About

It all began a few years ago with a creative embroidery evening class. Little did I know the journey I was embarking on. From that class with no art experience whatsoever ( I dropped art at school at the end of the third year) I began City & Guilds Embroidery Part 1. From there I went on to do City & Guilds Preparing Working Design and Embroidery Part 2. Because I had no knowledge of any aspect of art and very little of embroidery I have had to learn it all from scratch.

As soon as I started Embroidery Part 1 it was as though something in me was released. A whole new world opened up around me, full of beauty and potential. I believe in many ways it has been a great advantage having no art experience. I approach a lot of my work with the thought ‘What if?’. In this way I am open to trying different ideas and ways of working. Because I know none of the rules I am not constrained by them.

As an artist in textiles I work with fabric and thread in the way a traditional artist uses paint and canvas. Many of the designs are based on my own observations of nature, often using drawings and photographs I have taken to capture the mood of that particular moment.

In my work I incorporate both hand and free machine embroidery techniques. I make felt using a variety of silk fibres and paint many of the fabrics and threads myself to ensure getting the exact colours I want. This gives me greater flexibility with the types of fabrics and threads I use and makes my work very personal to me.

I have learnt other skills along the way; photography, hat making, writing poetry and flower arranging. I enjoy them all, but working with fabrics and threads is still my favourite medium.

I trade under the name Dewdrop Designs. DEW are my initials and the name Dewdrop symbolising to me something fresh and new.

I accept commissions, give talks on creative embroidery, teach workshops and demonstrate hat making. If you would like more information please contact me .

Dorothy