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
Wedding present from Marie
Dear Valerie and Jennie I thought you might like to see the quilt I made for my Niece’s wedding present, it is curved pieced rather than appliqued and based on a quilt I saw in a book by Judy B Dales. Kind regards Marie
Quilt for Teacher wins award at Quilts UK Malvern
I do so love it when the younger generation get involved and their contributions and of such a high standard too. Quilt for Mrs Brodie: Children at Kingswood Primary School in Gloucestershire won the Village Fabrics Award for Under-16 Group Entry at the Quilts UK show in Malvern during May with a quilt made for their former headteacher. Mrs Carol Brodie retired from her role as headteacher in December after 26 years at the school, but the gift of the quilt made by the children came as a complete surprise to her.
National Patchwork Championship June 2011
Lots of our contributors were found this weekend at the National Patchwork Championships at the Sandown Racecourse, Esher Surrey – Mandy Shaw (whose pinkeeper workshop went up this month) , Sue from Daisy Chain, Claire from Hannah’s Room, The Stitch Witch (Lynette Harris who has given us a great tip about using the twin needle when stitching bias stained glass patchwork),Pauline’s Patchwork, Hilary of The Silk Route (contribution coming soon), Maggie Davies, Sylvia Critcher, Helen Deighan, with her multicoloured outfit: Dawn Cameron-Dick (who has done the brilliant lecture on threads and needles for us as well as the Invisible Machine Applique technique; her new Pocket Tutor book is now available) , Colouricious – the list goes on!