Speaking & Workshops

 

I’ve spent over 30 years with a needle in hand, working professionally in the garment industry as a specialty tailor, and then as an embroidery designer and author of Everyday Folk: over 175 folk embroidery designs for the home, inspired by traditional textiles, opening Avlea Folk Embroidery in 2018.

I speak for needlework, quilt, knitting, and handweaving guilds, conferences, retreats, and museum programs, both in person and over Zoom. With 15 years of public speaking experience, I delight in bringing the history and practice of folk embroidery to life for a modern audience. I love that moment when someone looks with renewed appreciation at their own handcraft practice by learning more about these ancient textiles!

Zoom or in-person lectures run 45-60 minutes with additional Q&A time. Workshops are available as half-day or full-day sessions on a variety of techniques (drawn thread hemming, fringe finishing, etc).

Below is my fee schedule. Email me at avleaembroidery@gmail.com with your dates and what you have in mind and I’ll let you know my schedule availability. Once we have chosen a date, we can coordinate on what type of presentation works best for your group. Kits for workshops can be purchased individually by attendees, or in bulk by the event organizer for a discount.

 

Fee structure:

Virtual talk (45-60 min plus Q&A): $300 ($200 for EGA guilds)

In-person talk and trunk show (60 min plus Q&A): $750 plus travel*

Half-day workshop (3 hours, 8-24 students): $750 plus travel*

Full-day workshop (6 hours, 8- 24 students): $1250 plus travel*

Conference keynote, retreat, or multi-day program: from $1800, quoted individually

*travel includes airfare from Redmond, OR (RDM), ground transportation, lodging, and meals on event days

Deposit: 30% at contract signing, applied to the fee; balance due one week before event

Booking lead time: I typically book 6-9 months out

 

What will I talk about? So glad you asked!

My most popular lecture is “A Vibrant World: a brief tour of Mediterranean folk embroidery” and it explores the history of folk embroidery through the lens of status, mobility, and color.

Another lecture favorite is “Ancient Beauty for the Modern World: My work as an embroidery designer” in which I share the process by which I study and adapt historic textiles into new designs.

“Color: Ancient to Modern” is a lecture based upon my experience as an ecclesiastical tailor working with Byzantine textile and garment traditions dating back to the third century and focuses on how our approaches to color have changed over time.

For workshops, I recommend either my Traditional Fringe Finish Workshop or Drawn Thread Hemming Workshop. Each of these techniques can be taught as a 3-hour or 6-hour class: three hours allows me to demonstrate the technique and students get to practice a little; six hours and a student can have a piece almost completed.

I am also available to lead my "Courtyard: A Handcraft Wellness Retreat" at your location. This day-long retreat focuses on the intersection of handcraft and wellness, and why and how using our hands is so good for longevity, overall health, and creating "cognitive reserves". It features an opening lecture on the many benefits of handcraft followed by a stitching retreat day interspersed with several meditative stitching sessions.