Designing for Stitch - Talk by Pauline Barnes, Friday 2nd October

Pauline explains in this talk that much of her inspiration comes from the architecture and culture of places she has visited - Peru, Italy, Thailand, Mexico and Egypt, among others - and more recently, abstract themes, such as secrecy and concealment, calligraphy and rain.

Pauline often uses geometric shapes and patterns, and usually plans her quilts on graph paper after a few minimal line drawings.  She makes lots of samples to find the best way to interpret a motif or pattern, and so creative thinking takes over and the finished quilt is often quite different from the initial design.

Visitors are very welcome to come along to this talk on 

Friday 2nd October, which starts at 7.00 pm. 

We meet at St Mary's Church Hall, St Mary's Road, Leamington Spa - there is a map on our How to find us page.  Visitor charge: £5.00

'Wired to Form' Summer School with Pauline Verrinder

Time is marching on and we've been so busy with the exhibition and National Stitch Day that we haven't yet shared the photos from our extremely enjoyable and productive summer school on 7th - 8th August with Pauline Verrinder, so here they are.

You can see that under Pauline's patient instruction, we made a variety of machine- and hand-stitched skeleton leaves

as well as some very colourful, wired and heavily stitched felt pieces, which will become more sculpted shapes once the stitching is complete, wire inserted and internal elements cut away.

Pauline specialises in creating all sorts of structures using wire, fabric and thread, especially in 3D. She says about her own work that inspiration "comes from the beauty and diversity which surrounds me in the natural world."  This was amply demonstrated in the beautiful sketch books she shared with us.

Besides being an exhibiting Textile Artist, Pauline is a very encouraging and  supportive Tutor, and she gave us a wealth of tips and techniques to help us to carry on and complete our own pieces - and start new ones ...