Photos & Postcards - Embroidered In-Store Class May 3

Photos & Postcards – Embroidered! In-Store Class 
Saturday, May 3, 10am-1:30pm 
Instructor: Liza MacKinnon
Limit: 7 students. All participants must be 15 years or older.

Class Details

Transform a black and white photo or postcard into a charming memento with some simple embroidery! Multimedia artist Liza MacKinnon has been creating magic with paper for over fifteen years, and she enjoys doing these mini embroideries as a break from the elaborate paper dresses she constructs. She says the embroidered photos and cards are just plain fun to make and give away. Plus, they’re a very portable project. Since this is an introductory class, no prior experience with needle and thread is necessary.

Bring in your own photos or postcards to work with, or choose two from Liza’s extensive collection. They’re the blank canvases for your stitching. To provide inspiration, Liza shows plenty of examples and makes suggestions. It’s remarkable how even just a few stitches adds a touch of magic to a photo or card. Before deciding on your design, gain practical experience stitching on paper by working some basic stitches on a cardstock template. Liza talks about composition, color, texture, the art of pre-punching holes for the embroidery – and how to skip the mistakes she originally made along the way! She consults with everyone individually as they plan out their design. Sometimes it’s the simple ones that are the most effective. Then it’s stitch, stitch, stitch while Liza circulates around the class, answering questions. (She also suggests how to creatively work with any mistakes that might occur.)

Depending on the design, you'll finish your photo or card in class. Liza provides a 5x7” matte frame, a backing, and decorative metal book corners for displaying  it. At any rate, you’ll leave class with the materials to finish at home if need be and to make even more. We suspect you’ll also leave having caught Liza’s enthusiasm for this satisfying and relaxing art form!

An email will be sent to participants the Monday before the class. Classes with homework may receive pre-class info earlier.  No email? Double check the email address you entered when you registered and your SPAM folder. Due to SPAM filters and inbox settings, we cannot guarantee you will see, read, or open these emails. Two Hands Paperie assumes no responsibility for non-attendance of a class. Contact twohandsclasses@gmail.com with any class questions and see our Class Policies page for more information. 

Class Materials

Please bring the following materials:

• Optional: Your own black and white photos or postcards. Liza encourages reproductions of family photographs, no larger than 4”x6” and matte finish
• Optional: favorite scissors for cutting thread

Class Materials Include:

• Practice template, needle, embroidery floss
  
• Small tools for cutting, punching, stitching, drawing, tracing, and mounting
  
• 2 Postcards, a matboard frame, backer board, tape, etc 
  

Class Refund /Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting will be refunded or, at the participant's option, used to pay for another class. Two Hands Paperie will retain a $10 processing fee for EACH class cancelled by a participant. After 14 days, there is no refund or credit. In addition, the fee for a class cancelled within this 14-day timeframe by a participant cannot be transferred to pay for another class. These policies are to ensure that teachers are compensated for their investment in materials and in time spent preparing for the class. We reserve the right to cancel a class if fewer than 3 students enroll 48 hours prior to the scheduled class time. If for any reason Two Hands Paperie cancels a class, students will be called at the phone number on file and refunded the FULL class fee.

Instructor Bio

Kansas artist Liza MacKinnon is an arts educator and a self-taught, mixed-media artist. Her specialty is designing three dimensional costumes out of paper to create in-depth studies of women throughout history. She has over 10 years experience in both teaching and free lance graphic design, and has exhibited her work nationally. It can also be found in private and permanent collections around the US.

Liza loves the challenge of telling a story and sharing her values through these historic, half scale garments. Each dress presents a beautiful silhouette when viewed from a distance. Up close, the dress reveals a complex story that Liza creates by carefully curating materials from her vast collection of recycled books, maps, letters, photos, and other ephemera. She enjoys surprising the viewer! Examples: a trompe l’oeil of paper masquerading as fabric, Hamlet’s Ophelia dressed in pages from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and  a Marie Antoinette piece made from 1040 tax forms and US currency. 

Each of Liza’s classes focuses on self expression, creativity, and creating take-home pieces. She views her classes as a place where students develop skills, make friends, have lively discussions, and learn how to skip the mistakes she made along the way. Her motto?  “Let’s make beautiful and meaningful artwork together!”

Learn more about Liza and her art at https://www.mackomics.com and on Instagram @liza.mackinnon