‘In Stitches’ Talk
A talk about my work, ‘ In Stitches’ covers everything from my inspiration and techniques to my life/experience as a full time, modern ‘embroideress’. I share my experiences of projects I have completed, including an illustrated book called ‘Saggy Boobs and other breast feeding Myths,’ my work in a women’s secure mental health unit, work as a studio manager and as a commissioned artist and book illustrator. It is a lighthearted but heart felt hour’s talk which I hope is both uplifting, inspiring and humorous.
Date Wed Sep 29
Time 6 – 8pm
Tickets $15 (bookings essential)

‘Superstitcher’ 3 Day Workshop
Drawing Workshop – Figurative/Still Life
My workshop begins with mark making with the help of music, starting with simple group exercises to warm up the body and the mind to blow away cobwebs and reduce the fear of the blank white page.
We will concentrate on drawing with a continuous line, ‘drawing blind’ and ‘with rhythm’ to build up individual creative confidence and produce work you didn’t think you were capable of. It is a great way to promote self-confident mark making, have fun and to create original work to be taken into embroidery.
It is very advisable that students have already whizzed around on their machines in free motion to make sure that their machine functions without any problems.
Drawing with the sewing machine
I encourage students to use one colour and think of thread like lines of ink. The challenge is to remember and apply the techniques of creative mark making but now with a sewing machine. In a nutshell – drawing with rhythm and interesting line on your motorised drawing machine.
Again – we can use music to help us and sometimes I have the whole group sewing to Mozart!
Applying Colour with Stitch and Paints
Now that we have some fantastic line based drawings in stitch we can experiment with colour through free machine embroidery and by applying paints. I encourage students to choose carefully and to mix their palette so producing rich and powerful colour schemes to enhance their embroideries. Also to develop rich textures within their work by inventing their own repeat patterns and by drawing with coloured stitch within existing shapes.
Applique and creating different surfaces to work on
We experiment together in creating fun surfaces to work over and also use appliqué techniques within designs and embroidered drawings.
At the end of the workshop students will have a completely original, often light hearted but clever piece of original work that can be ironed and framed
Date: Thu Sep 30, Fri Oct 1, Sun Oct 3
Time: 10am – 4pm
Price: $290 (includes tickets to ‘In Stitches’ talk on Wed 29 Sep 6 - 8pm)

SPANISH MOORISH EMBROIDERY

Patricia is one of the few specialists in this field of embroidery, and has taught it in Spain. Challenging for beginners, this work is typical of the richness associated with Spanish embroidery. A background of ruched satin contrasts with motifs that are appliquéd on. The motifs are almost Jacobean in look but are worked with surface stitchery on natural coloured linen. The appliquéd edges of the motifs are finished with couched gold threads. In this two day workshop a small piece is worked on, that could be a needle book cover, box top, book front or framed panel. You will be hand painting the silk for the ruching and learn about advanced colour mixing for your stitching. Leave the evening between lessons free if you can to work on the project, which will be completed at home.
Tutor Pat Davis
Date Tue Aug 31 & Wed Sep 1
Time 10am - 4pm
Price $220 + materials