Seminars With Shirley Cunningham
artist, author designer, lecturer and master fitter

You can meet Shirley and get your Questions answered in person!

AN ARTIST IN CLOTH

In this lecture demonstration class Shirley talks about the creation of her one-of-a-kind art piece opera jackets. She describes her jackets as wearable paintings. To assure the total uniqueness of each piece, the opera jackets are created from vintage clothing. Each jacket is named and has it’s own illustrated story book detailing its personal fashion history. In this class she will talk the student through the creative process step-by-step. She will discuss the use of color, texture, and proportion in the creative process. The class will feature 15 completed jackets along with some "in progress" so the student can view the complete process.

Mobile, Alabama
September 27, 1999 - 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Contact Sue Kondis - 334-634-3133
E-mail:  [email protected]

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CLOTH JOURNEY

This three hour class features 100 vintage garments form the 1890’s thru the 1960’s. These garments are from the instructor’s collection of vintage clothes used in the creation of her art piece jackets which are the subject of Friday nights lecture. The actual garments are shown allowing those who attend not only to see, but feel and sketch the fascinating designs and treatments of past fashion decades. Unlike the couture designs in fashion museums shown only behind glass, these dresses, some from ready-to wear, some hand sewn, worn, loved and saved by everyday women can be touched and examined by the student. The garments will also be shown on slides to enable everyone to see. This seminar studies the DESIGN, FABRICS. CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES and EMBELLISHMENT used in each fashion decade. At the end of the seminar the student is encouraged to examine and sketch any of the garments that interest them.

The above seminar will be available at the following American Stitches Shows
Contact American Stitches for registration information

Indianapolis IN.                     September 17 to 19, 1999
Novi MI.                                  October 1 to 3, 1999
Buffalo NY.                             October 14 to 16, 1999
Ft. Washington PA                November 11 to 13, 1999

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PATTERN TALK
You, The Pattern and Sewing Success!

If you love fashion sewing and want to learn more about using the commercial pattern successfully, mark your calendar and join us for this fun, informative class.

"What size pattern do I buy when my top and bottom don’t match?"

"Looking good in what I make is what I want! How do I know that a pattern is going to look good on me before I buy it?"

"It seems I find myself re-inventing the wheel every time I try to sew for myself. Is there an easier way to have success without making a muslin every time?"

Spend time with Shirley Cunningham, artist, teacher, lecturer, author of THE DRESSING ROOM, and creator of FOR THE FIT OF IT. Shirley is a fashion designer and real pattern pro. She will have the answer to these and many more of your questions. She also will reveal hints for avoiding those pattern pitfalls that plague us all.

You will leave this class saying, "If only I had this information years ago! At last I understand the dreason and the solution for so many of my fashion sewing problems of the past."

The above seminar will be available at the following American Stitches Shows.
Contact American Stitches for registration information

Indianapolis IN.                     September 17 to 19, 1999
Novi MI.                                  October 1 to 3, 1999
Buffalo NY.                             October 14 to 16, 1999
Ft. Washington PA                November 11 to 13, 1999

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FASHION SEWING
"Up Close and Personal"

Treat yourself to a fun, informative, relaxing day! What could be better than a day at our "Sewing Spa" featuring designer, artist, and author Shirley Cunningham.  Learn the designer secrets that will create the look you are desiring from your fashion sewing.  At the end of the day you will know

--- How to use line, color, and silhouette to your best advantage
--- Just what to look for when you shop the pattern catalogue
--- How to determine all your correct skirt lengths, (long, short and in-between)
--- What jacket length is right with what skirt length
--- And best of all go home with a fashion idea designed especially for you using a       favorite piece from your fabric stash. 

Come with your tape measure, calculator, leotard, 3 of your favorite shoes with different heel heights, maximum of six patterns from your stash.

This  "New Class" will be available the day preceeding  all of the American Stitches  Shows on the following dates.   Contact American Stitches for registration information.

Indianapolis IN.                     September 16, 1999
Novi MI.                                  September 30, 1999
Buffalo NY.                             October 13, 1999
Ft. Washington PA                November 10, 1999

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Shirley’s products designed to make fashion sewing easier will be available for purchase but are not required or necessary to receive the maximum form this informative class.

SHIRLEY CUNNINGHAM
Native Texan, artist, author, designer, lecturer and master fitter; Shirley graduated from TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY in 1956 with a B.S. degree in Clothing and Costume Design. In designed to teach couture sewing, design and fitting techniques used by couture designers. Encouraging fine fashion sewing, it set the standard for quality in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area for 30 years. In 1989 she established JSL Fabrics Inc., a 3,700 sq. ft. fabric store, bringing together quality teaching and beautiful fabrics under one roof. JSL Fabrics and Seamstress School were closed in 1991 when the inventory was destroyed by a fire. Since then Shirley has hit the road from west to east and places in between conducting seminars for enthusiastic fashion sewers.

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Copyright 1999 SHIRL C. INC.
7557 Rambler Road Suite 1023,
Dallas TX 75231
Ph: 214-739-2644 Fax: 214-691-7999
E-mail: [email protected]