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
Patchwork in the Cotswolds
The Farncombe estate run a whole host of wonderful workshops and Jennie Rayment often teaches there; For more details visit www.FarncombeEstate.co.uk
A 50th birthday present
I have just finished this wall hanging quilt for my "penguin mad" friend Terry's 50 th birthday and I thought you might like to see it. Regards Sandra Parker
Lights, Camera, Action
Val: Jennie and I and the boys from Bizview will be working hard on getting new ideas onto fim for the new year which will include some of my favourite fast strip piecing ideas and Jennie is taking the fear out of free motion quilting; Dawn Cameron-Dick will also be joining us to talk abour her new reference book and help us on what threads and needles to use and we are hoping that Gill Burbridge will be able to join us and show us some of her fantastic feltwear.