Tag Archives: Textile Art

Join Sue Stone’s Weekend Workshop in Cardiff

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I am delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for my weekend workshop ‘People & their Stories‘. It will take place on 26 & 27 April 2025 at Beth Morris Workshops in Cardiff.

Spaces are limited so please sign up now to secure your place. I am looking forward to meeting you in Cardiff next Spring!

  • Displaced small portrait of a young boy
  • Portrait of the artist's Mum as a young girl
  • Grimsby Girls World Tour - Copenhagen
  • Experimental self portrait - hand and machine stitch with appliqué
  • Hand stitch portrait of an older lady

About the weekend workshop


This 2 day workshop, ‘People & their Stories’ will introduce you to creating illustrative, stitched portraits using hand stitch and appliqué.

My teaching style is one of individual, personal tuition throughout the workshop. I will start by guiding you through the straightforward techniques that I use in my work.

I will also bring a collection of my small works and personal samples. You can use them as inspiration for your own work.

The workshop is suitable for all abilities and will include:

  • How to transform your own drawings or photos into a starting point for a stitched piece
  • How to get started using uncomplicated techniques of image transfer to fabric
  • Drawing with simple stitches, like back stitch and running stitch
  • Using sampling to help decide on techniques and designs
  • Exploring appliqué techniques
  • How to add simple background details like text to help tell your subject’s story.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have begun a small portrait to continue at home. You will also be equipped with skills to develop your own figurative work further.

Your portrait can be of a real or imaginary person. They can be known or unknown to you. Each picture has its own story to tell.

More Information

Pre-Workshop Preparation

Materials and fabrics will be provided but please feel free to bring some of your own favourite fabrics and threads. This will give you a deeper connection to your work.

The aim of the workshop is for you to produce work that is personal to you. It’s also helpful if you choose colours that love and which suit your starting image.

Please bring a choice of your own drawings or photographs to use as inspiration. I will send you some guidelines for selecting and adapting suitable images before the workshop.

Important: If you are a beginner, you should choose a simple starting photograph or drawing like those shown below.

About Sue Stone

My work is inspired by people and places. I’m best known for textural, figurative work which tells a story. My emphasis is on hand embroidery, often mixed with machine stitch, appliqué, and paint.

I have exhibited my work widely throughout the UK and Europe. I have also exhibited in Australia, Japan, Pakistan, and the USA.

I have taught ‘in person’ workshops throughout the UK, and in France, USA and Canada. I also teach online courses for textileartist.org which is run by my two sons Joe & Sam Pitcher.

Don’t forget to add these dates to your diary!

The workshop will take place on 26 & 27 April 2025 at Beth Morris Workshops in Cardiff.

Sign up now to secure your place on my ‘People and Their Stories’ weekend workshop.

I am looking forward to meeting you in Cardiff next Spring!

Experimental self portrait - hand and machine stitch with appliqué

62 Group’s 62nd Anniversary: My Works at Salts Mill

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Discover my works “Coalescence’ and ‘Integrated’ at the 62 Group’s ‘Making as Learning’ exhibition. Read more about the 62 Group I’d love you to visit the exhibition in person to see the amazing work of the 62 Group members.

This wonderful exhibition is taking place in the roof space at the historic Salts Mill in Saltaire, near Bradford, Uk. It runs from 8th September to 3rd November 2024.

‘Making as Learning’ is an exciting exploration of how the creative process itself can be a journey of learning. I’m thrilled to be showcasing my work in such a remarkable space. Salts Mill is open from 11am-4pm, Wednesday to Sunday. Read more about Salts Mill

For this exhibition, I’ve created two double-sided pieces ‘Coalescence’ and ‘Integrated’. The work establishes a dialogue between the visible and hidden aspects of the composition. This dialogue transforms the making process into a voyage of discovery.

Coalescence

Coalescence - double sided hanging - hand and machine stitch: appliqué
Detail of 'Coalescence showing free machine stitching, block printing, couching,, 'mock' herringbone, and back stitch.
Detail of 'Coalescence showing small portraits made as teaching samples, strip weaving. hand and machine stitch and acrylic painting.
Detail of 'Coalescence' showing small portrait and character sketches made as teaching samples and studies for larger works.
Detail of 'Coalescence' showing block printing, and appliqué made as a study for my work 'From Grimsby to Greenpoint' made in 2018.
Detail of 'Coalescence showing small character studies made for my online course for Textileartist.org in 2022.
Detail of the back of my 'Coalescence' double sided hanging for the 62 Group exhibition 'Making as Learning'
Detail of the back of my 'Coalescence' double sided hanging for the 62 Group exhibition 'Making as Learning' hand and machine stitch.

This work is a construction of teaching samples and studies for completed pieces. It showcases a diverse range of techniques and explorations. Each piece is distinguished by additional stitching. This stitching leaves a distinctive footprint on the back, adding a unique element to the artwork’s structure.

By including self-portraits, I pay tribute to the late Audrey Walker; artist, and educator. Audrey was a former 62 Group honorary exhibiting member who was known for her stitched portraiture and still life compositions.

This homage highlights the inspiration drawn from Audrey’s legacy and influence. It also calls attention to the personal and introspective nature of artistic expression. The blend of teaching, experimentation, and tribute really encapsulates my creative journey.

Materials: Linen, recycled clothing , cotton thread, wool yarn, paint, InkTense pencil
Techniques: Hand and machine stitching, appliqué, painting, waterproofing, fabric weaving

Size 63 x 182 x 2 cms – double sided hanging

Integrated

'Integrated' is a double sided hanging made for the 62 group exhibition at Salts Mill, Bradford in 2024. It consists of digital prints of work I have exhibited during my time as a member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists.
Detail of 'Integrated' my work for the 62 group exhibition 'Making as Learning' at Salts Mill , Bradford, Uk in 2024. Digital print with additional hand and machine stitching.
Detail of 'Integrated' my work for the 62 group exhibition 'Making as Learning' at Salts Mill , Bradford, Uk in 2024. Digital print with additional hand and machine stitching.
Detail of the back of 'Integrated' my work for the 62 group exhibition 'Making as Learning' at Salts Mill , Bradford, Uk in 2024. Digital print with additional hand and machine stitching. This work is suspended so both sides can be viewed.

This work consists of digital prints of finished pieces that have been showcased in 62 Group exhibitions. This artwork is uniquely marked by additional hand and machine stitching, visible as a distinctive footprint on the back.

This stitching not only adds texture and depth but also symbolises my commitment to blending modern and traditional techniques in my creative process. The integration of these elements highlights my approach to contemporary art, creating a dialogue between the visible and hidden aspects of my work, and inviting viewers to explore the layers of meaning within each piece.

Materials: Digitally printed waterproof fabric, Cotton threads, linen fabric
Techniques: Digital printing, appliqué, hand and machine stitching

Size 63 x 182 x 2 cms

A footnote: I waterproofed both pieces of work because the roof in the roof space leaks! It’s good to be prepared for all eventualities!