Category Archives: workshops

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

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

 

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

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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

Open Studios 2017

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A colourful workshop with members of the Much Wenlock WI brought Open Studios 2017 to a delightful end today. Textile stories and techniques have been exchanged as those who stitch do! Thank you for all my lovely visits.

And I said goodbye to my blackbirds as they went off to a new home.

Happy Open Studios 2017

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.