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
Mini Mosaics is a winner for Lyn
Hi Valerie...must share my good news....
after watching your fabulous videos & picking up so much knowledge especially the mini mosaics with Paula...I entered the NFWI Makower Quilt Challenge 'Summer Days' & have won 1st prize...... The theme this year is 'Summer Days'...we had to design & use 50 % of certain Makower fabrics ( I used 100% as I didn't want to bring any more colours in).I played with the lyrics to Gershwins Summertime to suit quilters!
Lots of free stuff to watch
We have a wide variety of videos that are free to registered viewers dotted through the interviews, tips, techniques and workshops on the site. BUT you can access them all now through a new page 'What's New' which is located on far rh side of the green menu bar when you hover over 'videos'. or click here One of our most popular workshops has been the 40 minute scrap quilt - why not take a look.
First Sampler Quilt Finished!
Hurray I have just finished my quilt. I love it. For me it looks fabulous. I know I can improve in stitch in the ditch and quilting but as you tell us practice makes perfect.
Thanks a lot for your tuition and guidance.
Regards
Joyce It's lovely Joyce and yes you will always improve with practice, but we never seem to stop learning or improving! Its a journey that I hope you will continue to enjoy.