Workshops

The workshops I teach are very flexible and can be for a whole day, a part day or a series over a few weeks.

I know that students have different levels of experience and expertise. I like everyone to learn the technique which I am teaching, but then it is up to each individual to do with it what they want. Some like to follow what I have done exactly whilst others prefer to follow their own ideas. I am perfectly happy for this to happen and I find it very interesting to see how people develop their own interpretation. Above all, I try to make the workshop as informative and enjoyable for everyone as possible.

With all the workshops where an item is made, this is very flexible as each technique could be used to make a picture; a front for a decorative cushion; a panel for a bag or a greetings card depending on the scale. In fact anything the student wants.

When I started as an artist in textiles I had no art experience whatsoever and was terrified of drawing. I therefore have a great empathy with anyone who would love to be creative, but is very nervous at starting.

I have City & Guilds qualifications in Teaching in Further Education: Embroidery Parts 1 & 2 and I have also been CRB checked.

For more details please contact me .

Workshops Overview

Have A Dabble Day

This gives students the opportunity to try different things. I find a good combination is painting fabrics and threads, free machine embroidery and doing hand embroidery stitches in a slightly unconventional way.

Create A Landscape

Experimenting with coloured organzas and nets to create a landscape picture. The first part of the day is spent experimenting with different combinations of organzas and nets. By the end of the workshop the students will have three A4 size pieces of fabric with squares of different combinations of organza and net and a small landscape picture in organza and net.

Black & White Day

Similar to the Landscape above, but using only black and white net and organza. In the sample photos I have worked abstract designs, but a landscape could be done.

Decorative Bowl

Make a bowl using water soluble fabric, scraps of fabrics and free machine embroidery.

Do Your Own Design

Learn how to do your own design using a very simple idea. (Even students who have been terrified of drawing have enjoyed this and found they can do it) Then use your design to make a panel of Suffolk Puffs and hand embroidery stitches. This panel can be any size so it could be a picture, cushion, greetings card etc. It is all worked in neutral colours to keep the design aspect simple.

Experimenting With Colour

Colour is such a big subject, but for this workshop we would look at the colour wheel, make up a sheet of colours in the way they appear on the colour wheel: put complementary colours together. Experiment with the 3 primary colours and black, both in paint and threads. Work samples in hand embroidery stitches using different coloured backgrounds.

Abstract Picture

Using a combination of embroidery stitches either all hand or a mixture of hand and free machine embroidery, together with beads to make either a picture to frame, a decorative cushion or a greetings card.

4 Seasons Panel

This is painting a piece of hessian and threads to match in the colours of the 4 seasons and then using hand embroidery stitches to embellish the work. I suggest having 2 half days for this as it takes a long time for the hessian to dry. For part of the first half day I could also teach about colour – some of the topics as described below.

Free Machine Embroidery

We would begin by using the machine in its ordinary sewing mode to see what can be achieved with just a straight stitch and zig-zag. We would then move on to using the machine for free machine embroidery techniques. These can then be used to embroider panels which can be made into a decorative cushion or similar.

Felt making Using Both Silk And Wool Tops

Spend the day learning how to make felt with silk tops and wool tops. One option is to use the felt to make a design for a decorative cushion.

A Christmas Cushion

Add a bit of glitz at Christmas with this cushion, worked in both free machine and hand embroidery.

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