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The Silk Experience

Just What Is This Silk Experience ??

It is a consortium of creative designers,teachers and authors interested in furthering the usage of silk. These fiber artists are eager to explore new processes and to produce and/or introduce products that are necessary to achieve the their discovered processes. Most of all, this group of talented artists wish to share their experiences with other fiber enthusiasts. Thus the title 'Silk Experience'.

How Did the Idea Begin ??

It began, rather unassumingly, at an informal gathering of some teachers and venders at the first a Spring Quilt Festival in Chicago. As our group were having 'evening spirits and relaxing', I broached the idea of presenting silk classes at a Houston festival to the seven silk teachers attending the Chicago show. We all agreed that it was a good idea, when suddenly out of nowhere, Keary Bresenhan (President of Quilts. Inc) appeared at our table.

She was chatting with various Festival participants about the new show at Chicago, so she stopped at our table. Of course, this was an ideal time to present the idea of a Silk Experience at fall Festival. Without hesitation, she loved the new concept and   llaughingly titled our group the Savvy Seven.

The idea began to solidify and folowing sessions with Judy Murrah (head of education for Quilts Inc.) and a meeting of the Savvy Seven at the next fall Festival, we presented our concept of teaching the silk as a core topic. Judy was willing for us to present a whole week of silk classes and assured us a special room would be set aside for us at Quilt FEstival 2004.

Following a good deal of coordination, we planned the 2004 Silk Experience classes with the Savvy Seven and a total of 11 classes. Having our own room for the week, afforded the teachers the luxury of not having to transport their teaching supplies, since many of the same supplies were utilized for most of the classes. We were able to decorate the room with panels of silk and class examples. And we all had a wonderful time sharing and networking together.

Our group of class participants for that first year, sensed our enthusisam and love of our subject and encouraged us to return another year. We were invited to continue the Silk Experience at Houston 2005 and the new schedule for the Quilt Festival Houston 2006 Silk Experience classes are listed below.

The Silk Experience concept has been a blast.

The Schedule: THe Silk Experience Classes

(Houston 2006)

The instructor's e mail and web addresses are listed, if you would like to ask questions about their particular class session. Registration of the classes is through Quilt, Inc and their class catalog will be available in mid-summer 2006.

Monday (all day class)                              October 30 ,2006               l         

                    Japanese Quilting Techniques of Old                          John Marshall                                                                                                              www.johnmarshall.to                                                                                                                                                        

Monday (evening class)                           October 30 ,2006              

                    Silks for Quilting                                                       Maggie Backman                                                                                                           www.silkthings.com                                                          

NEW PUBLICATION

SILK SCREENING--the Easy Way

The Silk Experience classes taught us we were in need of texts to clarify the process we were sharing. Our first choice for a booklet was a simple 'silk screening technique' that had been discovered by collaboration between Maggie and Gwen.

Traditional silk screening processes have been lengthy and rather expensive types of fabric print processes. With the help of 'Colorhue' silk/fabric dyes and 'Lumiere/Neopaque' fabric paints and their instant set capabilities, we are able minimize the silk screening process and reduced its expense. We hope you will be interested in exploring with us, the joy of silk screening.

Listed below are the contact links to the supporting sponsors for this booklet. Their listed products are utilized for the color illustrations in the silk screening booklet

Heartway International (Silk noil garments for embellishing)
www.heartwayinternational.com

Mekong River Textiles (Silk handwovens from southeast Asia and pattern)
www.mekongrivertextiles.com

June Colburn Designs (Bamboo Bag Pattern)
www.junecolburn.com

Gwen Gibson Designs (Silk screen images)
www.gwengibson.com

Sewabration (Flip & Switch Purse Pattern)
www.sewabration.com

Products

TIRE Silk Threads

TIRE Metallic Threads

Silk Ribbon

Colorhue Dyes & Lumiere/Neopaque Paints

Instructional Series of Interactive CD ROMs

Bonded Silk Batting

Books about Silk