I’m hoping that there are some readers out there who may have some opinions they would share with me. As regular readers will know I have been taking online classes on a regular basis at the Quilt University. I have taken some excellent classes and had some excellent teachers, but I am finding it increasingly difficult to find classes that are going to take me a step further towards becoming a more accomplished and professional quilter.
A recent article in Harvard Business Review Jul-Aug 2007 “The Making of an Expert” got me thinking again about what my next steps should be. Apart from practice, practice, practice – it takes 10 years of it to become an expert and then you have to do the right kind of practice – the authors also stress that to become an expert you need a mentor who will offer you honest feedback. This is something that I have felt to be a bit missing from the courses at QU. These are more classroom situations where you are naturally only one of many students.
So once again I have been considering taking an online course for the City & Guilds Patchwork and Quilting Level 3 Certificate. The course content sounds interesting to me. I think it would probably stretch me and I hope the teaching situation would be more of a one to one contact. The courses aren’t cheap though, so I find it difficult to make up my mind. If I invest that money will I gain sufficient benefit to be able to push myself into being something more than just a hobby quilter or will it just turn out to be an expensive hobby?
I have many years experience at sewing and other handicrafts and consider myself to be reasonably accomplished. I don’t have any kind of formal art/design education but have done some self study. Would this course be the right one for me? If anyone out there has experience of the course I would be interested to hear from them. Any other opinions are also welcome.
Hia, Michelle pointed me in your direction and I thought i would share my experience of C+G with you. I am currently taking part 1 (year 2) in C+G embroidery, and i love it. its is well worth all the pennies and has revolutionised my job, and without wanting to sound melodramatic my life! I am a textiles teacher in a comprehensive (high school)and in Britain it is very hard to get inservice training in textiles so i got some funding to do C+G and i have never looked back. I consider myself a textile artist now where as before i was only a teacher and my lessons are 100% more interesting. I also have seen the best ever grades at GCSE – with 78% A-C and 100% A-D. I hope this helps you to make up your mind, I think you will enjoy it for sure!
Hello there I was passed your site via Ruth, who is in my textile challenges group. I have taken many C@G courses, and currently on one now, level 3 Stumpwork, however these have all been at the local college not online, and i do believe the online course content varies from teacher to teacher. tell me who is it you are thinking of going with.
I have my C@G in both P@Q and Embroidery. I have to say these are wonderful courses and give you so much enjoyment and lots of new design skills/colouring /stitches etc to name but a few, but as to your getting a job or becoming an international quilt artist etc that is entirely on either who you know, getting out there with your work, shows etc, and then who knows you may strike lucky, me well i never pushed it so i can not really comment further.
Do ask me anything you want to know though.
Juliette Coates
Mixed media artist
HI
I had your question come to me from 2 directions. I can only answer for myself but life would be very boring without C&G. I have several C&G qualifications, 7822 embroidery, 7822 machine embroidery, 7822 creative sketchbooks, 7822 computer studies, 7922 (part1)Embroidery and Design and now on my last year doing 7923 (Diploma, old part2)Embroidery and Design. I have managed to change my job with these, i know am a Craft Instructor and events co-ordinator with the local council in a Day Care centre for the elderly. Shortly i will be teaching young students (14 to 16) at the centre for a couple of hours a week on their NVQ course doing activities for the old, disabled and infirm. Its a very worth while job and i wouldn’t be there without the C&Gs.
Not only my job but with a co student we have opened a practical group where we will be doing workshops, trips
exhibitions etc. I will be teaching at a couple of these workshops.
I agree the cost is crazy for these courses and it seems each tutor has a different way of looking at it, i know someone who was with the Kemshalls and loved every part of it and felt it was money well spent.I would find it hard to justify spending that amount on myself i have to be honest here in Swansea we have one of the lowest tutor fees in the country if not the lowest. (£80 per year). If you can afford it go for it you will enjoy every minute of it and will finish up wanting more. Why not try the 7822 course first its about £500, you will learn an awful lot from it if you do the embroidery course.
I don’t know if all this information helps but good luck
Chris
Thank you Carol, Juliette and Chris for taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate all your thoughts and your positive encouragement. Thank you for sharing your stories. They have been a big help in making a decision. I’m almost there now. Watch the blog for the outcome.
Ruth
Hello Ruth,
I have just read about your enquire into C&G courses. As it happens I have just started an on line course with a lady called Enid who is the tutor of Carol Taylor. Although I have not been doing it for very long I must say that the tutor Enid is a very nice lady and always replies to any questions that you may have right away. By the way the course I am taking with her is 7822-05 Embroidery.
As for the cost it is quite expensive but as there is not a college in this area that does any of the textile courses I have no other choice. I hope this helps.
Gillian in North Devon.