You’re invited to stop by my new studio this coming Saturday, April 27, from 12pm-3pm.  It will be a work day at the studio, so you may catch me dyeing fabric, sewing applique shapes onto T-shirts, prepping Xmittens gloves, setting up a retail display…who knows?

Come interrupt me anytime between 12pm-3pm at 5258 Butler Street in Lawrenceville, 2nd floor. We’ll have a great time and eat shortbread cookies!

Hope to see you!

Amber

Spring grass!

I love spring. The other day Adam and I took a walk in our woods and saw 2 turkeys, 2 woodpeckers, 2 snakes, 1 hawk watching over the nest and numerous bugs, cardinals, robins and other small birds. It was amazing,

Spring is also the time of year when I want to start new things. I mean, the Earth is starting all sorts of new things…I should, too.

So, this spring I have scheduled a whole bunch of classes either to take, or to teach. Here are some updates on my offerings and what I am learning about, too!

yellow bubble scarflette Xmittens

What I am teaching:

April 20: Sugar & Shibori class- it’s running and has 3 spots open. You can sign up here.

April 24: Open Studio: Fabric Dyeing (includes free Intro to fabric dyeing lesson!)- Sign up here.

May 5: Natural Bundle Dyeing Experimentation Workshop with Rose Clancy and myself. This class is being held at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Spots are still open- sign up here.

May 8: Open Studio: Fabric Dyeing (also includes a free Intro to dyeing lesson!)- Sign up here.

May 22: Sugar & Shibori- needs some peeps. Sign up here.

June 1 + 2: Shibori Weekend! Join me for a lovely weekend deeply exploring various fabric dyeing methods. Limited to 6 participants. Sign up here.

June 8: Sugar & Shibori- it is running and has 2 spots left open. You can sign up here.

June 9: Advanced Etsy- take your Etsy shop to the next level! Registrations just opened today, but it is limited to 4 spots. Sign up here.

P.S if you take more than one class at my studio in a season (spring, summer, fall, winter), then you are eligible for discounts! I encourage you to explore and experiment in textiles with me.

Multimedia surface design by amber coppings

What am I taking?

For almost a year now I have been taking a class called “The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design”. It rocks! It is also really intense and takes more time than I can give it right now. However, they make it really easy to save and/or print lessons, etc… It is invaluable to anyone who may want to digitally design products of any sort. Check out Module 3…the module I start later this month.

Then, I am taking a short version of a similar class, but with a different approach. I have just discovered Skillshare, an online education platform, and LOVE it to pieces! You can sign up for this class here and Save $10 (and if you do, then I save $10, too!- Thanks!)

AND I am taking another class on Skillshare on how to create wicked cool T-shirt graphics from designers from Johnny Cupcakes, INC Do you see a trend here? I guess I am getting into digital design hardcore!

What classes are you teaching, or taking this spring? I would love to know! Leave a message in the comments.

**Usually Open studios include no teacher instruction, and have prerequisite requirements.  However, the April 17 Open Studio includes a FREE lesson on how to create your own dyebath. Perfect for fabric dyeing novices. 

Do you have some experience with fabric dyeing, but don’t have the facilities at home to cleanly do it?

Have you always been curious about fabric dyeing, but don’t know where to being?

Or, do you have something that you cheaply want to re-color?

Then, Open Studios are going to be a good choice for you to get your hands wet (though we will try not to dye your hands!)

Open Studios are drop-in style…stop by anytime in a 4 hour window and make a dyebath. You can even leave and come back. Arrangements can be made for you to come back later in the week to fetch your stuff for you to wash, or you can bring a container to take your fabric home later on the same day.

Good to know: The dyes in my studio are Procion MX fiber reactive dyes that dye cotton, rayon, wood, raffia, most silks and some wool blends only. Who can sign up? Currently, classes are adult classes.

Some details, FAQs and rules for potential attendees to follow…

Current Open Studio Dates:

April 17, 2013 5pm-9pm

**Special** April 17 Open Studio includes a FREE lesson on how to create your own dyebath. Perfect for fabric dyeing novices.

Example of a photo with a great composition for online sales items.

Etsy Success Workshop for Artists   offered by the Craftsmen’s Guild of Pittsburgh, taught by me, Amber Coppings.

