Betty Busby Workshop – 5 days

Betty Busby Workshop – “Multi Media Fiber”

April 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 2025 (Wednesday to Sunday)

Registration opens: February 17, 2025 – 10:00am

Cost: TBD

Covid Restrictions: All participants must have up to date COVID vaccines and boosters at the time of the class.

The aim of this 5-day class is to give each student many exciting ideas to experiment with.

The class will include samples of different types of non-woven materials, ways to produce images with them, and methods to incorporate them to extend the range of expression that can be achieved with traditional fabrics.

We will also explore the use of an electric cutting machine (Cameo) to cut the non-wovens into finely tuned shapes. The class will learn how to draw a pattern from scratch, put it into the cutter software, and adjust the settings on the machine to produce results that are useable in many applications.

In addition, we will explore Betty’s fabric painting techniques. Students can make samples using her methods and materials, and combine them with the non-wovens.

Betty will also assist students with making their own designs and patterns.

Betty Busby majored in ceramics in college and received her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design with a focus on sculpture, and also studied fiber there (as well as at the Kansas City Art Institute). Betty began quilt making in the 1970s. She picked old clothes out of trash cans and took apart curtains and dyed them. Today she works with all types of fabric and non-woven synthetic material.  All of her pieces are designed and handmade by her.

Betty has a goal of helping to make fiber art more fully integrated in the fine art world. She says that more exposure and aiming to reach the highest level in the medium is what will get fiber artists there.

As a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates since 2008, she has volunteered to help organize regional exhibitions all over the world, giving the artist members the opportunity to hang their work in gallery settings.