Sunday, March 4, 2012

A Question For You....

Hello Everyone,

As many of you know, I simply adore paper piecing and have done many, many different kinds.  There are lots of reasons I love it.  For it's accuracy, the ability that it gives you to make those difficult types of piecing easier, and just the overall outcome.


I have been pondering undertaking something new.


And it will really depend on what many of you might say.






With my upcoming certification in Judy Niemeyer's program as a National Teacher for her patterns and techniques..


Such as this one, and...


this one, I have been busy scheduling many lectures, teaching engagements, and retreats for the upcoming year and into 2013.  My schedule, which you can find here, needs to be updated.

But I am deciding on whether to do online classes.  So my question to you is, do you think it would be well received?  I am considering doing video classes coupled with still photos, but they would only be able to be accessed by students who sign up for the classes.  

Please tell me your thoughts and suggestion, I would appreciate any you might have as this would be a very involved task for me to produce.  

Thank you, in advance, for any advice or feedback you can offer!


Until Next Time...

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40 comments:

Pat said...

Funny you should ask because I am totally confused over paper piecing...have never done it, can't figure it out...and I'm upset that so many of the Just Takes 2 quilt blocks are paper pieced (which I didn't know until I started the mystery quilt :( ). Funds are limited so I guess it would depend on the fee level for me to use something like this to learn. I know there is stuff on YouTube but haven't tried them yet. Your work is beautiful. Good luck with all you do!

Lesley said...

Ok, I have to start by saying your quilts are stunning and breath-taking! Amazing. I like your idea of venturing into online video courses. I have watched you tube to learn new techniques, and I have signed up for both free online sessions and those you have to pay for. They all work for me! I do things fast, though, so sometimes the videos are just a little too slow, but I just fast forward. I think paper piecing is the hardest thing in the world to explain, so this may be the perfect time for you to start. I paper piece at times, but it's something I could never explain over the phone! So if you have any time left in tour busy life, I think it would be a perfect progression for you. There is a dot.com place where I go for such tutorials and they seem to be getting bigger every day, so there is certainly a demand. Whew, too many words for a start without my coffee. Go girl! I love your first pattern. Is it in your shop?

Caron at Michigan Quilts said...

I think online classes are perfect... they fit everyone's schedule, whether you are an at-home mom, working person, or living in any time zone. You don't have to drive, you can take the class in your jammies... the only thing missing is the fellowship.

Gale Wrigley said...

I love online classes! Accessible to everyone, and I can "attend" when I have the time rather than at the time of the class. Great idea!

Linda Coleman said...

i would love online classes. As I live in Ireland there is very little chance of my ever getting to have an actual class with you so this would be the next best thing. I can paper piece but to have an expert teacher showing all the tips and tricks would be fantastic.

Abby and Stephanie said...

I can only offer that if you do this you'll do it well and your students will be lucky. Your work is perfection and I think you'd be a fantastic teacher. I'm an "in person" sort of gal, needing the immediate hands on sort of help when the need arises.

Gale said...

Oh yes! Paper piecing is my favorite but I'm well aware there are tricks out there I don't know. I could never be able to go to a retreat or workshop but online courses work well for me!

Terrie said...

Yes, I have done both online and real classes. Online allows you to reach more people. I have done Jennifer's (sis boom) class. It was very good. I love your quilts and would love to take a class from you. Keep up the good work!!! I would love to learn paper piecing and love that tea pot quilt!

Marty Mason said...

Yes, Yes....I think online classes are the wave of the future. I've taken several photography/photoshop classes and love that I can work at my own pace.

My Life In Quilts said...

Absolutely! I have been struggling to make a Dear Jane quilt using paper piecing and I don't get it sometimes. The instructions don't make sense, or I just get ham-handed. So, yes, I think on-line courses would be a wonderful idea. I would looovvveee to make any one of your masterpieces too, by the way.

Lynette said...

I think it's marvelous that you're certifying! :D For myself and many people (as evidenced above), online classes are super fantastic.

But here's another angle to think about. Having been to in-person classes with Judy N. and Jacqueline DeJonge (both very good teachers), I can say that a large portion of the "students" had an extremely difficult time catching on to the concept of paper piecing (not because it wasn't shown or explained well, but because the technique is quite different from anything most quilters are used to). The students' frustration was only alleviated because the teacher was on hand to personally examine their work and pinpoint for them what had gone wrong. I don't think any of those students would be anything but extremely frustrated with an online class.

