Tag Archives: Oswestry

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


 

 

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

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

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

Ow Bist Project with the Qube, Oswestry

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I have had another fabulous time running textile workshops for The Ow Bist Project this week. The Project is run by the Qube in Oswestry and gives people in rural areas the opportunity of joining in on a range of creative workshops.

At one of the workshops someone shared their collection of exquisite textiles which included a Shamans robe from China. Inspiration aplenty!

 

 

The project was made possible with a grant from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

If you would like more information on the project, go to http://www.qube-oca.org.uk and look for Special Projects.

Open Studios and Exhibitions

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These garden birds and other work can be seen at my home studio and at The Willow Gallery next month as part of Open Studios in and around Oswestry. (10th/11th & 17th/18th June) There will be demonstrations and I may have cake!

And some of my embroideries will be flying further afield this Autumn as part of the following two exhibitions.

Birds of Wales Exhibition 16th September – 5th November at Oriel Ynys Mon, Anglesey

Winter Curiosities 2nd December – end of January at Twenty Twenty, Much Wedlock

http://www.borderlandvisualarts.com

http://www.birdsofwales.org

http://www.twenty-twenty.co.uk

 

Garden visitors

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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.

Stitched books and blackbirds

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I know Spring is in the air when the blackbirds make themselves known in and around the garden and hedgerows. I couldn’t resist their charms this year so they are featuring in a new stitched book. There is a sneak peek of the first layer below along with one I did earlier! It will be a mixed media piece and will take the form of a concertina with a little bit of running stitch to finish off.

You can join me for a workshop on Saturday, 1st April to make your own stitched book at Castle Court Quilter, Whittington, Oswestry. For further details or to book, contact myself at suzettesmart1@btinternet.com or Tel 07966983868

2017-03-06-10-06-34

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

Queen Anne’s lace

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May must be one of my favourite months as the trees and hedgerows are dense with blossom and cow parsley. That’s why I couldn’t resist stitching this new emboidery.

An alternative name for cow parsley is Queen Anne’s lace, so it was quite fitting that a little bit of lace found it’s way in.

Borders and hedgerows workshop on Wednesday, 21st September. See dates for the diary for further details.

Happy stitching.