teaching dates

 I am teaching in a few places this summer both for 'vintage' embroidery and stumpwork.

    In Ipswich I will be showing  how to embark on a stumpwork project, looking at basic techniques and how to plan the project. If stumpwork feels a bit daunting or beyond you I can show you how to make simple techniques very effective and give you a step plan to finish your work. This is a residential three day course...link here  in a hotel with use of pool, sauna and jacuzzi !!!!Perfect for aching fingers.
  At West Dean I will be getting students started on the best basic embroidery stitches, talking about colour and design and enjoying the garden !!!!It is a lovely time of year to take inspiration from the plants around you and West Dean has an idyllic garden. I will be there for four days, firstly for a three day course and then a one day taster course also in embroidery. Both course details are here.

There is also a further stumpwork course in Milton Keynes this September which I will write about soon.

Teaching in lovely places

 This year I am teaching in some lovely places ! Above is Theobalds park in Cheshunt where I will be teaching stumpwork in May with Anglia Leisure Learning . There is a link in the side bar too where you can download the flyer for the course. I will also be teaching during the summer at another venue with them which I will post about later. We will be looking at basic stumpwork for you to use in your own projects including some needlelace and raised stitches.

   I will also be at West Dean in March and then July teaching embroidery . The first course in July is a good starter course for embroidery where we have a vintage  theme and take inspiration from 1930's embroidery. Then there is a one day taster course in needlelace . Both places are beautiful and relaxing environments for learning with gardens for evening walks and great food.

   I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and having a lovely time at these beautiful houses.

Moss garden

   I recently taught a stumpwork course at West Dean college aimed at producing very tiny gardens in raised embroidery. For the sample I made my own moss garden and pebbled stream in a perfume box.
This was all worked in french knots,bullion stitch,cup stitch and picots with a little mica. The box measures  7x2x15cm and is covered in linen. I see some possibilities here.......

Reeds, beeswax and steel

My next course at West Dean is about the different construction techniques used in making corsets. It will cover hand stitched boning channels for 17th C. corsets, how to wax and insert reeds for stiffening plus steel boning, making eyelets and lacing all the way to 1890!
The stitching will begin on the 17th of July and booking will close soon as there are limited places on this course.

p.s. website all sorted out !

is winter over yet ?

   

                                 

     
     I saw some snowdrops, I think it's safe to come out.... in my pockets I've got a new doll, moths, a sheila-na-gig and an embroidered page . I've been busy.
     Firstly, I will be teaching at West Dean college 13th-15th March, basic embroidery and needlelace, just click on the link to see the details. Then I'll show what I have in my pocket......

Details are from the 'In my garden I am Queene' embroidered corset and 'Goblin Market' corset, see 'labels' for more posts.

Butterfly weekend

Next week I will be teaching a butterfly brooch making course at the lovely West Dean college near Chichester. Students can go and visit the local butterfly farm and then come and learn the skills to make a stumpwork butterfly brooch ! This is a gorgeous place to learn any skill, all the tutors are practising artists and the house and grounds are so beautiful. At night the blue dusk lays like velvet against the golden light from the candelabra lit windows in the state rooms, in the early morning you can walk around the dewy walled victorian gardens.......'still some places left !

West Dean

I have just come back from teaching raised embroidery at West Dean college which was an absolute joy. There is so much to inspire me there and I have come back with lots of interesting leaves for stumpwork projects and others !

Embroidery course

 If you are interested in my work and would like to try stumpwork I will be teaching at West Dean college in May. The course is for any ability and will cover the basics of stumpwork including both hand and machine techniques. It is ideal for anyone who has a project in mind but doesn't know how to tackle 3-d elements or would just like to add to their knowledge. I like to encourage design skills and the students own artistry so that they can directly relate what they are learning to their own work.
Some examples of me planning out projects.......

Corset heaven

Two weeks ago I taught a corset making course at West Dean college in Chichester (see earlier blog). My students worked very hard to produce their own made- to -measure corset and I'm very proud !!!!!

In the light

Come and join us !!You can also contact me via this blog.

Get it to fit , love it forever !

I will be running a class at Prick Your Finger once a month to help you resuscitate , recreate or resurrect your clothes. If you always find that things just don't fit right or maybe you've a project that you need help with , Rachael and I will be there to show you how to do it . We both have a lot of experience in making clothes and I have a passion for 'make do and mend'.
What you learn in the class will be literally tailored to your needs and you can then go away and apply it to all your outfits forever more !!
All the details can found on the PYF blog , just follow the link above.