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
Stressbuster
Val: Filming days can be very stressful - early mornings are not my thing - so Paul and Dave of Bizview.tv put together these shots to share with you some of the shots that weren't used from one of our outings - we hope you enjoy - it has been entitled 'Stressbuster': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biPnf43UZ5c
National Flag cushion
Amanda Ryan made this lovely faded flag cushion just in time for the wedding festivities:
Nice words about us
Val: We do like to hear that you are enjoying the ideas that we have to offer: Thank you so much for your very prompt reply to my email. I loved the video and I fully intend to try it. I am enjoying Justonhandstv very much.It's nice to have a British Quilt show which is such good value and the projects are very do-able!
Maureen
Muir of Ord
Highlands