February
9-13, 2009 we will welcome Norah McMeeking to Santa Barbara Quilting
Retreats! This is the first time we have invited a local
Santa Barbara artist to teach one of our retreat classes. Norah
is the author of Bella Bella Quilts, based on the designs from
Italian Mosaics displayed in the floors and ceiling through out
the churches of Italy.
Cosmati
work is a type of mosaic technique that was practiced by Roman
decorators and architects in the 12th and 13th centuries, in which
tiny triangles and squares of colored stone (red porphyry, green
serpentine, and white and other colored marbles) and glass paste
were arranged in patterns and combined with large, stone disks
and strips to produce geometric designs. Norah creates her art
with fabrics in the same fashion as the Romans.
She
has chosen to present to us her Cosmati sampler quilts and you
will have the chance to choose from several designs to create
your masterpiece.
Norah
is a patient and wonderful teacher and the way she presents her
work will surprise you as the process is really quite easy. Total
perfection is not required. This workshop will teach the basics
of piecing and machine appliqué while it allows individual
students to design a quilt uniquely their own. Blocks used in
the quilt can be mixed and matched to fit 9”x18” spaces
or an 18” square. It is suited for beginners as well as
experts however knowledge of sewing basics is important. Norah
will also help with enlarging or decreasing sizes of blocks.
We
will play, win some fun prizes, have some wonderful meals, enjoy
meeting some new friends and quilt to our hearts content.
