Hollis Chatelain is coming to Quilt Canada 2017

In planning Quilt Canada 2017, the Board of Directors knew that it had to be an extra special conference as it was also a celebration of Canada's 150th. 

With a show packed in Canadian concurrent quilt shows and Canadian teachers, they wanted to bring in a special treat for those wonderful Canadian quilters that continue to support CQA/ACC. They looked to our supportive American friends and asked one of the esteemed quilters in the United States to join us as we celebrated Quilt Canada. It is a thrill to have Hollis Chatelain come to teach and lecture at Quilt Canada 2017 this June in Toronto ON!

Hollis is known for her gentle manner in the classroom and of course her award winning quilts! 

We had a lovely chat with Hollis to learn a bit more about her and are excited to share that with you, so grab a cup of your favourite beverage and read on!

When do you quilt?

My most creative time is first thing in the morning...really early... between 3-7 AM. This is before anyone else is awake in the household, when the house is quiet and the energy is calm.

Tell us about one of your workshops.

The reason I love teaching "Upcycle Your Jeans into Art" is because this is a technique that can be carried forward into sooooooo many different designs, and it is so easy and fun to do! My students are always a bit intimidated when they come into class and within 30 minutes they realize that they are simply doing a zig zag stitch on raw edge fabrics and you CAN'T make a mistake. This is also a class that is all about value. 

We start out the class by going around and looking at everyone's fabrics and sharing so everyone has a big variety of values. We learn from each other and share with each other.

Through making a small simple quilt, we learn a technique that can be incorporated into any design. I've attached a photo of a blue jean bag that was made with the simple design we make in class.

Blue Jean Purse

Tell us something you are most proud of.

This is hard...I think I am proud that I have been able to speak out about issues that I feel strongly about through my art. Since I was a young teen I have been speaking out about issues on justice, the environment, human rights and equality. Without quite realizing I was doing it, my artwork started becoming my statement, speaking out and bringing attention to the same topics through my art.

Precious Water

2004 Best of Show at Houston IQF

What is your favourite food?

I love so many different foods that it would be hard to choose. Usually it is the people I am eating with that makes me love the food the most, so maybe it is the experience and the company that make the food wonderful.

Three Crows

Thank you Hollis for letting us take a glimpse into your life!

If you want to learn from Hollis, sign up for her classes, but be warned, they are filling very fast! She is also one of our evening entertainers along with Kathy K. Wylie, both of whom will wow you with their incredible talents! 

Hope for our World

2007 Best of Show at Houston IQF

Here are the classes that Hollis is teaching at Quilt Canada 2017:

104 - Upcycle your Jeans into Art (Janome) 
One Full Day Workshop (6 hrs)
Wednesday, June 14, 2017, 08:30 - 16:00
Cost: $170.00
Kit Fee: $7.00

Get ready to think outside the box. Learn a new raw edge technique and "upcycle" your old blue jeans or bring any heavy fabric you would like to use, ie upholstery, suede, corduroy, etc.! We will be combining hand dyed/batik fabric with blue jeans to create a small wall hanging that is avant-garde and beautiful. Come join the fun.

SUPPLY LIST FOR 104 - UPCYCLE YOUR JEANS INTO ART

2041 - Studio Secrets: Hollis Reveals her Creative Process
One Half Day Seminar (3 hrs)
Thursday, June 15, 2017, 08:30 - 11:30
Cost: $80.00

Come to a "private view" of how Hollis demonstrates her unique techniques in painting and quilting. As you watch on a large screen, she will dye-paint and quilt a small piece while discussing design, composition, colour and how to bring across emotion. You don't need to bring any supplies, just participate with your eyes. Hollis will be answering your questions through demonstration.

Supply List: Note book and pencil

2042 - An Artist's Journey Lecture
One Hour Lecture
Thursday, June 15, 2017, 14:00 - 15:00
Cost: $55.00

The journey of an artist is full of twists and turns. Techniques and styles change through inspiration, influence, and experience. I will be speaking about this process and showing images portraying the evolution of various artists careers.

No supply list but bring notebook & pen. 

304 - Understanding Value to Enhance Colour
One Full Day Workshop (6 hrs)
Friday, June 16, 2017, 08:30 - 16:00
Cost: $170.00
Kit Fee: $5.00

Understanding value is the beginning to understanding colour. We will be doing exercises that are designed to get you to look at value instead of colour so you can learn to differentiate between the two. We will be working with Prismacolor pencils to learn to break down colour into high, medium and low values.

SUPPLY LIST FOR 304 - UNDERSTANDING VALUE TO ENHANCE COLOUR

3043 - The Emotion of Colour in Art
Sponsored by: Bernina
One Hour Lecture
Friday, June 16, 2017, 18:30
Cost: $45.00

Since 2000, my work has progressed into monochromatic. Working with just one colour has been an interesting and exciting adventure. Art can carry strong emotion and specific colours reinforce these emotions. I will be speaking about the evolution of colour and how we can use different colours to emphasize what we want to say in our art.

Supply List: Note book and pencil

Door Giveaways sponsored by Superior Threads

Appetizers and beverages at 18:30 followed by lecture at 19:15

404 - Quilt Line as the Third Design Element
One Full Day Workshop (6 hrs)
Saturday, June 17, 2017, 08:30 - 16:00
Cost: $170.00

Do you need to find new ideas on how to use quilting to enhance the look of your quilts? In this class we will look at using quilting lines to create depth, texture, tension and shadows and to give new dimensions to your quilts. You will work with your own quilt tops which can be traditional patchwork, contemporary or modern design or art quilts. You will also participate in the application of this knowledge to all the participants' quilt tops. You will look at quilting lines as the third element of design after this workshop!

SUPPLY LIST FOR 404 - QUILT LINE AS THE THIRD DESIGN ELEMENT