February 10, 2024

The Artist:

Becka Rahn is a full-time teaching artist who works in a micro-studio in Minneapolis. Becka works primarily in fabric and paper, specializing in textured designs from cut paper illustrations using recycled paper. She creates surface designs for fabric that she uses to make art pieces for gallery exhibitions, functional items to sell in her Etsy shops, and fabrics that you can buy to make your own projects. She is the co-author of The Spoonflower Handbook, a guide to designing your own fabrics. She has received awards for her work from Jerome and McKnight Foundations, The Minnesota State Arts Board, and Fiber Art Now magazine. She is an active teaching artist in her community and online. She is passionate about helping artists conquer technological barriers to make their work more accessible. You can see more of her work at www.beckarahn.com

Guild Meeting/Program:  Etsy Behind the Scenes

Tips, techniques and words of wisdom from a long-time Etsy seller about what it takes to run an Etsy shop and sell your art online. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the technical side of running your shop, creating shipping profiles and what it takes to manage an online storefront. We’ll also talk about search strategies and pitfalls to help your shop get started on the right foot.

Date/Time: February 10, 2024 10:30 AM (following Guild meeting)

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Mini Workshop: Embroidered Circus Elephant

Instead of an old-fashioned sampler, learn seven different embroidery stitches while you make a charming circus elephant. It’s a new twist on a beginning embroidery class. You’ll have fun stitching on wool felt with perle cotton threads and a few beads and sequins for sparkle. Stitches include back stitch, whip stitch, figure 8 knots, fly stitch, long stitch, wheat ear stitch, and running stitch. Your finished elephant can be used as a pincushion, a tiny stuffed toy or a show stopping holiday ornament.

Date/Time: February 10, 2024 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, 11815 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854

Mini Workshop Fee: Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $50.00

Student’s Materials Fee: $10
There is a $10 materials fee for this class payable to the instructor. Instructor can take cash or credit card at the class. If you would like to pay your materials fee ahead of time, you can send it to Becka via: Paypal: paypal.me/beckarahn or Venmo: @beckarahn

Student Supply List:
Scissors. Small sharp scissors are ideal. These are my favorites: https://www.dickblick.com/products/fiskars-premier-no-5-micro-tip-scissors/
Glue Stick. Basic Elmer’s “school glue” or similar.
Any questions, please email beckarahn@gmail.com
Click here to print supply list.

Extended Workshop: Embroidered Coptic Stitch Sketchbook

In this class you will do a variety of surface design and hand stitched techniques. First, learn some hand embroidery stitches to monogram or embellish a fabric cover for your book. We’ll turn your embroidered fabric into bookcloth to make covers for the sketchbook and learn to tear down drawing papers for the inside pages. Then we’ll design some custom endpapers with handmade paste paper. Finally, you’ll learn to stitch the signatures of your book together using a coptic or chain stitch binding with waxed linen thread. At the end of class, you will have completed a small custom sketchbook. Throughout the class, you will be able to customize your book in many ways: choosing scrap fabric from your stash for the cover, designing your own end papers, picking the colors and embroidered designs.

Date/Time: February 11, 2024 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, February 12, 2024 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Location: The Woman’s Club of Chevy Chase MD

Workshop Fee: Members: $120.00 Non-Members: $165.00

Student’s Materials Fee: $35
There is a $35 materials fee for this class payable to the instructor. Instructor can take cash or credit card at the class. If you would like to pay your materials fee ahead of time, you can send it to Becka via: Paypal: paypal.me/beckarahn or Venmo: @beckarahn

Student Supply List:
Scissors (used for paper/fabric)
Pencil
Metal ruler (12” minimum) One like this is perfect: https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-stainless-steel-ruler/
12×18 inch self-healing cutting mat. Larger size is fine too. This should not be your “good” cutting mat. We are going to get some methyl cellulose and possibly acrylic paint on it, which should wash off easily, but choose one you don’t mind getting a little messy.
2-3 cans of soup/veggies from your cupboard. We will use these as book weights. They can go back in the cupboard when you are done.
A catalog or magazine from your recycling bin. We are going to use this as waste paper to catch extra glue when making our book covers. It should be something you don’t want to keep.
Scrap fabric for your book cover. Minimum 14 x 12 inches. Lightweight quilting cotton, batiks & lawn work really well. I recommend a solid, semi solid, monochrome, or similar relatively low volume print. We are going to embroider on it and want that embroidery to show up. If you are unsure, bring a couple of options.
2 small containers for paint & glue (ie recycled yogurt cups, take out containers)
Exacto knife or utility knife with a new sharp blade (If you don’t have one, please don’t purchase one especially for this class. You can absolutely share with a friend. We only need it for a few cuts.)
Click here to print supply list