For the last couple of months, I have been prepping for a presentation to my guild on art quilts. I collected a lot of information, gathered up my examples and tried to make it coher. I wrote handouts, made samples, and did an auditioning demo. It took a half hour to set up and take down and lasted about 1 1/2 hrs. I felt a huge load lift after it was done. I don't think people realize how much work and effort go into a meaty presentation. I had spent time organizing categories on index cards, gathering stuff, editing and then writing the handout. I wrote a bullet point script for myself and made use of our camera and projector as well as images from my laptop. I wish more of the guild would have come, but those who did seemed real interested. My point was that if you are a quilter, you can make art quilts because you have all the technical skills and just need to tap conscious inspiration and use a design process to work it all the way through the end. Then sew.
For the design demo, I moved a lot of fabric around my inspiration piece, the discharged leaf wreath and we talked about all the fabrics, sizes, and decisions. The only photo I have is all the fabrics pinned up on the wall for discussion.
WOW! Sounds like a great presentation. Wish I had been there.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you were well prepared - I'm sure it was a fantastic presentation! I really could have used your inspiration as making art quilts make my head hurt. Tonight I'm doing a quick demo on EQ7 for my guild. I'm winging it (ie letting them design something while I run the mouse) and hoping people will find it interesting if they run the show. You are right - demos always take so much prep but seem flawless and easily thrown together by the viewers. I guess that means we are just good at what we do!
ReplyDeleteYou are SO right about the prep work for teaching or presenting - HUGE amounts of effort are invested. Congrats to you!!
ReplyDeleteI bet it was fantastic! Having done a lot of programs and workshops, I know what you mean about all the time invested. It is exhausting but so glad when the weight is lifted!
ReplyDeleteAnd of course there are those who comment....wish I could have been there. Will you do it again? LOL....Congrats on a good program/demo.
Glad it went well. Wish I could have been there.
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ReplyDeleteI was in the front row for this demo and it was awesome. You could see all the work put into it, and it was very informative. Pat and I decided that making an art quilt will be the quilt show challenge... that's how impressed we were, and how approachable you made art quilts. Thank you so much.
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