Category Archives: publishing

My Sewing Street Debut

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I was invited on Sewing Street to promote my new book Machine Embroidered Art. We were to talk about the book and I would demonstrate some of the stitch techniques I use. Its a shopping channel that focuses on textiles and sewing of all types and they were working with Search Press and their authors.

The tv studios are near Redditch and I arrived at 8am to prepare to go on live tv at 9am! I met the presenter, John and the small all woman team of producer, director and camera operator. I unpacked all my boxes, I had prepared many stitch samples, framed finished pieces and lots of embroideries in progress to illustrate how I work.They were delighted with the amount as we had lots to choose from.

We chatted quickly about the format of the show which was to last an hour, which techniques I would demonstrate and which parts of the book we would look at. My trusty Bernina had its name taped out as the channel sells another well known brand. I realised I was going to have to sew standing up, new challenge! Someone arranged my pictures around the set and all too quickly they were counting down 10 seconds, live in 5 and John was suddenly introducing himself and me!

The hour absolutely flew by. I didn’t have time to be nervous I was too busy. I focused on all I wanted to say about the book and show the viewers as much as possible of the freehand embroidery techniques. We had live questions to answer throughout the hour as viewers were encouraged to do that through their Facebook page. John’s enthusiasm for my work and book moved the time rapidly on and suddenly we were finished.

As we promised everyone a signed copy I stayed at the studios and signed all the books we had sold online. I enjoyed a well earned cup of coffee as we then discussed the next project I will do for them. How exciting. Watch this space!

Its available to view on their YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHP-FWeqvy6Y1m4PEAMlijg

Woven Skies

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I love the unexpected opportunities that come my way. I open up my emails and find things like this!

Hi Alison,

I discovered some of your designs scouring the internet. I’m a jazz guitarist based in London, and I’ve just recorded a debut album, entitled ‘Woven Skies.’

I’m looking for some main artwork to go on the front of the CDs. After talking to various photographers about a nice sunset sky or landscape for the cover, I’m thinking I might want to take the title a bit more literally!

How exciting to have a piece of my artwork used this way! Do check out Eddys music via his website.

http://www.eddywhite.com/

 

Aurifil Artisan Challenges

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I am prepping for various activities ahead. An exhibition in Napier, New Zealand, another in Sydney and a Quilt Symposium in Auckland to mention just few.

I also have an Aurifil challenge scheduled for this month and I have  been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my threads. The colour choice is just one of the things that Aurifil cotton 50wt does so well in my opinion, it is superb. Their beautiful colours in a wide range of tonal values enables me to paint with stitches and create my trademark 3 dimensional effect.

My embroideries begin as a simple photograph which I translate into a silk painting, so that when I start on the stitches the process becomes about making marks in thread.

Silk painted base

This is when the process becomes all about definition and texture. These marks create the artwork through pattern and colour.

Here is the sequence tracking my progress with this ” Patio Pots ” inspired embroidery. It includes a little reverse stitching (aka unpicking) having originally misjudged the amount of yellow flowers in the foreground.

 

That’s better! A minor adjustment but worth the effort. If it’s not right it has to come out. Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you Aurifil, awesome threads!

Magazine Feature

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“Our Quilting” magazine have given me a fabulous 8 page feature in their August magazine.

Here are 4 of the pages. They have included many images and a wide range of stitch techniques too.

It is a German publisher, printed in the UK in English and a lovely quality, glossy magazine

Thank you. I am thrilled!

Teaching in my Garden Studio

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I have been organising my studio with teaching in mind and recently took delivery of some very smart tables and chairs! All part of the preparation for the 2 courses I will be running in there in March.I will be teaching 2 courses in March. The first one is “Up Close and Personal” when we will be learning to stitch the fine detail in close ups of flowers and leaves. Learning how to blend in stitch to create a smooth transition through colour and tonal ranges, plus interesting stitch techniques for petals, stamens etc.

The second course is “Texture in Nature” celebrating and exploring the colours, texture and detail of trees, concentrating on stitch techniques for tree bark. Some smooth, others craggy and covered in lichen and moss.

I had an email this week from a picture researcher at Quarto Publishing in London to say they love my work and would like to publish it in a new edition of the Encyclopedia of Embroidery Techniques. They told me they plan to update the book with some more contemporary embroidery examples in the gallery section and are looking for beautiful finished embroideries in a range of styles and stitches that reflecting different themes including landscapes, flowers etc. They chose several from the website and I have sent 10 examples of my work so they can print as many as they like! I am looking forward to seeing it.