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
Lyn Butler loved the mini mosaic video by Paula Doyle
Btw..really enjoyed the mini mosaic video...lovely setting.Have attached a photo...many thanks....Lyn
Be a Star competition
The winners of the ‘Be a Star’ competition who won a Janome TXL607 machine, the Satchel of Aurifil Threads and the bundle of books have all been notified; many thanks to all of you who made blocks for the charity/competition draw and sorry you didn’t win. The blocks will be put to good use in being made up into quilts for ‘Momentum’ ; again more of than later as the quilts progress; we had over 150 entries(!) We are still happy to receive star blocks for the quilts - just send them to Oakwick, 113 Nashgrove Lane Finchampstead, Berks RG40 4HG and we will turn them into quilts.
Quilt Show – South of England Showground
Val will be helping out on the Creative Quilting stand at the Spring Quilt Festival, South of England Showground, Ardingly run by Grosvenor Shows (27th-29th Jan) . For more details visit their website www.grosvenorshows.co.uk where you will get details of ALL their shows AND the new one scheduled for 18-20 October in Maidstone, Kent. So come and say ‘hi’