Denise Labadie

Denise is an instructor that enthusiastically, energetically, fully and openly, and warmly shares both her knowledge and design sense, without holding back or reservation. Her experience and knowledge is deep and wide-ranging, and she has the ability, knowledge, and practical experience to teach the comparative strengths, benefits, and use – basically, the "what, why, when, and how" – of both new and (oftentimes repurposed) traditional fiber art and quilting techniques. Her workshops are highly interactive, very hands-on, and focused more on the development of participant creativity, confidence, and experiential exploration and learning than on rigid, one-size-fits-all lesson plans or patterns. Although she teaches the techniques that she uses in her own quilts, her workshops are not just about stones, or even landscapes, but instead about "best practices" relative to improving quilt dimensionality, texture and color, craftsmanship, and design integrity, regardless of quilt theme or focus – her objective is to teach useable techniques and "lessons learned" that each participant's own creativity can confidently expand on once away from the classroom. Her classes are also immensely fun.

Career highlights include teaching a week-long landscape design and contemporary art quilting workshop and retreat at Georgia O'Keefe's (America's foremost landscape artist) Ghost Ranch, and teaching the Séminar Post Carrefour, a week-long masterclass – only one workshop, and workshop instructor, is selected each year – held in France at the end of each year's annual Carrefour Européen du Patchwork (Continental Europe's largest quilt exhibition). In addition to teaching workshops in the USA and France, she has also taught in the UK, China, South Korea, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, The Netherlands, and Ireland.

Workshop Schedule

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* * *   View French TV's excellent five minute video segment (starting at 2:05) on Denise's 2017 Séminar Post Carrefour Masterclass   * * *

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"Your Art Quilt Design Intensive was definitely one of the best of the many workshops – taken from many different instructors – I’ve done over the last 12 years. It's a pleasant surprise when someone you've never worked with before turns out to not only be an artist producing exquisite work but also an accomplished teacher. I hope you recognize what an elite group you represent in this regard." Kathy N., USA

“Denise’s workshops are the absolute best! I took her painting workshop and it was one of the first times where I actually walked out with my own versions of completed examples of what was taught. The class was relaxed, without criticism, and had all the right vibes and positive energy. Everyone felt welcome and warmly shared their thoughts, critiques, and words of encouragement. Denise is a marvel, is without ego, and is simply one of the best instructors out there. The atmosphere in her classroom is above and beyond.” Trish Cassen, USA

“I really enjoyed learning how to paint fabric with Denise. She shares all of her knowledge openly, and encourages experimentation, allowing you to paint fabric with your own voice and her techniques. I have taken several classes from her, including her Ghost Ranch retreat, and would do so again without hesitation.” Ellen Nepustil, USA

“WOW!! I loved your workshop. First, I learned so many great and unexpected techniques for creating intriguing fabric texture. Second, you were so willing to share your knowledge and experience, and you didn't hold anything back. Third (and this is so important to me), I didn't feel pressure to complete a specific set of (pre-selected) pieces or to keep up with anyone else. Unlike some other workshops I have taken, I felt the freedom of just being able to relax, explore, learn, and create.” Sandy Jung, USA

“I was so fortunate to be with her, to take her lessons. Beyond the quilt techniques, I could see how much she considered to manipulate various fabrics to give deep expression and passion to light.” Eunyoung Choi, South Korea

“Joining Denise’s Carrefour masterclass was a great experience. I learned so much about texture, and about creating texture on fabric. I also learned about color choices, fabric choices, and design and construction choices. It was one of the most valuable classes I ever attended because it didn’t linger in theory but opened a door to a new set of tools in my daily textile art work.“ Nienke Smit, The Netherlands

“I recently attended the Seminar Post Carrefour masterclass with Denise Labadie, and I recommend her to everybody interested in painting fabric or creating distinctive textile surfaces for art quilts. Denise is an excellent teacher, and is generous and willing to share her knowledge. She took time for everybody, encouraging our creativity. Her enthusiasm was very communicative.” Chantal Guillermet, France

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Teaching in France (2017 Séminar Post Carrefour)

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Workshops include:

Fabric Painting

A two-day hands-on workshop focused on helping students explore and understand fabric painting – and to have students create their own unique and richly textured and colored fabrics – using multiple layers of sun-reactive transparent color paints. The workshop's focus is on how best to use and layer these very special paints, how to use resists, and how to successfully influence or cause (and control) layer-by-layer paint absorption, diffusion, blending, patterning, and/or mottling. Resulting fabrics – which are the basis for Denise's own quilts – can be remarkable.

Construction Techniques

A two-day hands-on workshop focused on those quilt top construction techniques key to Denise's own quilts, including: reverse appliqué, turned edge appliqué, raw edge appliqué, insetting, free-form strip piecing, and couching. The overall goal is for students to gain a real and hands-on understanding of the comparative strengths, benefits, and use – basically, the “what, why, when, and how" – of these (alternative) quilt top construction techniques. She also teaches her beginning-to-end construction sequencing plus quilt finishing (including casings and facings).

Art Quilt Design Intensive

An in-depth five-day project-focused and compositional masterclass that integrates both Fabric Painting and Construction Techniques (see the above individual workshop descriptions) plus Working from Photographs.

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