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
War Horse Memorial Purple Poppy Appeal
We want to create Britain’s Biggest Knitted Purple Poppy to help us launch our 2019 Purple Poppy Appeal in support of animal and military charities – and we need your help…If you can’t knit but want to get involved then you can make poppies out of purple felt or fabric. All contributions welcome! We have reintroduced the purple poppy emblem to recognise and remember all animals – in war or in peace - that give service, support and companionship to people all over the UK and beyond. What we will do is sew them altogether to make a giant cloak and we plan to have a very special celebrity or two wear it for us ahead of our national day on August 23, 2019. There is a simple pattern which should make a good number of poppies from one ball of wool or yarn, Please send your poppies by Friday 19 July 2019 to The War Horse Memorial, 18, Ascot Towers, Windsor Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LG.
Quilt Now Readers’ Makes Competition Winner – Issue 63
Quilt Now magazine love to see what their readers have been making. This months Star Make winner for ssue 63, was Anna. She created this stunning long-tailed tit design using the exclusive pattern included inside Quilt Now’s RSPB Garden Birds Blocks book with issue 61. Doesn't it look stunning on the grey cushion!
justhands-on.tv website launch featured in Craft Focus
Our new website launch is highlighted in Craft Focus magazine. We are excited as they talk about the improvements we have made to the site. For example we have a new filter section that makes it easier to find videos. We have many new tutors on the site and they are in the article as well. You'll also find a quote from our CEO, Steve Barton.