I realise that I keep hinting at, but haven't
properly explained, what I am doing with my teaching practice. Well, this is
mega exciting. After years of waiting for people to contact me to come
and deliver talks and workshops to their groups (which I am still offering by
the way), I decided it was time to be in control and take some action.
When I had my current studio built four years ago I always intended to teach
from it. However, the intervening four years have been incredibly busy,
first with my work at the Festival of Quilts, then with the PomPom Festival,
then teaching C&G for the Loch Lomond Studio. Unfortunately the Loch Lomond
people are no longer able to continue with their teaching studio and Ruth gave
me a bit of a kick and said you need to set up on your own and keep teaching
C&G.
There
is never going to be the perfect time to do something like this, and the last
three months certainly were not perfect, but Ruth and Isabel from the Loch
Lomond Studio had kindly offered me the stand they had at last weekend's
Stitching Show at the SECC. This gave me a goal to aim for, which was useful as
I love working under pressure!
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| Sketchbook exploration |
So at
the Show I launched Gillian Cooper Studio. From April, I will be offering
beginners patchwork and quilting classes on a Thursday morning and Fridays will
be fun days concentrating on one technique each Friday, generally messy!
C&G Patchwork and Quilting starts in June, over seven weekends and one
summer school each year for two years. I am able to offer both the
certificate and the diploma levels. As
the classes will be in my studio, the groups will be small - limited to seven
people. I've been really pleased with the uptake already, particularly in
the C&G classes. I'm so looking forward to teaching adults from home
as having learned as an adult myself, I understand where the students are
coming from. It's also a great way for me to keep up-to-date with my own
skills and what is current in the textile world as I need to stay informed for
the students (what a great excuse!).
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| Machine stitching |
If
you're interested, there's more on my website here and I'm sure I will be sharing
photos from the classes soon!
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| Hand stitching English paper piecing |
2 comments:
Best wishes for success with your classes, Gillian!
Thanks Margaret!
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