Deborah Boschert
Small Stories in Fabric
Five-Day Quilting Retreat
September 12, 2027, 5:30 pm: Meet & Greet
September 13-17, 2027
$1395
Creating original art is a powerful way to celebrate life’s meaningful moments. In this five-day retreat, you’ll explore what inspires you, uncover its deeper meaning, and learn to express it creatively.
You will create a series of small fabric collages inspired by photos, memories, or experiences. You’ll explore unique colors, shapes, lines, patterns, and compositions for fresh inspiration. Hand embroidery and machine stitching will enhance each piece, as we consider the pleasures and challenges of working on a small scale. You will also learn printmaking techniques to design original patterns on fabric to add richness and individuality to your work.
Deborah will guide and structure each step, while also allowing for personal choice and creative freedom. She’ll share tips on design, composition, and creating a body of work.
At the end of the workshop, we will mount and frame the collages so you leave with a finished piece you can be proud of.
Learning Objectives
The Small Stories in Fabric Retreat offers a comprehensive learning experience focused on textile art. The key learning objectives for participants include:
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Identify and translate inspiration from photos, memories, or experiences into visual art.
Recognize and use interesting elements such as color, shape, line, and composition.
Understand how to imbue artwork with deeper layers of meaning, metaphor, and narrative.
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Learn and apply at least three fabric printmaking techniques to create original patterns.
Design and execute unique surface designs on fabric for art quilts.
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Apply foundational principles of composition to art quilt collage.
Understand and utilize raw-edge fused appliqué techniques.
Learn how to work with a series of small compositions to develop a body of work.
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Explore and apply techniques for both hand embroidery and free-motion machine quilting.
Understand how to use stitch as a deliberate design element to enhance textile compositions.
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Learn various finishing techniques for textile art.
Develop ideas for titling artwork.
Successfully mount finished small art quilt collages, ready for framing.
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Engage in a creative process that balances provided structure with personal choice and freedom.
Develop an enthusiastic and encouraging approach to making art.
Share progress, learn from peers, and gain ideas for future artistic development.
Skill Level
This retreat is suitable for all skill levels.
What's Included In The Retreat
Meet and greet with hors d'oeuvres on Sunday, September 12th at 5:30 pm
Five days of instruction--Monday through Friday
Five lunches
Supply List for Deborah Boschert Retreat
Five 6x8” pieces of felt or batting
15 - 20 pieces of fabric approximately 10x10” or similar scraps I recommend mostly fabrics that read solid plus a few medium scale prints that you love. Apply fusible web to the back of the fabrics before the workshop. I like Wonder Under and Misty Fuse.
Five interesting photos from your personal collection, printed on regular copy paper (Landscape, botanical, architecture, objects and travel photos work best. Pets and people are not ideal for this process.) The photos don’t have to be great — just photos that you like or have a special memory attached to them. You may or may not use them during the workshop, but they’ll generate possibilities.
1.5 yards solid fabric for print making (I suggest six FQs in different colors)
6-10 skeins of pearl cotton or embroidery floss for hand stitching, choose colors that coordinate with your fabrics.
6-8 spools of thread for machine stitching
Micron Pigma pen or your favorite fabric pen for embellishing and writing fabric
5-8 small bottles of acrylic craft paint, darks and lights that coordinate with your fabrics, I like Folk Art Brand from Michaels.
2 or 3 paper plates or similar to use as a paint palette and for mixing paint and a small container for water
Plastic trash bag to cover your work area
Scissors
Small cutting mat, ruler, and rotary cutter
Sketchbook, pens and pencils
Provided
One sewing machine will be available to use and share in the studio
Irons and ironing boards
Supplies Provided by Deborah
$20 fee payable on the first workshop day
Pre-fused fabrics scraps in several colors, prints and patterns to share
Acrylic paint to share
Parchment paper and freezer paper
Spouncers and brushes
Five 8x10 boards and plastic sleeves to mount your finished collages
Sticky-back fun foam for stamp making
Styrofoam mounts for stamps
Additional Optional Supplies to Consider
Additional fabric — especially if you have a stash of pre-fused fabric. This is a great workshop to use pre-fused scraps. It’s a balance between bringing enough to feel creative but not so much that you’re paralyzed by too many options.
