Talks and Workshops
Textile Talk “Myths, Legends and Stories in Textiles and Mixed Media.”
I take the viewer on a trip to different times and places. I talk about the techniques I use that
inspire me, from history, storytelling, symbolism, literature, applied arts and the Natural World. My work is often large in scale and is produced using a wide range of media incorporating free machine embroidery. I bring a variety of examples for members to handle and photograph.The talk can be delivered as a Powerpoint Presentation or with actual examples of work, or a combination of both.
The talk costs £100 and lasts around an hour.
Textile Talk “Menagerie.”
I explore and celebrate the Natural World through my use of textiles and mixed media,
referencing mythology, religion, stories, art, symbolism, literature and the Decorative Arts. I will take the viewer to different times and places to show how the Natural World has been depicted in visual form. The images are narrative with each one telling a specific story. Examples of this are the “Wonder Room” panels, highlighting endangered creatures which are on the on the Red List. “And Two Fishes” highlights the plight of the oceans. In other works I make visual references to Della Robbia, De Morgan, Leonardo, William Morris, WB Yeats and many more. The talk can be delivered as a PowerPoint Presentation or with actual examples of work, or a combination of both.
The talk costs £100 and lasts around an hour.
Workshops
I provide some of the materials required for each workshop and will supply a materials list for participants to bring with them. There may be a small charge for some of the more specialist materials.
Fantastic Floral Frames
Use a 25cm metal ring and embellish it with leaves, flowers, berries, butterflies and fruits. Wrap pipe cleaners to create stems and branches and use acrylic paint to add detail. This is a hand stitch workshop. Stitched Songbirds The birds are created with hand stitch. Use an oil pastel transfer method to trace your template on to calico, then paint and stitch. The birds will be positioned on a 20cm wire ring which will be embellished with funky foam leaves and flowers. The birds will be padded.
Fabulous Fans
Choose from a selection of patterns. Trace your design on to clear PVC and use cellophanes and chiffons to create a layered effect with your tracing on the top. Machine stitch the pattern and add painted wooden sticks as handles, finally adding a tassel.
Black Magic
You will create your own composition by selecting from a range of templates including parrots, vines, animals, flowers, suns, fruits, butterflies and leaves. These will be traced on to clear PVC as above, layered with iridescent holographic vinyl and machine stitched. Acrylic paint will be applied to the surface of the PVC to add texture. The individual elements will be stitched on to shiny black Lycra fabric.
Small Worlds
This workshop offers you the choice of tracing your design on to PVC and machine stitching, or you can create a piece of fused fabric using felt, fabric and netting. There are several templates to choose from including frogs, fishes, butterflies, chameleons, turtles, peacocks, birds and flowers which will be machine stitched. You will use a 25cm wire ring to create an environment for your creature to “live” in using a variety of different media.
Hundertwasser Lollipop Trees
This project is inspired by Austrian artist Hundertwasser and his lollipop tree motifs. Use layers of brightly coloured felt, lollipop sticks and embroidery stitches to create three or five trees which will be positioned against a striped landscape within a round frame.
Larger Scale Workshops
These lend themselves to sessions which last for more than one day. I am able to provide large copies of the templates listed above. Participants make large panels which are between A2 and A3 in size. PVC plastic is used to trace the image and again an environment is created for the creature. There is an emphasis on composition and mixed media.
