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
Update 15th August 2014
Workshops Valerie continues with her series on appliqué – this [...]
Ipad Upgrade meets with approval
If you want to know what the upgrade was all about: click here Some of the comments we have received since the upgrade came into effect: Your new website is brilliant. I have been frustrated for many months because I just could not access the site properly and since my husband pays the subscription fee was considering cancelling it. No longer - I love the fact that I can access everything on the ipad and it's given me much pleasure. I've just watched among other things,this evening, the video on making the reindeer appliqué together with my five year old grand daughter whilst on holiday and when I go back home I've been asked to make it for her.
Well done and thank you - the new website works brilliantly for me.
Regards Irene
I have just watched Jennie on Safari much much better, thank you.
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Ann Very very pleased that I am now able to see vido on my iPad. Just great will be able to use it all Many thanks for getting that up and working - Marian Thank goodness I don't have to use Puffin anymore on my iPad, quite often the script was all broken up and impossible to read.
Love this site and I return to it often to watch your tutorials..
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Maureen Hurrah!
What’s this bit of my walking foot for?
Question: I have an attchment for my janome machine which enables me to do measured straight lines. I haven't used it for years, and so have forgotten how ! ! It consists of a metal bar about 3 inches long with a right angle prong at the end of it, and 12 years ago it was fantastic for quick quilting diamonds or squares. Have you any ideas please of how I used it?