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
Olympic Weekend sewing
Well we all know you can watch and sew, and while the road cycle race was running I was busy sewing - made this simple quilt as a class sample for beginners with a lovely bundle of 1930's strips and squares: the binding is being checked by Kissy!
The Singing Quilter is coming to town
Cathy Miller, the Singing Quilter is in town and you can join her at the Thamside Quilters meeting on Friday 24th August at the Staines Methodist Church, Thames Street, Stained Middx TW18 4SD. The performance starts at 7.45pm and the door open at 7.15pm - tickets at the door are £5.
Filming our new Block of the Month and meeting Angela Daymond
Jennie and I spent a FULL day filming the new Block of the Month which she has called Superstar! As you can see its a lovely medallion quilt with the Loan Star centre and lots of lovely borders. We were also joined by Angela Daymond who has her own studio and dyes fabric using natural products such as tulip petals and madder root - so something great to watch out for in the autumn.