Small Town Sewing Retreat Provides Big Opportunity for Learning

August 5, 2004 -- Walk into any classroom during the Stitch and Sew Get-Away in Olds, Alberta, and you're bound to find a small cluster of people gathered around an instructor to get a close-up view of a special technique uniquely her own. Then it is back to the sewing machines to apply this knowledge while it is fresh in students' minds.

All the while the instructor is present to assist in the process, share anecdotes of her own experiments and facilitate the camaraderie that develops among all participants.

Hosted by Betty Caskey, fiber artist, teacher and owner of VictorianPleasures.com, the sixth annual Stitch and Sew Get-Away wrapped up July 29. This year it offered a new fiber arts attraction when it expanded to offer its first annual Doll Conference.

Instructors from across Canada and the U.S. gladly come to Olds, Alberta every summer to teach at the beautiful Olds College campus and share their knowledge with eager students. Learners come from distant reaches of Alberta, as well as neighboring provinces, in order to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the fiber arts industry.

Silk dyer and painter Betty Conlin makes the trek every year from Ontario to teach her students the art of expressions in the fiber medium. This year, with the addition of the Doll Conference, the Get-Away offered classes from renowned doll artist elinor peace bailey of California.

"Word just has to get out about this show," says peace bailey. "It's just got such potential. The classes and instructors are top quality, and getting just the right number of people in the class makes for a dynamic learning experience."

Hostess Caskey agrees. "There's still much more I'd like to do, and so many more areas in which to grow. I enjoy putting on the show, and I think the students enjoy their time here too. They certainly benefit from the one-on-one attention from some excellent teachers. We have some of the best in the business here. You have to go a long way from Olds to get that same opportunity, and would probably have to spend a lot more to do it."

Classes this year encompassed sessions on design, silk dying, quilt techniques and finishing, while the doll conference provided hands-on experience in doll construction, facial design and working with multiple medias. Future classes will expand into new fiber and visual arts, such as journalling. Still, says Caskey, the focus remains on working side-by-side with industry icons.

"You usually have to go to big shows in the States or major Canadian cities to get to see presentations from some of these people, fighting crowds and rarely having the opportunity to interact with them. Here you get to work directly with them, then go have lunch and "talk shop".

The dates for the summer 2005 Stitch and Sew will be announced late this fall. For more information on the Stitch and Sew Get-Away and Doll Conference, contact Betty Caskey at 1-888-345-SILK (1-888-362-7455) or at her website, http://www.victorianpleasures.com.

For information about custom handmade quilts, visit
http://quiltinfosite.com/customhandmadequilts/