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
Filming with Jennie Rayment
Well it happened! We got a date in the diary when we could catch up with the ever-busy but very talented Jennie - and at one of our favourite studio venues - Marsh Farm Hotel at Royal Wootton Bassett - we have been there 21 times now!! Great videos and workshops filmed, with both Jennie and myself contributing AND we found out about Jennie's new book- !!!
Update 17th July 2015
Out & About Linda Seward acts as our hostess around [...]
Filming in Devon with Anne Baxter
We had a lovely day with Anne filming some great workshops. Came back really inspired and with the help of some new Fat 1/4s designed by Lewis & Irene I made a start on the Magic 4-patch. You will have to wait a little longer for the 'show & tell' and a bit longer too for the workshop itself - but you will LOVE it!