Maybe there is a way to overcome that? Skyping? Can that work on a class level? (But then the student would have to have a decent camera set-up on their computer, and many quilters do not. But perhaps the blogging and Internet-savvy pool is large enough to support the demand for your online classes.) Just thinking "out loud" for you.

Nifty Quilts said...

I think it's a great idea, and that it would be very well accepted! After using your tutorial on the flying geese, I know you are a great teacher, and that you communicate exceptionally well on-line in photos and text. As for on-line courses, I've taken a few professionally, and I love the convenience. There was one where we could call in with our questions and the teacher could respond. I say go for it!!

deborah said...

I would be interested in taking an online class!

*karendianne. said...

I think it's a fantastic idea!

Barbara said...

I was lucky enough to take a class with you for paper piecing because I live close enough but for the people who either live to far away or are unable to take classes I think this is a wonderful idea. My only thought would be how to communicate with you if anyone has a question. You are a wonderful teacher so I' sure you have already thought about the communication part. I would be interested in taking a on-line class with you.

Jean(ie) said...

I have never done an online class, but would welcome the opportunity. I'm one of those learners that gets easily distracted at traditional classes. I just usually observe then go home and do my thing.

I think it would be beneficial to learners like me. Figure out a way to pause and re-access things and I think it would be a great way of establishing your business and expertise in paper piecing.

Unknown said...

Happy to see you are scheduled to come to our guild in Warwick NY! I recently quilted a Glacier star and have another one to go. Looking forward to seeing how you will quilt yours. It's beautiful.

Kim said...

I think of all the effort you have made to become certified and the goal is to reach as many people as you can to teach this technique right? We all know the web is the way to reach the masses without traveling and exhausting yourself.
That being said my LQS owner asked me if I knew you and what did I think about your teaching abilities. Of course I raved because not only can you teach but you really are a people person, so if you can translate that to video I think you've got a winning combination.

I think of all the quilters that don't have access to excellent teachers, they would love this.

Good luck with it Jackie, I wish you continued success.

Happy Sewing

Barb said...

great idea. I always think pp is easy, but I struggle with it. I don't do to much of it, but I too love the accuracy, when I don't mess it up :)

mary said...

I took a paper piecing class along time ago and want to learn more about it. It would be nice to be able to go back to a paper piecing class at a later date, just for reference. Your work looks lovely. THnks

Dayjilly said...

I watched a very short video online about paper piecing and currently have three paper pieced projects that I'm working on - two that involve over 40 pieces per block and a pickled clamshell that I'm working out. I'm sure there's a lot I don't know and if the cost were reasonable I'd be interested.

fiberchick said...

Online classes are a great idea! You are a superb communicator and it means people who are geographically distant can take classes with you.

Grandmasewnsew said...

I must say that if you have the opportunity to teach an online class, and if the rewards are such that it will make sense time-wise, then go for it. I would suggest watching other online classes and seeing what you like and dislike about other teachers' approaches and then model yourself accordingly. I'm enrolled in one online course at the moment and the teacher has made a couple of slips and hasn't told us when we need to use a scant quarter ahead of time. The feedback for this course is difficult I think because so many are enrolled. For me, if you're going to do something you should do it right! So don't rush into it. But you do have a lot to offer and seem to be a great teacher. I think perhaps you will be happy you took the challenge and that subsequent courses will be much easier for you to do. It's just the first one that you will obsess over :)

P.Piche said...

I would gladly give it a try. I don't get to take classes often but online would be great, plus I don't have to travel to learn from an expert. And I enjoy shopping at your store so it would be great.
Pete

Mama Pea said...

I love paper piecing and would love to do one of these classes. I want to talk to my guild about getting you out here. Wouldn't that be fun?!!

I have taken some on-line classes for doll making with Colleen Babcock. I have really enjoyed them, must to mu surprise. So, I would encourage it. The inclusion of videos would be wonderful, too. Colleen has GREAT written materials, full of photos. But videos would even be better. She also creates great forums, where people ask questions and she responds. We post photos, and she gives feedback. Very helpful. So, I think it would be fun.

The only thing I miss about taking a class on-line is that taking a "real, on-site" class makes me carve the time out of my schedule to actually DO IT. Sometimes I fall behind in an on-line class, which frustrates me. But, as with Colleen, her point is that on-line can be ideal for this, because people can work at their own pace. There is no need to feel like you're "keeping up." My two cents worth! :-)

Beth said...

