The Membership
with a built in Community
IF EU BASED PLEASE SEE BELOW
We've laid the foundation (you have either taken my online beginner's class or an in-person workshop) and now it's time to get colour blending and creating beautiful works of art.
This is a long term journey to go on. You will get extra support and help from others via my 'membership exclusive' online community. It is NOT suited to the absolute beginner.
Hopefully you're here because you like the mini framed tapestry art I create. I want to share my journey with you and show you the exciting world of colour blending with multiple fine threads.
Why choose my course?
I don't use complicated terminology or bombard you with too much technical information, which is common in books and online (and my beginner's course has taught you all the basics).
about Liz
I was a professional artist before becoming a tapestry artist. I have always loved sewing and design. When I tried tapestry it was a real 'wow' moment. I could now combine my skills. I really enjoy creating more realistic imagery with my yarns - using my drawing skills and colour blending with multiple strands of fine yarn.
I am based in Bbox Studios in the creative heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
My tapestry collection is currently being exhibited at the Biscuit Factory art gallery in Newcastle.
I also run 'in person' workshops from my studio.
What you will learn
We will jump straight into seascapes in our first 'starter' module. Note: this module is purposefully set up with a limited number of colours. This is to allow non-UK people to purchase yarn in a cost effective way. You can see if you like the colour blending journey before then investing in more colours.
We will start gently with graduated colour blending, before adding more advanced designs and objects of interest - like boats.
Course content takes a little while to build up but the Starter module is complete, along with some warp/weft manipulation exercises and my first landscape (see the Welcome section below to view my works).
We will also discover the world of four selvedge weaving if you have a Mirrix loom.
I will be at your side as we take it step by step. I will create all the designs for you and you can download them as PDFs. I will show you how you can print these templates to scale.
Materials - as per the beginner's course but everything is itemised again for you. So it will be a loom, 6" and small tapestry needle, tapestry beater (kitchen fork), scissors, masking tape.
Looms - either a Mirrix Saffron, Chloe (either size) or a frame loom (like I've helped you make in my beginner's course). I want you to work at 8 ends per inch for the most success as I use 4 strands of fine yarn on my needle.
Weft/Warp - see full details below to get you started.
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BELOW
- please see below if based in the EU!
Curriculum
- Yarn colours needed to start your seascape journey
- How to use the sections below
- 1. Bookmark - let's learn to colour blend (beginner) (89:10)
- 2. Blended seascape (beginner) (124:29)
- 3. Seascape with curved ocean, hills and sun/clouds (beginner/intermediate) (233:10)
- 4. Seascape with boat (beginner/intermediate) (253:06)
- 5. A night scene with moon (an exercise inserting lines and simple meet & separate) - beginner (61:29)
Warp and Weft
I have listed the colours needed to start my membership here. That way you can order your colours before starting your payments.
The initial topic is seascapes and these colours are required for the first section, which contains 5 projects. I am going to limit the colours initially so that you can trial this membership before investing in more colours.
Starter seascape gradient packs:
Yarns are from UK based Weavers Bazaar. They are the £3.50 18/2 fine yarn 25g tubes. You can save some money by buying gradient packs in certain colour ranges.
If you are US based then you can either have Weavers Bazaar colours shipped to you or you can buy from Gist - their Array yarns come in the gradient colours also. However, I must stress that to get the most out of these classes Weavers Bazaar yarns have the most colour choices. The majority of US students are purchasing the WB yarns. They work out cheaper, even with the p&p costs.
(Gist Array suggested colours are in brackets and it will be all the gradient colours required in the smallest tube sizes. These colours will not match my projects exactly and you will have to adapt your work slightly.)
Sunburst gradient pack (Gist - Marigold)
Turquoise gradient pack (Gist - Ocean)
Aqua 1, 4, 7 (Gist - Ocean)
Seasky gradient pack (Gist. - Sapphire)
White (White)
Stone (Gist - Black no 6 lightest)
(see more info in Q&A)
Warp: UK : I recommend the Liina Undyed Cotton Warp 18's from Weavers Bazaar. A/v in 250 or 500 g cones. Or George Weil 12/9 medium 8 epi warp. For the US: I have a pack for everything you need from Mirrix (see my website) as an option or please source a warp that wraps 8 times around one centimetre.
Please keep an eye on my socials to find out when I launch landscapes/four selvedge/absract topics as you may be more interested in these.
for Artful Threads
for Artful Threads
for my Beginner's Course
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Can I join from the EU?
At this moment in time you cannot join my classes if you are based in the EU. This is due to differing VAT legislation. I am working on this issue and if you are EU based and wanting to join my membership please do let me know.
Is this course 'beginner' friendly?
This membership is unfortunately not beginner friendly. Ideally you would have taken my one-off Foundation Course (or been to my in person workshop) to learn the basics and understand how I work.
What do I get for my membership fee?
If you join me right at the start of this journey, initially it will take a bit of time to build up plenty of content. I am continuously filming at this phase and you can expect to get plenty of project work to keep you busy.
In the longer run, I plan to give you new pieces of art to create every single month - the exact amount will take a bit of time to work out - but I'd like to give you two new pieces each month. On top of that I will provide extra cartoons for you to work from (in your own time) and you will have access to my new Community page. I will be heavily involved in this.
Will class enrolments be limited?
This really depends on how popular these classes become. I think it will take time to build up a proper following and we can enjoy having the 'comments' turned on at the end of each new piece of work. It's still in the trial phase, and so brand new, that I can't answer this properly yet.
Can I pause my membership?
Of course you can. If you feel you have learned enough then you can cancel your membership. Whilst there is no restriction on class numbers you can rejoin at any time - maybe when there is a new topic or you have more time to focus on creating.
Note: I will add to these questions as they are presented to me.
Can I get yarn discount from Weavers Bazaar?
I have been in touch with Weavers Bazaar. If you plan a long term tapestry journey then I suggest you join the British Tapestry Group or American Tapestry Alliance. It will entitle you to a 10% discount on all yarn orders. They will not give me a discount purely for this membership unfortunately.
Note: new yearly membership to the BTGroup commences 1 April 2025.
How do I navigate the Weavers Bazaar website?
A couple of you have struggled with the website. You need to go into 'Online store', Wool Yarn, Coloured Wool, Full Coloured Stock Range, Click on the required colour - then Select Fine 18/2, select Tube, then size (25g) and finally quantity.
If buying gradient packs you simply need to select the fine yarn option.