Stitching Together Nature Journaling and Fiber Arts with Kathy DeVries
Stitching Together Nature Journaling and Fiber Arts with Kathy DeVries
Friday - Sunday, September 18-20, 2026
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friday, Saturday and 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday
Class Fee: $250/ WMQFA Members (with member code); $275/Non Members
Class Description:
Take a break, slow down, and get curious about the everyday wonder and beauty around you through nature and fiber arts. Nature invites us to explore exciting fiber arts designs, techniques, and materials. In this workshop, you will create a very personal nature art-quilted or embroidery (or both) designed piece beginning with Nature Journaling. Kathy will teach the disciplined practice of collecting and recording observations in a notebook by exploring WMQFA gardens and other cool specimens. You’ll learn specific nature journaling steps as inspiration for simple drawings and patterns to construct a finished piece using fabric fusing, decorative machine, and/or hand stitching, and more. You do not need to be an artist or naturalist. Just bring your enthusiasm and curiosity! Class fees include a nature journal and a select supply kit.
Recommended skill level for participants: Some sewing and/or embroidery experience helpful. Welcome beginners and experienced quilters/embroiderers.
Age level of participants: 18 and up
KIT FEE IS INCLUDED IN THE CLASS FEE
Kit includes:
Nature Journal
Pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners
Tape measure and clear ruler
Loop/magnifying glass
Flexi Fuse Sheets
Parchment paper
Freezer paper
Clear grid
SUPPLY LIST:
Quilted Piece Design
Sewing machine
Cotton Fabric - large and scrap pieces (solids and prints)
Batting (cotton such as Quilters Dream) ½ to 1 yard
If you’re taking embroidery direction, please bring white/off white linen fabric f
Sketch pad - mixed media type if fine
White copy paper
Iron (small irons work very well)
Dissolvable pens
Pins
Hand-sewing needle
Glue sticks
Tweezers
Rotary cutter
Embroidery thread (optional if using on piece)
Sheet or fabric to cover your work table
Optional: Your own lightboard though 2 will be available)
Embroidery Piece Design (or combined)
Sketch pad - mixed media type if fine
Embroidery linen fabric
Embroidery thread
Hand-sewing needle
Dissolvable pens
Thin sharper marker (to make pattern)
Scissors - medium and small embroidery for cutting fabric
Rotary cutter
Sheet or fabric to cover your work table
Optional: Your own lightboard though 2 will be available)
About the Artist:
Milwaukee artist Kathy DeVries is a natural science illustrator and educator who combines her love of nature journaling and fiber arts. Inspired by her Dutch horticulture heritage and science communication background, she explores the creatures, botanicals, and landscapes of the Great Lakes region by modernizing historical natural science illustration techniques. Kathy’s fiber art celebrates and educates.
Kathy is a Wisconsin Master Naturalist, graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design Natural Science Illustration Program and completing a Nature Journaling Educators Certification from the Wild Wonder Foundation. She teaches nature journaling and quilting arts classes. Kathy had a successful thirty plus year career as a medical science marketing and communications executive.
Kathy’s recent work has been shown at national and regional juried exhibits including the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, Wisconsin Quilt Show, Wisconsin Visual Artists, and Wisconsin Craft Biennial. She is a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and Wisconsin Visual Artists.