Absolutely YES!
I am working on an online degree - it really works with my schedule. I love paper piecing for the accuracy but I struggle when it comes to putting the blocks together due to the bulk (I think!) I would love to view some online tutorials - perhaps with the opportunity to ask a question or two view email to fill the gaps that I currently have with the process.

pasqueflower said...

I think it is a great idea!! I'm a visual learner--seeing it done is SO much clearer to me than just reading a pattern!

sandyb said...

Beautiful! I would love to learn to do paper piecing. Great idea!!!

Janet said...

I've taken a few courses from quilt univerisity (online) and, although they aren't as fabulous as in person classes, I still learned quite a lot from them. So I would take an on-line class from you. I already know how to paper piece so I probably wouldn't take a basic course, but I might take a Judy Niemeyer pattern class. Of course price is an issue always...

Barb said...

Oh my goodness those patterns are out of this world....and way beyond my abilities. I think online classes would be good if I could just sit down long enough to take one and if the price was resonable enough.

Simone de Klerk said...

Paper piecing is one of the things I love to look at, sometimes try out, but am still afraid to do.
Online classes would be good, I think with a strong stimulation. I have found a paper piecing QAL, but have still not joined. Other things to do, so why now. I can always do it later ... and later meaning I will probably never do it (just like your lovely Blogger's BOM).
It might be good to start a flickr group or something where people show their progress and people actually share their opinion. Sometimes I find it so disappointing, that there are no reactions on something I am showing in a group and no one reacts. I think, but that is just my opinion, that the feeling to belong to a group in an online class, would make me want to join.
I would like to join in, as long as it doesn't start with a quilt like the last 2 pictures.... And, videos would be great! Seeing and visualizing is my kind of thing, rather than lots and lots of words.
I look forward to hear more about it!!

Robbie said...

Love your idea of online classes. I enjoyed your UTube presentations using a Mac to design quilts. Can easily see you doing online classes especially if the entire process is broken down into small sequential steps that are supported in video and written formats. If this is combined with easy access to and quick responses from, the teacher and reasonable pricing, should work well. Good luck.

Nanette Merrill said...

I would like to say yes. I would love to be a better paper piecer. I suck. I've taken 2 real live classes though, and I'm no better. I'm willing but not sure. So put me as on the fence.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I suspect you will need to develop a "beginner" PP online course as well as your advanced courses. The first (and only) quilt shop PP class I took made me run for the door after only the morning session (I felt like my head was about to explode).

Online courses allow those of us who work full-time access to high-quality classes without the added costs/logistics of travel.

Take your time – there is MUCH to consider!

Jenn said...

I'm taking an online curves class from Rachel at Stitched in Color. It's great! If you have serious questions on how to proceed and logistics, I'd ask her, she's done an excellent job in teaching us curves. As for an interest in online paper-piecing classes, you'd have to really get out there and market, I suppose. Good luck! You do beautiful work!

Cardygirl said...

I agree with most of the comments...sounds like a good idea and everyone is talking highly of your excellent communication skills...go for it!

Elisa Black said...

I think it sounds like a wonderful idea. I'm not sure that I myself would actually do an on-line course with you since I already have taken a real class with you and know where to sign up locally if I want to take another. But I know I had a lot of interest on my small blog-- esp. from a number of Brit bloggers-- one even went out and purchased the Total Eclipse pattern! But I do think for anyone who can't find a local class, having an on-line paper piecing class-- esp. for someone who's doing a Judy Niemeyer pattern for the first time-- is a brilliant idea and would be a tremendous resource. You have a big enough following that I think you would get takers-- and now with FB links/connections I think you would attract an audience. (I'd certainly post a link on my blog if you did it). Good luck-- and I look forward to seeing what you decide!!

Laura said...

I've taken a live Judy Niemeyer course and it helped understand her methods a lot, especially the add-a-quarter ruler use. Right now I'm taking an on line class with Candy Glendening at Candied Fabrics that has written directions, great videos, and a very accessible teacher who always answers questions almost immediately (she must never sleep!). You might want to enroll in her class just to see how well she does it, the videos really make the class 100% understandable.

Twisted Sticks said...

I absolutely love paper piecing. I have actually done one of the Judy N. patterns and have it proudly displayed on my stair rail. It is a beautiful quilt. I want to do some more of her patterns.

Teresa Marie said...

I love the idea of online classes! I've taken several for fee online free-motion quilting classes, & digi-scrapping classes, as well as watching free quilting videos on you tube. Go for it!

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