Workshops
Found Collected Dyed Stitched
During this retreat style 3 or 4 days workshop, we will explore found and collected objects we all seem to gather at different times. We will look into what we can do with our treasures. Found objects can include shells, bits of driftwood, pieces of crockery, buttons, rusty iron, copper bits, feathers and much more. Our found and collected objects may have stories we like to share. Eco dyeing also fits into this theme, as the vegetation we dye with is most of the time found, collected and stored, such as windfall in parks and bush and sea weed on the beaches, grown in our gardens and saved in our kitchens. Various ways of attaching found objects onto cloth or on a piece of clothing will be demonstrated as well embroidery stitches. The end results of this workshop could be an embellished piece(s) of cloth or garment, a gathering bag, a soft sculpture, a book cover, pages to make a book or a wall piece, just to name some.
During the workshop there will be opportunities to read short stories and poems. Writing, drawing and meditations could be in the cards too.
The pace will be gentle, the focus on feeling content and relaxed in a peaceful environment.
From Sketch to Stitch
This workshop can be run over 1 or 2 days.
​
In this workshop we work with basic equipment and materials so it can be practised anywhere any time. The finished samples will be your very own design. For anyone who wants to create unique textile art works and not use commercial embroidery patterns, this is the workshop for you.
​
Day 1
We will start of with some simple and quick contour drawing exercises in various ways. Objects to draw will be available or you can bring your own. The chosen sketches will be traced on tissue paper or if you feel confident you can draw on the tissue paper. This is then attached to a selected piece of background material. Follow the drawn lines with needle and thread. Tear away the tissue paper after stitching the drawn lines. Work it further if desired. A series of works can be created from a chosen theme.
​
Day 2
After doing more sketching, select the drawings you like best and transfer them onto thin cardboard.
The drawings will be cut out and then have become templates which can be used to do rubbings
(frotage) on cloth, with charcoal sticks or wax crayons.
From there on we will continue in stitch. The end result is your own unique design.
​
​
This workshop is suitable for beginners and the medium advanced. Basic skills in hand stitching are required for this workshop. Various ways to stich lines and embroidery stitches will be demonstrated during this workshop.
Cutting with Courage
Re purpose outdated or preworn clothing into trendy wearable art pieces.
​
Course Outline:
Take……..
A shirt t shirt, jumper or cardigan out of your wardrobe, which may be out of date, or you found at an opportunity shop. Something about the garment appeals to you, the colour, the texture or the feel of it. But you would not wear them as they are. They need something…..
-
Learn how to turn it into a unique trendy wearable art piece;
-
Together with other pieces of clothes, knits, collected fabrics, embellishments, bits of lace and doyleys and what ever else you can think of;
-
Cut off, add on, play, stitch, embellish, have fun and be creative. You can spend the time available on one piece or you may like to start another piece and finish them later at home; and
-
Gain confidence and give your self permission to cut into clothes. Then start thinking of ways how to fix them and turn them into a unique garment, which will be a real talking point. Enjoy wearing something very different which has been your own creation.
​
Expected out come of this workshop:
-
Make a trendy wearable art piece out of outdated or second hand pieces of clothing;
-
New sewing and stitching ideas and skills may be developed; and
-
Problem solving as you go.
Creative Embroidery
Course Outline
This workshop will help you with putting your ideas onto cloth in stitch and build on to existing skills. Participants will be encouraged to do various exercises in how to express your self with needle and tread, in a playful way.
We will concentrate on designing and starting to make samples, which can be made into a book, or later on being used to decorate clothing or starting a series of work which can be later made into wall pieces. Other possibilities are making a book cover or cushion cover.
I will bring several pieces of my work for you to have a look at and inspire you.
Wrapping Cloths (Furoshiki)
Course Outline
This is a new workshop, very much related to Creative Embro.
We will be exploring various embroidery stitches. The straight stitch is a favorite because it is so versatile and has so many effects on how it is placed, the sizes of stitches and the weight of threads used. But in the process of doing that, we will start, what can be a long-term project.
During this workshop, we will look into the history of wrapping cloths originating in Japan and Korea. Furoshiki fabric wrapping has become quite trendy, but it is an ancient technique for storing, (gift)wrapping and transporting in cloth.
​
Personally, I have stored textiles and fabrics in wrapping cloths for years. It is fascinating what one can do by making a square piece of cloth into something beautiful as well as versatile and decorating it with applique and embroidery.