The storyboard by Myk Briggs of my collaboration with fashion designer Steven Tai has a new home. It is up on the wall in a great studio/ workshop space at The Mid Wales Art Centre as part of the Food for Thought exhibition that is on until the 20th October. I also have 3 of my embroideries on display. Its a wonderful venue with a Gallery and Sculpture Park and an interesting range of workshops on offer
Author Archives: alison
Wood carvings and more…….
I recently met up with my textile tutor from Shrewsbury Art School, Cameron Scott. He nurtured my love of textiles and set me on the road to Goldsmiths for which I am eternally grateful. I was invited to the Private View of his current exhibition at the Portico Gallery in Manchester. What amazing work, such skill and attention to detail. His exhibition features his collages, quirky insights to his personal world and my favourite, his wood carvings. A picture is worth a 1000 words so please go, look and marvel! The exhibition is on until Aug 31st. There is a good review of the exhibition in the Manchester Evening News
Stitch Magazine
My paper and stitch collage is featured in Stitch magazine this month. It shows the step by step stages, from the inspiration and materials through to the finished framed embroidery. Its a new project especially for Stitch. This is an idea I first explored in my Seascapes book where I tear and layer paper as a base for freehand stitching. Take a look, its a great project for beginners
The completed paper and stitch collage
If at first…..
I recently completed an embroidery, a sunlit mountain vista. During the process I had suspected the sky was too detailed and would fight with, not complement the landscape. When I had finished the stitching I realised I was right and something had to be done. So on a new piece of silk, I painted another sky and then took brave but necessary action! Here is the story…….
The landscape and the sky part company!
I hand stitched the embroidery to the new sky ( Yes, thats correct, me, hand stitching!)
Stretched in a hoop so I can freehand stitch the pieces together
The back of the work showing the lines of stitching blending in with the existing embroidery
Finished!
Its a view of Dinas Mawddwy, a beautiful part of Wales near Dolgellau.
Open Studios June 2013
Inside my summer house
My annual Open Studios event has brought lots of visitors. Some regulars and lots of new faces. It has been lovely to see so many people especially as the weather has been typically British ! I had a selection of my embroideries on display in my garden room and across the lawn in the summer house was Myk Briggs with his photographs documenting my collaboration with Steven Tai. So many peope have found the whole story amazing.
Chelsea 2013
Some of the hundreds of visitors to the Chelsea Flower Show, on my stand.
Sitting in a Chelsea Garden
This is me in the medal winning garden Un Garreg meaning one stone, designed and built by Harry and David Rich of Rich Landscapes, a family run business based in the Brecon Beacons. This is their first time at Chelsea and they have won a gold. They have commissioned me to embroider a picture of their show garden to celebrate their success
Chelsea 2013 – Pensioners
I am exhibiting all this week at the Chelsea Flower Show. It is the Centenary year, 100 years for Chelsea and 20 years for me! I was interviewed by these 2 lovely gentlemen for their magazine The Tricorne.
Chelsea 2013
A view of my stand at the RHS Chelsea Show
My Favourite Things
I was lucky enough to be asked to write for Stitch Magazine this month. My version of A Few of My Favourite Things is on the back page. It was a fun thing to do.Teaching (obviously !) and my garden get a mention along with my dog Toby. 
Its a great magazine with all things textiles and embroidered featured. There will be a seascape embroidery of mine, which is a paper and stitch collage, coming soon in Stitch. More information on here when I have the issue date
Too Busy to Blog!
I started this blog to keep people up to date with all my activities but the last 3 weeks have been so hectic I haven’t had time to write anything!
I have been teaching an Etched in Frost course in Dorset with Dennie Rose and then in Devon for the West Country Embroiderers where we did a 2 day Seascapes course. Then 2 days at home before off to France for the Quilt Expo en Beaujoais . This was an amazing 4 day Art Textiles show Nr Lyon with some very talented textile artists and quilters there who I really enjoyed meeting. I am home again now and preparing for the show in Kent which starts next week at Penshurst Place nr Tonbridge. This is one of the new pieces I will being taking with me
Hidden Depths
Reflections in Water
Reflections Of Autumn by Alison Holt: A walk beside the lake in Ellesmere, Shropshire was the inspiration for this embroidery
I recently taught a course on Reflections at my house in Oswestry. We had a very productive 3 days and all the students produced lovely pieces on this theme. Its a course that has more emphasis on silk painting than some of the courses I teach. All the students were very happy with the results. Take a look on the courses page to see all the embroideries, some are complete and others work in progress
Embroidery on the Catwalk
The embroidered sweater on the catwalk in Toronto in March 2013. Steven’s collection gains critical acclaim and he is now preparing for the Hyeres Festival in April when the sweater and the rest of the collection will have another outing
I embroidered a second sweater for Steven. He sent me a print of a section my original embroidery, I stitched the 2 girls and he added silcone mountains.
Steven Tai update
I have completed the embroidery for Steven and delivered it to his London studio. Safe to say he was delighted with the finished piece. 
It was made up into a jumper and taken to Paris with the rest of the collection for buyers and the press to see. Steven has now taken it to Toronto for a catwalk show, which is a great opportunity. 
