Creative Spark Event Team
7.5 hours of content
7.5 hours of content
Creativity meets craftsmanship at Embroidery Extravaganza, a virtual event featuring ten expert-led immersive workshops to ignite your imagination and elevate your embroidery skills. Whether a novice or seasoned pro, this multi-session event offers something for everyone. Connect with fellow enthusiasts, gain new skills, and leave with fresh ideas for your next project.
Embroidery Extravaganza kicks off with a keynote presentation on stumpwork and the art of wireslips, which add stunning depth and texture to your projects. Following the keynote, choose from nine engaging 45-minute workshops, each focused on a unique technique or style.
Dedicate time to explore the magic of hand stitching, learn to make creative design and color choices, finish your projects like an expert, and make the most of your notions and tools. Several Sashiko presentations will teach you how to incorporate these stitches into your quilts and upcycled projects. You’ll even master adding a unique twist to photographs with embroidered embellishments. These workshops will provide the skills and inspiration to create truly one-of-a-kind pieces.
Embroidery Extravaganza begins with an inspiring keynote presentation by Megan Zaniewski, followed by three engaging breakout workshop sessions. For each session, you can choose from three live workshop options. Don't worry about missing out—the workshops you don't attend will be available to watch later.
Recording Access: If you can't join the virtual event live, no problem! Every presentation will be recorded and accessible through your Creative Spark account. You can revisit these recordings at any time, with no expiration date.
Let’s talk value…
Megan Zaniewski is an accomplished self-taught hand embroidery artist who has dedicated her craft to capturing the essence of nature since 2013. Her expertise lies in stumpwork and thread painting, enabling her to intricately weave lifelike, three-dimensional designs that seem to leap from the hoop. Renowned for her ability to imbue her subjects with palpable realism, Megan’s work has garnered recognition in Colossal and Modern Met, displayed in group exhibitions, and is part of private collections around the world.
3D Embroidery: Techniques and Tips for Stunning Stumpwork
Embroidery Extravaganza will kick off with a keynote presentation with hand embroidery artist Megan Zaniewski, whose stunning stumpwork and thread painting have captivated audiences worldwide. Discover one of Megan's favorite techniques, wireslips, elevating your projects with depth and realism. You’ll learn about the essential tools for stumpwork and how they are used to create intricate designs. Megan will guide you with step-by-step instructions and demonstrate each stage of a stumpwork project using physical examples. From wire outlining to meticulous embroidery, Megan ensures your creations are not just beautiful but enduring. Throughout the keynote, Megan will share expert tips and tricks to help you avoid common mistakes, ensuring your work is both beautiful and durable.
Amy Barickman, a seasoned creative arts entrepreneur with over 30 years of expertise in the craft industry, leads a prolific team that has produced 1200 pattern titles and 80 books, including the beloved Vintage Notions. Her curated collection of vintage fabrics, quilts, and sewing essentials fuels her passion for empowering others to find joy in handmade creations, enriching everyday life with the timeless artistry of needle and thread.
Sew Renewed: The Art of Embroidered Upcycling
Amy invites you to explore her exclusive techniques for decorative patchwork! Dive into her hand-quilted and embroidered patches using the celebrated Decorative Patch Applique Technique. With fabrics and Favorite Fusible Stabilizer from Treasured Threadz™, learn versatile methods applicable to any fabric. Master “fuse and stitch,” blending functionality and creativity to revive garments, thrifted finds, or spark new designs. Gain insight into innovative ways to incorporate decorative patch appliqués into your upcoming upcycling projects. Whether it's fashion or home decor, embroidering embellishments has never been more enjoyable or straightforward!
Sharon Boggon, with a background in fine arts, has turned her passion for stitching into an artistic superpower, known for her innovative approach to contemporary embroidery and crazy quilting. She reaches a global audience through international and online teaching, inspiring enthusiasts and aspiring textile artists. Based in Canberra, Australia, Sharon is dedicated to spreading the joy of stitching through empowering workshops and classes, making her a leading voice in the contemporary embroidery community.
Adapt Your Stitches and Free Your Style
Hand embroidery is more than a craft; it's an artistic expression. Sharon Boggon's workshop encourages breaking from the familiar to embrace experimentation. Customizing stitches develops a unique style, fostering authenticity in each project. Learn to mix and match basic stitches, adjusting threads, lengths, angles, and spacings for special effects. Discover mirroring, layering, threading, and whipping techniques for depth and texture, adding personal touches to designs. By experimenting with these techniques, you'll discover a wealth of possibilities and gain the confidence to create unique embroidery projects.
Elizabeth DeCroos is a dedicated maker with a passion for all things stitching, including quilting, pojagi, and embroidery. She continuously explores creative ways to blend techniques, crafting unique and innovative pieces. Dedicated to making stitching accessible for beginners, Elizabeth aims to share the joy of handmade creations. Working from her home studio in Cambridge, Ontario, she draws inspiration from her surroundings to create her distinctive work.
Design An Embroidery Sampler: From Shape to Finish
Join Elizabeth DeCroos to create a unique sampler with your favorite embroidery stitches! Learn how to choose shapes, from simple outlines to more intricate designs, and get tips on selecting and auditioning thread colors. Elizabeth will guide you through finishing options to ensure your piece looks polished and display-ready. Watch a complete embroidery project from start to finish and leave with a new perspective on embroidery and a beautiful creation to showcase your creativity.
Pattie Klimek, a dedicated traditional hand piecer, hand quilter, and hand embroiderer, is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, a hub for contemporary quilters. Despite modern trends, Pattie crafts all her quilts by hand. She lectures and teaches at quilting guilds and stores, inspiring makers to rediscover the joy and beauty of traditional handiwork. Passionate about preserving generational skills, Pattie shares the timeless art of hand quilting and embroidery, connecting us to our heritage through her classes and teachings.