Extra batting or felt if you want to make additional or larger collages
Extra solid fabric for printmaking
Additional hand embroidery threads you love to use
Extra fusible webbing especially if you have not prefused your fabric
Sewing machine if you prefer to have your own
Art Quilt Collage: A Creative Journey in Fabric, Paint and Stitch by Deborah Boschert
Rent a Sewing Machine
Retreat Sewing Machine Rental
We rent the Bernina 350 Ricky Tims' Special Edition which is a great machine for quilters. Standard accessories for the sewing machine includes the slide-on extension table, the practical Free Hand System (FHS), the BERNINA walking foot as well as two additional feet for quilting and patchwork.
There are a limited number of machines available for rent, so reserve yours when you book your retreat. If you don't see a machine rental option, it means all the machines have already been rented.
$100 per retreat
About Deborah Boschert
Deborah Boschert is an artist, author and teacher. She creates art quilt collages with layers of fabric, paint and stitching. Her artwork make a visual impact from across the room and offers intimate, personal details upon close viewing. Deborah’s art quilt collages often include personal symbols like ladders, chairs and bowls. The shapes, compositions, lines and textures in her work serve as metaphors for ideas and themes including growth, transition, rest and curiosity.
Deborah is the author of Art Quilt Collage: A Creative Journey in Fabric, Paint and Stitch. She has appeared on Quilting Arts TV and The Quilt Show and is published in several books and magazines. Her work has been included in Art Quilt Elements, Quilts=Art=Quilts, several Studio Art Quilt Associates global exhibitions, and many other juried exhibitions. Deborah’s quilts can be found in the collection of the International Quilt Museum, the Frank Klein Quilt Collection and as a mural in the Dallas Arts District.
Deborah lectures and teaches workshops both in person and virtually with artist groups and quilt guilds all over the US and internationally. She offers opportunities to explore fused appliqué, print making on fabric, captivating compositions, personal symbols and using stitch as a design element. Her workshops provide students with both structure and creative flexibility. She is known for her organization, enthusiastic spirit and encouraging vibe.
Deborah lives in Lewisville, Texas with her husband, Jeff. She’s delighted her two grown kids also live in the Dallas area. Deborah loves to travel, do crossword puzzles, drink coffee, practice yoga and listen to podcasts.
Social Media
website: www.DeborahsStudio.com
blog: DeborahsJournal.blogspot.com
email: DeborahBoschert@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeborahBoschertArtist/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deborahboschert/
Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/deborahhope
e-newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5ff72f638f4b78a893e5b92d
Important Information Read Before Registering
Cancellation Policy
If the Estelle Center cancels a retreat, you will receive a full refund of all payments made.
The $500 deposit is non-refundable.
If you cancel your reservation and the Estelle Center is able to fill your space with another participant, your $500 deposit will be refunded minus a $100 cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 45 days of the retreat's Meet & Greet date, no refunds will be issued unless the Estelle Center is able to fill your spot. In that case, any refund will be subject to the $100 cancellation fee.
We have limited guest accommodations. If you cancel your room reservation at any time, you will be refunded your payment minus a $150 cancellation fee.
Payments
A deposit of $500 is required to register. The balance of $895 is due by July 14, 2027, 60 days before the start of the retreat.
After July 14, 2027, the full retreat cost of $1,395 is required to register.
Meals & Lodging
The Small Stories in Fabric Quilting Retreat includes meet and greet with appetizers, five lunches, and five days of instruction. Other meals and lodging are not included in the registration fee.
Guest rooms at Estelle's Upstairs are available for retreat participants. There are single, double, and triple occupancy rooms that share a large bathroom down the hall. To book a guest room, scroll down to the payment section below.
Click here to learn more about our guest rooms.
Click here to find other accommodations in La Veta.
What To Expect Next
Please add sunshine@estellecreativearts.com to your safe senders list to make sure you receive our emails.
Service Animal Policy
To preserve a calm and welcoming space for creativity and connection, we ask that guests do not bring pets or emotional support animals.
Service dogs, trained to assist and supported by law, are always welcome. Thank you for helping us hold this space with care. If you have questions or specific needs, we invite you to reach out ahead of your visit.
Click here to learn more about the The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Service Animal Policy.
