Tag Archives: Oswestry

Inspiration

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Over the last couple of weeks I’ve managed to clock up quite a few stitching miles creating new mixed media samples and the piece of work below with alliums and berries. Inspiration has come from the Autumn displays around the house and the jugs and vases they sit in. When I need something new to add, a quick hunt around the garden and a new seed head is found.

Base layers have been made up of painted bondaweb emulsion paint and image transfer with plenty of cutting, stitching and repurposing of samples and vintage fabrics. All I can say is hold on to your scarf if I have scissors in hand!

Happy stitching x

News!

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I’m absolutely thrilled to find out today that the piece below has been accepted into the inaugural Vlieseline Fine Art Textile Award Gallery at The Festival of Quilts this August. The gallery can be seen again at the Knitting & Stitching Shows in the Autumn. I’m going to say it again, I’m thrilled!!!

Mixed Media Textile Books

 

On another note, it’s a busy weekend ahead with a workshop at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry on Saturday, and then on Sunday I shall be demonstrating at Westhope College, Craven Arms on their Open Weekend. Plenty of stitching, chatting and drinking of tea!

Happy stitching x

http://www.westhope.org.uk            www.willowgalleryoswestry.org

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.

Mixed Media Textile Books
Mixed Media Collage

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
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.