plan, sketch, dream and stitch!!!
detail, CIRCLE OF MEMORIES, Gordana Brelih

Free motion machine and hand stitching will complement your  stitched designs which might include techniques shared in class: heat modified/burned felt, stamping, wax resist printing, stitching onto water soluble film, painting Stitch-witchery or Wonder Under fusible , mono-printing on fabric,  gold foil, and so much more. In this fast paced, technique-packed weekend, there will be time to learn many new skills and practice laying out several new designs for your upcoming exhibition entries or just personal satisfaction and artistic growth! 
You will try your hand at drawing and stitching on a muslin base and preparing it for inclusion in your art work after painting or other colouration techniques including embellishment with shiva sticks, artists inks or gel pens etc.  Gordana loves to share her best loved tools and will work with her students one-on-one to share favourite stitch rhythms, and encourage practice over the two days to help with free motion design play using many types of threads and stitches.

Lets be creative!
So many techniques to explore that are the specialty of this dynamic and inspirational artist. Please plan a visit to Gordana's website at  http://www.brelihart.com and take the time to walk though her galleries for inspiration.


Artist Profile:

Gordana Brelih studied at the Academy of Applied Art and Design in Belgrade before immigrating to Canada in 1991. Following a successful career in fashion design, Gordana discovered quilting in 2002.  After receiving a strong grounding in traditional quilting she began experimenting with different techniques. These experiments cultivated a devotion to all forms of quilting and a love of hand-embellishment, free motion embroidery and machine piecing.

Her work has been in many, many exhibitions and she continues to experiment and stretch her talent in many new directions. Experimenting with all new techniques keeps her busy in the studio when not traveling the world with her family and friends.
Gordana has put many hundreds of hours into her work, stitch-by-stitch, adding lustrous threads, beads and non-traditional materials like paper and metal. Her art definitively takes on a life of its own. Please enjoy!
Three Leaves, THREADWORKS, Gordana Brelih
 In 2010 she received the Grand Prize at Threadworks and Curator's Choice Award at renowned Canadian "The Grand National" Quilt Exhibition. Her work has traveled across Ontario and Canada.

Please mark your calendar NOW and register for this exciting workshop soon, seats will fill quickly...
Registration information is on the side bar at FIBREWORKS KINGSTON Blog and REGISTRATION IS OPEN... as final plans are underway for several additional dynamic workshop weekends this next year.

Mail Registrations to:

Bethany Garner, FW Coordinator
3275 Orser Road
Elginburg, ON K0H1M0

Information: fibreworkskingston@gmail.com

And just for inspirations sake, please enjoy a few more photos of Gordana's beautiful art work:

Triptych, World of Threads, Gordana Brelih




Shield of Colour, 2011, Gordana Brelih


SHIMMER, Gordana Brelih, at CELEBRATING THE SEVEN, 2014
Wellington County Museum