Giday World…. I am Helen Godden and this is my Arty Farty website.

………..I have never had a “real” job. I have always been lucky enough to work for myself following a creative path, as a visual artist.
In my previous life, before children, I handpainted ladies fashions, designed jewellery and created fine art in acrylic, pastel and watercolour.

Struggling through the transition to Motherhood, at age 38 I suddenly met “Free-Motion Machine Quilting” FMMQ. She knocked at my door, made an unannounced guest appearance and we developed a close friendship rapidly, so much so that I invited her to move in and to stay! I bought my first sewing machine started sewing and quilting in 2003. I came into this quilting world with no previous sewing experience or restricting rules and that seems to have been to my advantage.

I am very excited where my art quilting has already taken me in such a short amount of time. I have received awards both nationally and internationally and am enjoying teaching and sharing my ideas with others. Doing my own thing and taking my own path works for me. I like to leap outside the square and love inspiring others to step into new territory.

I teach FMMQ and “Liberate Quilters from the Ditch” and open their eyes to endless possibilities. I love to share my quilts and my creative process and encourage others to “give it a go”.

They say “Life begins at 40″ and so far I am lovin’ it all! …….so step into my colourful world.

 

Here at my website you can read all the inside Gossip on my creative path, my Quilting Adventure, my Previous Life before quilting, discover my Free-Motion Machine Quilting Secrets, read more than you actually wanted to know about my breakfast, my shoe size, and my sense of humour. You can  go shopping for applique patterns, jigsaw puzzles or even quilts in my Retail Therapy section "Let's Go Shopping!"

For my Teaching and Demonstrating Schedule go to my Social Calender and check out some dates.

You can also access my blog style journal, Random Thoughts whilst Quilting if you are game. Importantly, feel free to browse through Godden’s Gallery of Art Quilts. Subscribe to my site to receive gossip updates, see my latest quilts and gain insight into my Creative Process.

Feel free to add your comments and hopefully enjoy a laugh along the way, probably at my expense! Cheers to all and thank you for taking a closer look… Helen.

“Helen Godden” website and all artwork images on this site are copyright by the Artist. No image, either whole or in part maybe used without the express written permission of the Artist.©Helen Godden 2006


 
 
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Written by Helen   
Tuesday, 04 January 2011 00:00

 

How about limbering up your free-motion quilting skills and really getting into some arty farty designing, painting, creative, liberating fun stuff?    No rules, no quilt police, no ¼" seams, no pressure.....just lots of fun and laughter, learning and creating your own arty farty quilted masterpiece.

Arty Farty Weekend with

Helen Godden


Yes we are doing it again in 2012....... but not just once, but 3 times!!!  The super popular fun workshop with extrordinaty results ...  Flying into Colours

April 27 - 29,   September 7 - 9,   October 5 - 7 2011.

All weekends run from 4pm Friday thru to 4pm Sunday

Where? Warrambui Conference centre, Murrumbateman NSWHow far is that? Very easy drive, about 50 km north of Canberra on Barton Hwy, a natural bushland setting overlooking the Yass River.

 

How do I get there? Students will drive themselves (a map will be provided) to Warrambui arriving from 4pm.

Welcome drinks begin at 5.30pm, followed by dinner and Helen's evening presentation...Revealing All!

Why? A chance to encourage your creativity and liberate your arty farty side. Make new friends and have a weekend away ....lotsa fun!

 

What will we do?    

 This new class is based on Helen's Best of Show ACT 2011, Bestof Colour NSW 2011,Houston entry for 2010 called Freedom.

This quilt introduced Helen's latest technique of Paintchwork....that is, not pieced but painted patchwork working with luminous  acrylic fabric paints. Day 1 students will start with one of Helen's patterns, and modify it to create their own Flying Into Colours wall hanging 60x 80cm (23 x 31”) with a totem animal or bird, painted ribbons and paintchwork like in Helen's quilt Freedom. Then Helen will demonstrate how to  combine colours and students will paint beautiful blended ribbons and paintchwork onto black fabric. Day 2 with Helen's expert guidance, booklet of Free-Motion designs and lots of demonstrating, students will enhance their piece with a wide variety of free-motion quilting styles to complement their work. Students will then paint again, this time into their free-motion stitching, enhancing and adding so much life and energy into their individual and unique work.

