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
Cringe-worthy moments for a quilter – recognise any?
Shared with me by a quilting friend, so I now share it with you: https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/quilting-basics/10-cringe-worthy-moments-every-quilter-understands Sadly only some of these we can fix with little workshops on the site! however, I do recognise them all!!!!!
Magna Carta Quilts on display at Guildford Cathedral
Paula Doyle joined myself and the boys from Communicate TV and showed us round the finished quilts -they are really amazing. 8 of them plus a backing mosaic representing the River Thames. Sponsorship is still needed so if you would like to have a square embroidered, click here for more details. The film will be coming to the website shortly.
Fabric Copyright
This is the content of a newsletter item that my friend Isa at Creative Quilting sent out and it's worth a read by anyone and everyone who loves fabric! I usually very much enjoy writing my newsletters, telling you about all the new things we are doing, the new fabrics and the up coming shows. However, this time, it is with a very heavy heart that I am writing this one.