About Niamh
Niamh Wimperis is one of the most colourful and dynamic embroidery artists currently practicing.
According to Niamh, she’s “all about feminism and plants”, and finds a lot of her inspiration from her vast collection of house plants, and childhood memories of her grandparents house, Selsley Herb and Goat Farm. Her work has evolved from ultra political – – with her feminist pieces featured in Ms Magazine, Buzzfeed and The Huff Post – – to this more calming botanical style.
Niamh achieved a Masters Degree in Contemporary Craft in 2017 from Plymouth College of Art. Her final piece, an interactive installation titled ‘A Feeling Of Safety, Perhaps’ was exhibited in the MA show and as part of Dwell, a two woman collaboration for Plymouth Art Weekend at Plymouth Art Centre.
In 2018 Niamh was chosen to be on the BBC2 programme, The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts. This was a “living history” reality show in which Niamh and 5 other talented crafts people lived in a William Morris-esque arts and crafts commune for a month, complete with wearing Victorian clothes, eating Victorian food and using Victorian tools. The 4 part BBC2 show aired in January 2019. You can read more about her experience here, and watch the series here.
Niamh now lives in Camden Town with her partner Alex, a watch maker. She is currently writing her first book, continues to make work (including commissions), and has launched her #WEStitchKit – a monthly embroidery kit subscription box. You can find about more about her kit subscription here.
Signature Technique
Botanical Embroidery
Top Tips
- Use the Satin Stitch for a shimmer and shine effect.
- Stitch on two layers to avoid warp and seeing stitches on the back.
- Keep your fabric tight as a drum in your hoop or your piece will pucker.
- Nothing in nature is perfect, so don’t be afraid if a stitch appears strange or off the centre line. That’s how it appears in real life.
- The Fly Stitch is wonderfully versatile; use it for pine branches, flowers and leaves.
- If you find your thread is suddenly shorter, you probably have a knot. Use your needle to pull the knot apart.
Videos
Books and Patterns
Posts
Bee Crafty (in Huntington) gets bigger and better
Great news,Bee Crafty are moving into bigger premises BUT still at the same address AND they have the wonderful Stuart Hillard from the successful BBC show The Great British Sewing Bee coming to open their shop on the 6th August and to spend the day. He will be personally signing copies of the book from the show so if you want to turn up and support them you will be more than welcome.
Jasmine’s quilts
Jasmine joined us for our Sewing Weekend Getway at Dunford House in June and look what she made: Take Five Fabrics As she is a long arm quilter she has taken pictures of the reverse of the quilts too, and don't they look lovely Take 9 Thanks for sharing (and look forward to seeing you in 2014!)
A question about Rosebud Fayre Block of the Month
This is now in the archive section of the site but the question from Cythia was: I was wondering as a paid member if I might be able to see this Block of the Month series on Rosebud Fayre?
Answer:
Yes we can organise that for you; we usually put videos (from the archive) up for a week but as this is a series would you like them spaced weekly OR all at one go! We could put them up for a month maybe?