About Dionne
Dionne paints with stitches to create dynamic, vibrantly coloured textiles. Her needle becomes her pen and thread her ink. The scale, emotion, and energy of her landscapes are inspirational.
Dionne is a graduate of Goldsmith’s College, London University. She has a Masters in Textiles from UCE. And she has been recognised by the industry for her incredible work, e.g. Shortlisted Finalist in the Fine Art Textiles Award at The Festival of Quilts 2020.
Now based between Yorkshire [UK] and Abruzzo [Italy], she exhibits and tutors internationally.
You can watch Dionne demonstrate how to use free motion embroidery to create a range of patterns, textures, tones, and shades in an episode of The Makers Studio series, brought to you by Janome and justhands-on.tv.
Signature Technique
Painting with stitches
Top Tips
- Use a vibrant mix of thread weights, colours, and styles to build up a more dynamic texture.
- A machine with an extra wide throat makes it easier to manipulate your piece.
- Cover your hoop with fabric to give it more grip. You need the fabric to stay drum like as you manoeuvre it.
- Drawing your subject first, with pencil on paper, can help improve your observation and knowledge of your subject – try not to work from a photograph.
- Practice by stitching your signature to get started. Your muscle memory will help you.
- Think of painting with stitches as an orchestra with the sewing machine, threads, fabric, hoop, and you (!) coming together to work as one.
- Don’t be afraid of the machine. After a few hours of speed sewing it becomes second nature.
- Try not to have a set image of the outcome. You are not stitching an exact replica. The result is where you get to. There is no wrong in there. Enjoy the journey.
Videos
Patterns
Posts
The BBC World Cup Embroidered Animation
Whether you're watching it or avoiding it, you can't fail to have noticed that the 2018 Football World Cup is on at the moment. But, have you seen the BBC's trailers and opening sequence to its programmes? It is in fact a one-minute 'embroidered' animation made from over 600 individual stitched frames. Who'd have thought football could be so interesting!
Subscriber Giveaway for July 2018 – Let it Snow Xmas Hanging Hearts kit by Mandy Shaw
Sorry, the competition is now closed . The kit is available through the shop.
Rectory Quilters Exhibition – New Milton, Hants
What a lovely surprise this exhibition was; a mixture of music, flowers and quilts, raising money for the RNLI and held in St Mary Magdalene Church and Hall, Church Lane, New Milton BH25 6QL. Don't you just love the car! There was a concert on Friday 29th by Nova Foresta Classical Players and Saturday included "The Friday Girls" You can see more and keep an eye on future exhibitions by checking out their webpage - Rectory Quilters Events