Cyndy Sieving's Aura de’ Dragon  

Three Day Class April 23- 25, 2004  

Kit Fee  $25.00

3D Fiber Art Composition

The Dragon figure will provide a treasure of techniques with surprising results.  Learn to create a structure for unusual shaped figures. The Dragon figure lends itself to the creation of winged creatures, the body and face skills will help you grasp the concept and apply the technique to all types of figures. 

****Do you have good hand sewing skills? ****

****Are you serious about learning new techniques in Fiber Arts? ****

1.  We will learn how to study skeletons of many types. We will determine how to shape and construct a solid armature with balance and pivot points.

2. Learn to build teeth with a bite!  The dentures will have teeth, gums and a mouth can be closed or open! Learn to make your own claws and horns. Learn how to apply them to the dragon so they appear to be a natural part of the figure.  These techniques can be translated into tusks, claws, and teeth of all shapes.

3.  Explore the Face Building and Body Building process.  We will skin the creature.  Then using simple shapes we continue on building the more complex details of the face, lips, wings, tail, bulging chest. The process will take you on your own personal journey.  The creation is limited only to your own imagination.  Posing your own dragon and selecting the size and using sculpting techniques options offer an endless variety of possibilities for your own figure.  Go in any direction you like from a serious somber animal to an artistic or a whimsical dragon.  In the end it will be your fiber art figure unlike any other. Learn the technique Cyndy developed called  “Body and Face Building” This is an interesting combination of structural clay sculpting techniques incorporated into fiber only! Use of fabric manipulation and these building techniques will provide numerous uses in doll and figure making.  With the exception of some very simple machine sewing the workshop is almost all hand sewing!  You will be amazed at what can be accomplished with a needle and thread. You will choose from three dragon sizes   the measurements are from top of the head to the tip of tail. Of course, the tail is as long as the body.

Small – 20 inches long, stands approx 10 to 12 inches high

Medium – 40 inches long stands 18 to 20 inches

Large – 60 inches long, stands 28- 30 inches

It goes without saying, the larger the dragon the more handwork you will have, and the longer it will    take you.  The larger size dragon will not deter you from experiencing every aspect of the dragon.  Because of the unique design all parts, pieces, and building techniques will be covered on the smallest to largest dragon.

This class is not about size, style, or the dragon itself.  It is about design.  Learn how to take basic figures and turn them into marvelous 3 dimensional creatures with details you never thought possible with fabric. The  “Body and Face Building” technique that Cyndy has developed over years has produced amazing results.  She will teach you how to manipulate fabrics and build onto the figure giving detail and charm to your creations. 

4.   The tools learned in this symposium are far reaching, from construction, application and final embellishments.  Added skills in bead embellishment and other methods of enhancing the figure will be covered, and demonstrated.

Building of the beast will become a magical journey.  The primary skill learned by creating this piece is building jaws, teeth and claws that will take on an uncanny life like reality.  We will explore your own ideas and achieve an artistic result that speaks to you.  I am inviting into my world.

Class Skill Prerequisites Aura de’Dragon

  1. Your hand sewing skills must be good, neat and fast.  This workshop is 85% hand sewing.  You do not want to be left behind.
  2. Basic Sewing machine skills are needed.  You should be able to follow simple sewing instructions so that you may complete any pre-machine sewing.
  3. You must be ready for the next step in creative figure fiber arts.  In other words you need to have a creative mind and enjoy the unexpected turns your own work will take you.  You must be able to accept design changes mid stream, because you come up with a new idea. This thought process is encouraged and with the Cyndy’s guidance you will conquer your design challenges and achieve the desired effect.
  4. You should be ready to achieve the, “Next Step”.  Allow your creative mind to drive you instead of following a step-by-step process.

Supply List Information:

Kit fee is $25.00.  This will be paid in class on the first day.   Some machine sewing is required prior to class.  These pattern pieces will be mailed to you along with the instructions 6 weeks before the class starts, providing your are signed up for the class at that time

    No sewing machine is required in the classroom but you are encouraged to bring one   since the class is left open to your imagination, you may require a bit of machine sewing to accommodate your own design changes. For this reason I encourage those that can to bring their own machine to do so.  

    Size matters! You must have some idea the size of your dragon in order to do some basic pieces prior to class.  You will be required to bring a basic sewing kit. Homework, which consists of some pre-sewn parts, fabric, beads and threads that match your chosen fabric, will need to be purchase before class. The rest of the supplies will be included in your kit. 

   Why the dragon?  It is a very uniquely designed figure.  The structure of this animal allows us to use and experience many techniques.  It also allows us all to work on the same type of project so that the design and fabric manipulation and other techniques can be learned.