06/27/26 – Discover the Blues: Cyanotype Basics Workshop with Jessie Swimeley

No Sewing Workshop

Treasure Valley artist, Jessie Swimeley, will guide her students through the process of using CYANOTYPE – an historic photographic process that can be applied to fabric or paper.

Cyanotype creates beautiful blue and white prints using UV radiation (the sun) and the shadows of objects like leaves, lace, keys, small trinkets, or large format negatives such as photographs. It is an easy to learn and fun process that brings creativity and your own special magic to quilting projects.
You will learn the basics of cyanotype printing including the chemistry used, how it works on different surfaces, and composition. You may choose to use your own photographic negatives or to use a variety of organic materials in your creations. You will walk away with several of your own prints that can become a quilt block or be added to other projects.

Please Note: that Cyanotype is best suited for art quilts. The images you create will degrade if they are washed or come into frequent contact with the oils from skin.

Kit Fee: $10

Supplied by Instructor:
• Paper, for making prints
• Fabric, for making prints
• Chemistry
• Objects for printing
• Optional: photographic negative for interested students, see note below under Student Supply List

Supply list for students:
• Notebook and pencil/pen
• Optional- Unique items to make prints with, the best items have a strong flat silhouette – examples: keys, lace, small items, fancy glass, leaves and flowers
• Optional- One or two photographs to turn into a negative. Photos should be between 3 x 5 and 5 x 7. Images must be your own photo or an image you have permission to use. Digital images must be of high resolution – 300 dpi. Photos with plain backgrounds work best. If you have a paper photo you can take a photo of it to send or bring the paper photo to the June 18, 2026 meeting and the Programs team will help you. Send digital photos to jessie@jessieswimeley.com. Please send by 6/18/2026 so Jessie can prepare the negative to work with during the workshop on 6/27.

Class registration will be open to non-members on May 27 and the last day to cancel with refund is June 15, 2026.