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
Dresden Plate cushion
have completed my first Dresden Plate block and made it into a cushion. Using the Creative Grids ruler, which I found to be excellent, and a Moda charm pack "Indigo Crossing". I machine pieced then hand appliqued. I was pleased with the result, as I had always thought this block to be very difficult. The cushion is a gift for my friend who has a seaside cottage at Polzeath in Cornwall, where, I am hoping, it will fit in very nicely.
Your site is such an inspiration, I always check for tips and inspiration before I start a new project.
Best wishes
Roberta
What to watch here July 2013
We are starting the month off with our visit to the Textiles in Focus exhibition that was held in Cottenham village back in February (dates for 2014 are 21/22/23 February) where we met up with Camilla from Outward Images; Sharon Osborne and the Art Van Go stand and Jamie Malden from Colouricious; plus a lovely demonstration from the organiser Pauline Verrinder who shows us how to make 3D items such as seed heads with old scrim.
Hampden Park Alzheimer Quilts
Message from Ann Hill: Hampden park in Glasgow was covered with 5012 quilts to raise awareness of Alzheimer's. Thank you to everyone who helped make my crazy dream come true. Photos at Alzheimer Scotland and if you want to see what the pictch looked like click here