General workshop details:

We hold a variety of workshops throughout the year for which a fee is payable.  It is necessary to book these in advance and if you are interested in joining a workshop, please contact Jane Hayward (details above).  

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Also, if you run textile related workshops, we would be interested in receiving details from you for consideration when we arrange future workshops.

Fusing Fabric - tutor Margaret Beal 
 

Margaret grew up in the Midlands and moved to a small market town in Hampshire with her husband and two children in the early 1980s and now works from her home workshop.  She has always had a deep need to study art and textiles but it wasn't until she was in her late thirties when her children were teenagers, that she decided to take positive action.  She enrolled at the local college to take a City and Guilds Creative Embroidery Course Parts 1 and 2, which she was thrilled to pass with a distinction.  Margaret advises the experience created an excitement and passion which she still has for creative embroidery, textiles and art.

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Margaret is well known for 'Fabric Fusing" using a fine tipped soldering iron.  On this workshop we can learn the basics of cutting, fusing and mark making on single or multiple layers of fabric - organza on acrylic felt. Soldering irons will be available to borrow from the tutor, who will also have a supply of fabrics ready cut for use on the day (cost approx £4) and soldering irons to buy on the day (approx. £25).

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For more information about Margaret and her work, please visit her website:  www.fusingfabric.co.uk

Eco Dyeing Express - tutor Melanie Missin 

Melanie advises she is a little impatient when it comes to waiting for things to happen. Eco dyeing is no exception; it can take quite some time to get good results and she has done a lot of experimenting with leaves in her heat press and has had some surprising outcomes. Not everyone will have a heat press, so she practised with an old iron which worked equally well. Now she will share this knowledge with us. 

 

Please see the box below for examples of Melanie's work (plus a faded out image of her work is beneath this text).

For more information about Melanie, please see her website:  

www.mellymadedesigns.com

Eco Dyeing Express -
tutor Melanie Missin 
 

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Experimental Embroidery - tutor Sonja Galsworthy
 

Sonja was taught hand embroidery as an apprentice at the Royal School of Needlework at the age of 16.  Little did she know the twists and turns that awaited her both personally and creatively.  Having spent the last seven years teaching embroidery both at the RSN and Surrey Adult Learning, her work has been developing into more colourful, abstract, textural pieces while still using traditional techniques.  Her mission is to inspire as many people as possible to pick up a needle and stitch regardless of their age, ability, gender, social background or artistic preferences.  She is also conscious of environmental issues, advocating visible mending techniques for sustainable fashion and the mental health benefits of slow, mindful crafts in a fast-paced world.

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Please see the box below for an example of Sonja's experimental work (plus a faded out image of her work is beneath this text).

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For more information about Sonja and her work, please visit her website:  

www.thyme2create.com

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Sonja Galsworthy - Experimental Embroidery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Plastic entrapment - tutor Nikki Parmenter
 

Cheshire based Nikki Parmenter, is an artist who specialises in mixed media, textile based pieces. She takes inspiration from a variety of sources and is particularly  interested in the way in which ancient societies created a series of visual symbols to represent the things which were important to them. She investigates myth and legend and draws parallels between societies, showing that although many people have different beliefs we are all united by visual iconography.

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Nikki will be teaching this workshop on Plastic Entrapment on 7 September via Zoom and will also be our speaker via Zoom on the evening of Tuesday, 12 March, for more details please see the 2024 meetings page.

 

For more information about Nikki, please visit her website:

www.nikkiparmenterartworks.com