Category Archives: The Willow Gallery

Garden and Studio

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The garden has definitely been winning over the studio these last couple of months, feeding my creativity and well being all in one. Firmly back in doors and I’ve been working on some new exhibition pieces for a group exhibition at The Willow Gallery starting late August and another called ‘Old Roads, Ancient Tracks” at Oriel Ty Meirion, date TBC. Some of these pieces are shown here.

As Open Studios is of course cancelled this month, I’m also sharing a collage of some of my favourite textile books. A staple of any talk or workshop.

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon, happy stitching x

 

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

 

Mixed Media Collage
Mixed Media Textile Books

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

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

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

 

Stitched books

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With a little mixed media and plenty of stitch, I’m very happy with these finished books. I worked the various layers across the base fabric, and didn’t define the ‘pages’ until the very end. The covers are more detailed with a title, running stitch and bullion knots.

I like them as they are but would quite like to open them out and frame them too! Choices, choices.

They will be in The Willow Gallery, Oswestry, from next week. (unframed)

If you would like to make your own Mixed media / stitched Book, join me for a workshop at The Qube, Oswestry on Wednesday, 5th July.

info@qube-oca.org.uk / 01691 656882

Stitch, create and be happy.

Garden visitors

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Garden Visitors
Garden visitors

 

Finished yesterday, this piece is definitely not bashful! With all the bursts of yellow daffodils and some handsome visitors to my garden, I definitely had a Spring time tale to tell. A wonderful excuse to use some of my most vibrant fabrics and threads for piecing and stitching these colourful characters.

And for now, back to the sewing machine to tackle the blossom that is in full bloom.

Happy Stitching.

Natural Inspiration

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Inspiration is sometimes in short supply during the month of January. The skies are grey and Christmas feels like a long time ago. So I dig deep into boxes of fabric and threads and take a closer look at the landscape around me. Plants, animals and birds soon have me piecing and stitching away. A new must buy of recycled sari silks helps too!

 

Next week I will be out and about visiting Staffordshire Patchworkers and Quilters with more tales of inspiration behind the stitch. Please see their website for further details.

And finally, a couple of workshop dates for your diary.

Birds or flowers at Castle Court Quilter, Whittington on Saturday, 18th February, 2017. Experiment with a variety of fabrics for collage and use free machine embroidery for mark making and drawing to create a piece of work with either birds, flowers or both! Times 10am to 4pm / Cost £40

 

Within a landscape at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry on Saturday, 13th May, 2017. Experiment with a variety of fabrics for collage and use free machine embroidery for mark making and drawing to create a piece of work inspired by the landscape. Times 10am to 4pm / Cost £40

A belated happy New Year and happy stitching x