This is the largest and most complex embroidery I have ever undertaken. It has been a brilliant opportunity to work with the fashion industry. 
Aurifil Threads in Italy sponsored the project with their cotton and wool threads in a range of weights in over 60 colours. A big thank you to them for their support
Etched in Frost
This is a new embroidery, I am enjoying exploring the limited palette and texture of winter.
I recently held a 3 day Etched in Frost course at my house in Oswestry, Shropshire. The students painted on silk and experimented with freehand machine stitching to create their pictures.
Along the Lane
I am really impressed with their results, if you would like to see my students work its here on my website
Quilt Expo Beaujolais April 18th – 21st
A new seascape embroidery Rolling Over The Rocks
I am busy creating new embroideries to exhibit in Lyon in France in April. The website for Quilt Expo en Beaujolais has all the information about the other exhibitors that will be at the event.There will be textile artists from all over the world. I am really looking forward to being part of it. Ferry is booked and the hotel, I just have to finish those embroideries…..
All Change at The Willow Gallery
I have been to The Willow Gallery in Oswestry today to hang some of my recently completed embroideries. I always have some of my work in the gallery and try to change the display every month. Currently showing 2 new pieces Ebb and Flow a study of the sea in Madeira and Rushing By inspired by a walk in the woods in North Devon last year. I hope you can get there to see them.
Rushing By a Machine Embroidery by Alison Holt – £595
Aurifil Threads
Aurifil Mako 28wt threads
I am busy making stitch samples, testing threads and fabrics of different weights for the collaboration with Steven Tai. A selection of cottons have arrived from Aurifil, they are beautiful threads to work with, I am enjoying all the experimenting.
www.aurifil.com
My collaboration with Steven Tai
I have recently been asked by fashion designer Steven Tai to collaborate with him on the signature piece for his AW 13 collection. Steven, a graduate from Central St Martins has worked with Stella McCartney and earlier this year was invited by Mercedes Benz and ELLE Germany to present a SS 13 collection at Berlin Fashion Week
The embroidered image we are working on together will be featured in the next Hyeres festival in April 2013. This is an exciting departure for me and a creative challenge, its really interesting to discuss threads, fabrics and stitch samples with someone as creative as Steven. I will post the final embroidery when we have completed it
My visit to the North Wales Embroiderers Guild
Talking about the Cliff Top Walk embroidery
I was fortunate to be invited to share the NW Embroiderers Guild Christmas Lunch near Abergele on Saturday. It was a super day, I was made to feel very welcome by such a friendly group of enthusiastic ladies. We all had a lovely time and very few fell asleep when I gave my slide talk after a lunch. After a large lunch, a glass or 2 of wine if someone puts the lights out its the most natural thing to want a little nap!
Australian Trip Update
I am currently planning a month in Australia, starting in Tasmainia, exhibiting and teaching in November 2013. I am very pleased to say I have just been asked to run a 2 day course in Sydney which is a new location to add to my itinerary.
for more information click here…. Australian Trip
All things French
I have recently been invited to exhibition in Quilt Expo en Beaujolais which is held in Villefranche sur Saône near Lyon in France. It is a 4 day event held from April 18th to 21st 2013
www.quiltexpobeaujolais.com
So how amazing that today Search Press would send me my book Machine Embroidered Flowers, Woodlands and Landscapes: The Art of Alison Holt translated into French. Did they know something I didnt know……!
Author of the Month at Make and Craft magazine
I have been invited to be the “Behind the Scenes” Author on www.makeandcraft.com
This is a feature that changes each month and my interview will be live for the month of January 2013.
Take a look, its an interesting website featuring a wide range of artists and craftmen. Make & Craft magazine is an inspiring environment featuring contemporary tutorials and projects using a wide variety of supplies and techniques, as well as, reviving traditional crafts worth cherishing
Oswestry Library Show
Putting the finishing touches to the display case
Busy afternoon putting a collection of my work on display in Oswestry Library. I have lower priced pieces here aimed unashamedly at the Christmas market !
Sharing the space with me is Myk Briggs with his amazing photographs of sunsets. I hope you can get along to take a look. The work will be there until November 31st ( The Library is closed on Thursday and Sunday )
Wrekin Embroiderers Guild
I have just been to the Wrekin Embroiderers Guild to give a slide talk on the development of my work, 30 Years of Machine Embroidery and a one day workshop – Flowers and Foliage
Thanks to everyone for a great welcome and your enthusiasm on the day course
If you want to see the results look here
Filming for Shropshire County Channel TV
I was interviewed and filmed last week for Shropshire County Channel TV for their programme Shropart
We had a productive morning and I can’t wait to see the finished film
Shropshire TV
Many thanks to Geoff for an enjoyable time
My trip to Australia
I am planning a trip to Australia in November 2013. I have been invited to exhibit at Australia’s premier arts and crafts event, the Tasmanian Craft Fair, Deloraine, Tasmania as the feature International Artist
I am also planning to teach a range of courses during November,
in a variety of locations
I have 3 definite locations where I will be teaching, Adelaide, Deloraine,Tasmania and Brisbane. I will post more details as they are confirmed but meanwhile…..
This is my first trip to Australia
and I am looking forward to the experience