Visible Mending the Boro Way
Don’t discard your worn clothes and totes; transform them into something unique with sashiko and embroidery stitches. Join Pattie Klimek to learn creative mending techniques, proving that repairs can be both functional and creatively fulfilling. Discover inside and outside appliqué, darning, and various stitching styles such as the running stitch, buttonhole stitch, and simple Sashiko patterns. Regardless of your skill level, Pattie’s class is for everyone. With her expert guidance, you can reimagine your wardrobe and make your favorite items uniquely yours.
Robert Mahar, a California-based artist and educator, is renowned for his hands-on projects inspired by historical craft traditions. As associate producer of NBC’s crafting competition show “Making It,” he brings vast experience and creativity. Robert has explored many creative fields with a background in studio arts and art history, including 13 years as an appraiser of modern and contemporary art. His expertise and passion for craftsmanship shine through every project. Explore his video tutorials and unique embroidery samplers at robert-mahar.com.
Stitching Stories: Enhancing Photos with Embroidery
Get ready to transform photographs with embroidered embellishments. Robert will cover narrative embroidery to enhance and reimagine candid shots or group portraits. You’ll learn how to bring new life to photos, such as highlighting elements of costuming and setting or introducing props and text. Discover printing photos onto fabric for stitching and find vintage photography sources. This workshop uniquely blends traditional embroidery with photographic imagery, enabling you to craft non-traditional, free-form samplers, using your favorite stitches to add dimension, texture, and narrative to your photographs.
Claudia Martinez is the owner of Snuggly Monkey, a craft supply store specializing in hand embroidery, Sashiko and unique threads from around the world. For over thirteen years, Claudia has worked with suppliers, designers and small businesses to curate a collection of high-quality stitching supplies that reflect her passion for hand stitching. She enjoys connecting with the global stitching community and sharing her love of embroidery.
The Ultimate Toolbox for Embroidery
Claudia shares her years of knowledge as a purveyor of embroidery supplies in this informative session. Filled with practical tips, this class will help you build the perfect embroidery toolbox. She will answer all your questions about the pros and cons of different threads and fabrics and when to use which one for the finish you are striving for. She will also delve into essential tools like needles, hoops, and specialty items, so you’ll know exactly what you need and how to use them. If you have a question about supplies, Claudia is here to provide the answers.
Seattle-based DIY duo Shannon Leigh Roudhán and Jason Bowlsby are renowned for their innovative crochet, knitting, quilting, embroidery, and sewing designs, featured on international publication covers. With 12 published books, including Complete Crochet Course – the Ultimate Reference Guide and Designer Crochet, they lead the DIY crafting community. Their latest embroidery books—Boro & Sashiko: Harmonious Imperfection and Contemporary Kogin-zashi: Modern Sashiko Beyond Filling in the Gaps— embrace functional and breathtakingly beautiful Japanese embroidery techniques.
Traditional Sashiko in Modern Quilting
Sashiko stitch patterns are known for their beauty, and their allure opens up a wide range of creative possibilities that go well beyond the stitch patterns alone. Discover the versatility of sashiko stitch patterns with Shannon and Jason as you learn to incorporate these timeless patterns into your quilting projects. They will demonstrate how to adapt the traditional sashiko method of unshin (needle handling) for contemporary quilting, providing valuable techniques that can transform your approach to stitching. Customize classic sashiko patterns to suit your designs, unlocking new creative possibilities. By the end of the workshop, sashiko will become a central tool in your modern quilting toolkit.
Tammy Silvers has been teaching quilting since 2000, sharing decades of experience. Renowned for her vibrant batik designs and diverse quilt patterns, her true passion lies in teaching and sharing her love for quilting with others. Tammy's journey has taken her worldwide to quilting guilds, where she meets talented quilters and immerses herself in the community’s creativity. Whether leading a workshop or speaking at an event, her infectious enthusiasm and dedication help others discover the artistry and joy of quilting.
Hand Stitching Made Easy: The Joy of Stitched Samplers
Hand stitching is making a big comeback in quilting. Join Tammy Silvers as she brings this traditional craft to life with a Stitch Sampler. You'll learn how to create a charming wall hanging featuring simple appliquéd hearts, perfect for practicing a variety of hand stitches. Tammy will guide you through fused appliqué and demonstrate primitive stitches that add decorative flair and functionality. Whether you’re new or experienced in the craft, this fun, creatively rewarding workshop is the perfect way to explore hand stitching.
Michelle Umlauf, a National Educator for Clover and Sulky of America, brings extensive expertise in decorative threads, stabilizers, and sewing notions. She combines her deep knowledge to create effective solutions. Whether you're a gadget enthusiast or a sewing aficionado, Michelle’s engaging teaching style will guide you through the latest tools and tricks, making crafting more fun and efficient. She’s the go-to expert for anyone looking to elevate their sewing and crafting skills and find the best gadgets.
Tools and Techniques for Better Embroidery
Join Michelle Umlauf for an enriching session that will transform your sewing and embroidery projects. Michelle will guide you through selecting the best hand-sewing needles and thimbles for your needs and provide insights on tools for precise design placement, transfer, and stitch spacing, She’ll offer fresh perspectives on tools you may already own, plus a clever trick to protect your embroideries from wear and tear, particularly useful for wearable art and home decor projects. This class is a must-attend for anyone looking to build a comprehensive hand embroidery toolkit.
There was a change in the instructor lineup. Sarah Maxwell will not be able to participate so Claudia Martinez has kindly stepped in to share her knowledge.
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