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.

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.

 

with a tilted up-tail
Autumn and Spring song

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

Dear Robin

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In the last post I shared a new piece entitled “come to tea”, now we have another invitation with “Dear Robin”. With such a rich crop of fruit and berries this year, these tea time narratives are just waiting to be stitched!

Dear Robin
Dear Robin (detail)
Dear Robin (detail)
Dear Robin (detail)
Dear Robin (detail)

 

Happy stitching x

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After a busy time in the run up to The birds of Wales Exhibition, it took a few days to settle down to stitching. Once I had taken a look at the new colours emerging in the landscape and the berries on the trees, I was ready! There are just a few more stitches I want to add and then this piece will be ready for The Winter Curiosities Exhibition at the Twenty Twenty Gallery, Much Wenlock. (2nd December – end of January)  Another work to be included will be my Spring time pheasants, so lots of rich colours on show.

2017-09-26 14.58.34

“come to tea”

2017-09-26 14.54.55

“come to tea” (detail)

Workshops 

A varied programme of workshops this Autumn including stitched books, birds and boxes. See Dates for the diary for further information or get in touch if you would like a list of dates suzettesmart1@btinternet.com

Stitching days x