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
Pizza Topping a success
I have just watched Valerie Nesbitt’s demonstration on making a Pizza Topping with scraps.What a very useful idea, I shall certainly be more frugal with my left over bits and bobs. Thank you, Ann Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed your pizza topping workshop! Great fun. Jo and now Linda Seward has shown us how to create Confetti Applique.
Update 21st November 2014
Meet Janet Clare Janet shares with us her secret of [...]
Linda Seward, London Quilters, Tracey Chevalier
What connects all three? Well the current exhibition by London Quilters being held at the Swiss Cottage Libary London NW3 entitled 'Coming Home'; Tracey was the guest at the official opening of the exhibition (see events page for fuller details but it runs until 4th Jan 2015). Justhands-on.tv were there with Dave and Matt manning the technical equipment and Linda played hostess round the exhibition.