Author Archives: suzette smart

About suzette smart

Iam a textile artist living in idyllic rural Shropshire with a passion for colour and all things stitch.

Open Studios 2019

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Well I can’t believe it’s Open Studios 2019. 8/9th & 15/16th June 10am to 5pm Where did that year go? Anyway, I’m doing things a little different this year and instead of visiting me at my home studio, I’m moving to a pop up studio at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry. The group exhibition is in the main gallery and I will be somewhere out back along with Judith Harrison, printmaker.

As part of Open Studios, I will be running a Mini Mixed Media Workshop at The Willow next Tuesday, 11th June. 10am to 1pm.  Combine one of the mixed media techniques I use with a little free machine embroidery or hand stitch if you prefer. Cost £25 All abilities. For further details email me at suzettesmart1@btinternet.com or Tel 07966983868

 

Happy open studios and happy stitching to you All!

 

Open Studios 8/9th & 15/16th June 2019

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This isn’t an all new piece but one I’ve added to and embellished further. I am known for taking a pair of scissors to something I’m dissatisfied with but I thought this was worth saving. 

There will be opportunity to see it and other works in the BVA Open Studios Exhibition at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry (18th May to 29th June)

As a little extra this year, I will be  running a Mini Mixed Media Workshop on Tuesday, 11th June at the Willow Gallery from 10am to 1pm. Cost £25. We will be stitching too and some materials are provided. For further details you can contact myself at suzettesmart1@btinternet.com or TEL 07966983868 

For open studios itself, I will be in a pop up studio along with printmaker, Judith Harrison behind the gallery. As well as work for sale, we’re going to have stitching, printing and mixed media demonstrations and for those who would like to have a go, there will be opportunity for this too! The open studios weekends are 8/9th June and the 15/16th June 10am to 5pm

http://www.willowgalleryoswestry.org

http://www.borderlandvisualarts.com

I do not write poetry

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I’d written a little something in stitch a while ago which has been sitting patiently for an embroidery to call its own. As an embroiderer, I don’t waste anything I stitch. Whether it’s cut up and collaged into something I’m working on, or the foundation for an entire new piece as this one is. Anyway, here are the words with pictures following.

“I do not write poetry,

I do not write prose,

Give me a pen and I shall learn then,

How to draw my world in words.”

There’s a lot to be learnt when I’m working on a piece of this scale, this then filters through to smaller works, stitched books and workshops. A lovely flow of ideas, techniques and inspiration. For further details on workshops please go to dates for the diary.

And now for some lovely news from a couple of weeks ago. I have now joined a growing number of artists and makers in becoming a new member of The Society For Embroidered Work or S.E.W. for short. Look them up at http://www.societyforembroideredwork.com or follow the #societyforembroideredwork on instagram and twitter. Stitch, create and be happy xx


 

 

An embroidered tale or two

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It’s been a busy few weeks making with a couple of lovely visits to share stitching ideas, inspiration and tales. Last week took me to Trinity Quilters in Sutton Coldfield and this week I visited Frodsham Patchwork Group. A big thank you to both who made me hugely welcome x

 

 

As for the making, I’ve been busy creating amongst other works these small mixed media landscapes each with it’s own bird, tree and stitched tale to call it’s own. They can be found in exhibition at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry, until the New Year. http://www.willowgalleryoswestry.org  (27.5 x 29 cm framed / middle of first row is sold)

 

 

Following on from these smaller collages, I couldn’t resist stitching a few more trees! With some familiar characters added including a Great Tit, a fox or two and a funny little animal, there are tales aplenty. The backgrounds are mostly vintage money bags which are beautiful to stitch in to and inspired the night time scenes. These pieces will be back from framing this week with “out under a clear sky” off to his new home.  

 

 

Signing off with a happy stitching to All,

Suzette x

Workshop at Waddow Hall

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Last weekends workshop took me to Waddow Hall in Clitheroe which overlooks the River Ribble. A beautiful setting to spend a few days stitching with members of the South Cheshire Embroiderers Guild.

A quick start on Friday afternoon and a full day of stitching on Saturday ensured there was a little time for some final embellishment with beads and hand stitch on Sunday.

I can’t believe how much we got done! Thank you All for making me most welcome.

 

Waddow Hall

A painting of Waddow Hall circa 1690

 

 

It’s been a while

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It’s been a while folks! So I’ve put together a collage of images from recent workshops, work and events.

My Jay is finished and waiting to be framed. I was adding the final stitches during open studios in June when someone gave me a Jay feather that they had picked up on a walk that morning. I like it when that happens. It adds an unseen layer to the stitches.

That’s me in the top picture at the beautiful Westhope College in South Shropshire. It was their annual open weekend and exhibition of students work. An inspirational and creative place which I was able to enjoy from the garden with basketry demonstrations happening around me. My workshop dates at Westhope can be found in Dates for the diary and on their website.

http://www.westhope.org.uk

A mixed media layer and text have definitely found their way amongst the fabric collage and stitch in recent workshops. I’ve tailored my next date at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry, to experiment and play with these layers further. This will give me an excuse to get messy too, not that I need one of course! For Willow Gallery dates, see Dates in the diary and their website below.

http://www.willowgalleryoswestry.org

Happy days are those spent stitching x

 

Sneak peek

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With so many favourite bits already, I couldn’t resist this sneak peek of work in progress. Although, currently at 1.4 metres x 1.35 metres I could be here for sometime. A blackbird and a pair of red shoes can be found in it and the remnants of a 1970s house coat. With props like those it’s going to keep me busy for a few more weeks yet.

 

Happy stitching

Textile books and bird boxes

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Creativity is now in full flow after a slow start to 2018 and with some new textile books and a couple of bird boxes made, there is no stopping me! With a couple of tweaks the mixed media bird boxes will be ready for a workshop date sometime soon. They have already had a trial run at my kitchen table sewing days with gorgeous results!

 

Bird box (detail)
Mixed media
Mixed media
Machine and hand stitch with mixed media

 

And with the close of The Winter Curiousities Exhibition at Twenty Twenty, Much Wenlock, I said goodbye to these garden birds.

 

Autumn and Spring song
with a tilted up-tail

Happy stitching x

Alsager Creative Stitchers

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A fabulously creative workshop yesterday with Alsager Creative Stitchers who made me most welcome. With the same starting point, members then developed their pieces individually with painted bondaweb, fabric collage, machine and hand embroidery. A busy day with plenty of tea and biscuits to keep us working!

Natural inspiration
Building up layers
Fabric collage
Machine and hand embroidery

Stitching days x

Drumming and Textiles

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Last weeks workshops for The Ow Bist Project with The Qube Oswestry were full of colour and energy. On Tuesday the group took inspiration from Autumn leaves and mandalas to create richly colourful pieces of work. Then on Wednesday morning and afternoon, I teamed up with fellow Ow Bist Tutor, Ade Powell, for a day of drumming and textiles. While half of the group filled the room with rhythm and energy, the other half used mark making and resist techniques on lengths of calico to respond to the sounds of the drumming. All in beautiful settings around Oswestry.

For further details on the project please go to http://www.qube-oca.org.uk and look for special projects.

Fabric collage and stitch
Mark making
Wax resist
Drumming and Textile Workshop

 

And with the end of The Birds of Wales Exhibition at Oriel Ynys Mon, Anglesey, I said goodbye to this tale and two other pieces as they went off to new homes.

Aderyn Bach Syw

Happy stitching days x