April 7, 2013; 12:30pm- 4pm; $20 for Guild members, $25 for non-members-

Are you an artist or craftsmen who has said, “I know I need an online shop, but don’t know where to start?” It’s easier than you think to crack the online sales market using Etsy.com.  I’ll show you how to get your Etsy shop up and running in no time. OR if you currently have an Etsy shop and feel that your sales should be greater, come to this hands-on workshop.

“Your encouragement empowered me to go out into the community and see which venues were the right “fit” for the gloves I made.”- Rhonda Pegg, former student.

Want to attend? Click here to go to the Craftsmen’s Guild website and see all the details. For additional information and to register contact Sandy at sasabrbi@aol.com or 412.372.8044

From the Knit the Bridge website:

What is Knit the Bridge, Pittsburgh?

Knit the Bridge is a vision for a grassroots, community-led arts project that would bring the many diverse communities of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania together to create a large-scale, aesthetically stunning, fiberarts installation on a bridge in downtown Pittsburgh.

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In conjunction with Fiberart International 2013, the intention of Knit the Bridge is to celebrate the history of Pittsburgh as a city of bridges and steel as well as celebrate the region’s thriving, contemporary arts scene. As accessible craft forms, these community-engaged fiberart traditions will knit together strong, healthy, creative communities.

What is Yarn Bombing?

Coming out of the street art and contemporary craft movements, yarn bombing is a fun, bright,
beautiful way to celebrate public space. Unlike graffiti, yarn bombing can be done without any
damage to historic structures and is temporary and easily removable.

___

At my Open House this Saturday I will have some work-in-progress panels ready for attendees to work on.  (for those who know how to knit and crochet). If you want to really get your Knit On there is an official Knit-Ins throughout the city and Allegheny County. Check their site for the schedule.

March 23, 2013; 11am-5pm; FREE

A combination of Xmittens studio open house, clearance sale and a chance to preview textile art classes and new one-of-a-kind wearables! We’ll have coffee, tea and a selection of sweets on hand. Perfect place to stop before or after brunch at any of the numerous brunch options on Butler St.

All attendees receive a chance to win a pair of Original Xmittens in their size, or the Grand Prize of a free 1-day workshop tuition prize! For those in the shopping mood, everyone who attends will get a $5 off coupon good on any purchase made that day.

More details: I will be unveiling some new hand-dyed applique shirts, skirts and scarves that are making me so happy! Each item is currently one-of-a-kind, so once they are gone…that’s it! Also, All shawls and other discontinued styles will be 50% off! Get them while I still have a few. There will also be a $5 bin full of hand-dyed silk scarves and Xmittens seconds- never have these items been priced so low!

Panels from the Knit the Bridge project will also be on hand with some of them ready to be added onto (for those who know how to knit and crochet). Knit the Bridge is an awesome project that is working towards yarnbombing one of Pittsburgh’s infamous bridges (WOW!).

If you are a fellow artist I welcome you to stop by and see if our new studio appeals to you for your own workshops and classes. We would be happy to rent it out on occasion.

Hope to see you!

I have always always always loved the interplay of color. Layers of color mixed and washed over each other…mmhmm! The other day I looked down at a pile of fabrics that I had haphazardly thrown about and saw these great mixes of color and pattern, too. Some great ideas have come from them and found their way in my sketchbook. Can’t wait to manifest the ideas and share them!

My new studio is glorious. The natural light is amazing. It has been really inspiring to have a place to give my creativity free reign.

And what my creativity decided to do with itself in this new space is to go back to some of my sewing roots…applique.

As I was packing to move my studio, I found a piece of artwork I made in college. It is purplish and dyed using batik methods ( though not very well). It looks a bit like a galaxy, so I enhanced that thought using stitches and hand-beading and applique.  It was an opportune time for this artwork to come out of it’s box since a lot of those skills seem to be a part of where my work is going.

The photos in this post are of some sketches that are well on their way to becoming parts of new finished items. The above piece will be attached to a cotton a-line skirt like an apron. I may make it detachable. The applique items that have all of the circles, ovals and oblong shapes cut out of it are my “Webs”. Geometric shapes are definitely on my mind. I really like the irregularities of the shapes when cut by hand.