This class is a lot of fun and very exciting as student's own designs come to life in full colour and their confidence in design and colour flies high!

 


 


 

When should I panic? Please don't! With my art experience, teaching degree and ability to make learning fun, anyone who thinks they can't draw or design or paint, with a positive attitude to give it a go, will be amazed at their results!

Trust me!

PLEASE NOTE - For this workshop, I am presuming you have just some experience in free-motion machine quilting or have attended my beginners class or equivalent. My absolute beginners free-motion machine quilting class is a 6 hour class and is not part of this weekend. Check my website for opportunities to attend a beginners class at a venue near you, before this weekend books out or purchase my soon to be released DVD Beginners nFree-motion Quilting and do nthe class at your own pace, then you are reday for the weeknd of fun.Go to www.helengodden.com and click in the menu on Retail shopping section to purchase the new DVD.

 

What's included? 4 person share bedrooms with en-suite; single beds, no bunks with doonas and pillow and reverse cycle air-con/heating.

All meals: continental breakfast, two course cooked lunch and dinner, morning and afternoon tea and supper.

2 days of creative fun, assistance to create your own design (or use one of my dozen designs),  instructional demonstration of painting using fabric paints, instructional demonstration on free-motion quilting, free-motion design booklets, use of Helen's colours for painting and additional equipment for the task.

Opportunity to purchase colours, brushes, etc at a special rate. Also a range of patterns, dyed fabrics, threads and those sewing supplies that you may have forgotten.

Friday Pre-Dinner welcome drinks and nibbles, presentation of what the weekend holds, Show'n'Tell to get the creative juices flowing, and after dinner Demo/lecture on the Design Process

Saturday night, optional activity ...TBA.

Class room open till late for keen students to continue their fun.

Creative license provided free of charge.

 

What's not included? BYO linen as you will make your own bed.(Hire is available)

BYO any additional beverages (there will be welcome drinks on the arrival evening)

BYO any additional food requirements and chocolate. There is a fridge available.

(Your sewing requirements list will be forwarded separately.)

Also NOT included in the weekend is Precision, ¼" seams, Quilt Police Rules, Accuracy, Pressure or Mistakes.

 

Can I bring a friend? Absolutely, get your friendship group together and book in early. Bedrooms sleep 4 per room. Class numbers are limited to 20 students. If you haven't got a friend to bring, you will be making a whole bunch of new ones over the weekend.

 

But what about my diet? Warrambui staff take extra care in the provision of special dietary needs. Just let me know when booking.

 

How much will it cost? $375 / person which includes all meals, accommodation and tuition and fun for the whole weekend

 

But I have more questions?  Email me any questions This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

How do I book in? email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . A deposit of $100 is required to secure your space. Full payment is required 4 weeks prior to the weekend.  You can use your credit card or direct deposit. Email me your phone number and we can do credit card over the phone or I can give you my direct deposit details.

A deposit of $100 is required to confirm your booking. Remaining payment of $275 must be paid 4 weeks prior to your weekend. (See Terms and Conditions below.)


Phone Helen on 02 6254 7821 or 0419 647 660 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Class requirements list, map of how to get there and any additional info will be forwarded via email once full payment is made, 4 weeks prior to your weekend. Looking forward to 4 fun weekends!

Cheers Helen Godden


Terms and Conditions: Cancellation is by phone only 02 6254 7821 or 0419 647 660. Payments will be refunded if you cancel more than 14 days prior to your weekend. If less than 14 days prior to your weekend you decide you are unable to attend, we will attempt to fill your place from a waiting list or you will need to find a friend to take your place. There will be no refund if your place is not filled.
Last Updated on Monday, 28 November 2011 14:24
 
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