Student samples of free-motion stitching at a recent workshop

 

 

Some thread-sketching...

We had some fun at the workshop on Sunday in Cruthú Studio, Claregalway. A group of eager participants were introduced to a number of techniques to use in their textile work:

• finding inspiration
• developing ideas in sketchbooks
• free-motion machine stitching
• fusible appliqué
• foil appliqué
• soluble fabric

The above are some of the stitch samples produced, and I sincerely hope they found the class useful in helping them begin to find their own visual language so that they create unique textile artwork.

"Goodnight Chicken"

Hand-dyed fabrics, vintage lace, free-motion embroidery, fabric painting and machine-stitch sketching are just some of the techniques used to create this frame-stretched piece for the exhibition "Art is a Wound Turned into Light" at NUIG for Mental Health Week, which opened on September 30th 2015.
This piece was a slightly new direction for me to explore. I enjoyed allowing the piece to evolve in the same way as I treat a page in my sketchbook. I just gathered fabrics and lace scraps in my studio and allowed the piece to evolve as I worked.
Working in this way is all about enjoying the process and not worrying about the outcome.