I will keep posting as my journey continues! My goal is to have at least 10 items done in time for my upcoming March 23 Open house at my new studio. More about that this week!

Back of a finished custom vest

]]> http://xmittens.net/2013/03/works-in-progress-march-2013/feed/ 0 http://xmittens.net/2013/02/new-studio/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-studio http://xmittens.net/2013/02/new-studio/#comments Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:02:01 +0000 ambercoppings http://xmittens.net/?p=2562 more »]]> When we moved into our home in Stanton Heights 4+ years ago we knew that we would be a bit crowded…it is a VERY small house. However, we had a plan to expand and I knew I would want to eventually move my sewing studio out of our home, so…

I am so happy to announce that my studio has moved to a prominent location at 5258 Butler Street in the Lawrenceville section of Pittsburgh (zip: 15201)!

I am sharing the space with Sandy Vansuch who creates mixed media and woodworking pieces. She also directs and stars in cabarets, so I think I am in for a real treat with some singing and dancing breaks!  While my space is complete, Sandy’s is still changing to accommodate her needs, so we decided to hold off on an Open House until March 23 (Please save the date!). In the meantime, my studio is open by appointment for custom orders and I am also opening up my schedule for one-on-one art business workshops that will meet at the studio.

Once the space is set up to meet our needs it will include a retail and classroom area. I plan on offering several types of classes such as multi-level “Sugar & Shibori” class where students will learn 1-2 new shibori fabric dyeing techniques each session, dye fabrics and eat sugary snacks!  These workshops will be offered monthly and will give beginners a chance to get their hands wet in a fun and casual class. Also, an intensive Beginner Shibori class, an Intermediate Shibori class, Bundle Dyeing/Natural Dyeing Workshops AND Open Studios where advanced beginners and up can come and use the dyeing studio and work on their own.  I am extremely excited about the Open Studios since there is no facility in the Pittsburgh area that I have seen that offers this for fabric dyeing.

Over time, sewing classes will also be offered, specifically on how to use home and industrial sergers, how to sew your own Xmittens and Xmittens scarves and more.  The classroom area will also be able to be rented out for other teaching artists to use to offer their own workshops, plus some poetry readings and improv jazz performances are in the works, too.  Our studio space is going to be so awesome!

I’ll be updating my website with specifics about the Open House, but in the meantime, you can check out classes I am offering at other facilities this spring here and, if you have had your eye on some custom Xmittens items, now is the time to order from my online Etsy shop! Below are some photos of the new studio and what I am already making in it. Enjoy!

PLAY Parlour’s creator Adam Shreckhise. Photo by John Altmeyer.

Love to PLAY? Sign up for the
Wreckless Arcade Tournament!

You can win all the game-playing glory!  On Saturday, February 16, 2013, PLAY Parlour will be hosting a FREE tournament of arcade games.  The event will be at 5258 Butler Street, Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville), 15201, from from 3 pm to 10 pm.  PLAY Parlour is my husband’s creative endeavor and I have been providing much support as we move towards this event! (My tournament name is “Waxing Gibbous”).

DJ Zombo of WRCT fame will be the emcee and DJ, and refreshments will be provided.  For more details and to register, visit the Tournament page on our website at http://PLAYparlour.com/tournament/ and visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/PLAYparlour.

PLAY Parlour is a space which houses hand-built games created by Pittsburgh artist Adam Shreckhise.  PLAY Parlour offers classy twists on classic games (mini-golf, a skeeball lane, a chess board, wackamole, etc.) in which the typical flashy and gaudy visual elements are done away with in favour of elaborate, hand-built contraptions, electro-mechanical sculpture and an obsessive attention to detail.

Detail of the Mini-golf game’s waterfall and golf ball track.

A few more details: Games not in tournament play are open for audience members, so tell your friends to come watch you win all the PLAY glory and get some PLAY time in for themselves! Sign up for the tournament here. 

PLAYers do not have to be in attendance the entire time…a schedule for the tourney will be shared before the event.  Doors open at 2 pm.  Anyone 18+ is welcome to enter. A free practice night for tournament PLAYers will be held on February 7.