About Me

My photo
Catton, Northumberland, United Kingdom
I love all kinds of stitching and enjoy learning, experimenting with and sharing new techniques. Married with 3 children, 2 daughters and a son, a dog and four cats, I also get involved with my daughters 3 horses.

Lectures & Workshops 2010/11

Talks & Demonstrations

To see more details and current workshop calendar visit http://www.patashton-smith.co.uk/

My talks are all illustrated with power point presentation and samples and examples of work for groups to view and handle. There is no limit on numbers.


Demonstrations are practical, hands on sessions and participants are encouraged to try out the materials and techniques shown. There is no limit on numbers but if groups are large this will limit the opportunities for trying techniques.

Both are suitable for any groups interested in either the historic or practical aspects of Embroidery.



Love Letters from the Front - (New for 2011)


An illustrated talk, together with lots of actual examples, about the embroidered postcards of World War 1.

Raising the Surface - The History and Techniques of Raised Embroidery

Learn about the origins of this technique in the 17th century and how it is worked today.

The Bayeux Tapestry

An illustrated look at how this amazing embroidery was created and worked and at some of the mysteries surrounding it.

Stitches through Time

An illustrated look at the history of Embroidery in Britain from 9th to 20th Centuries.

Teasing Textures

Explore a variety of media that can be changed with paint and heat to produce interesting backgrounds just waiting for stitches.

An Embroiderers’ Journey

Share my creative journey as an embroiderer. I hope you will be amused and perhaps inspired to try something new to you.

Workshops


These are available for beginners and more experienced participants. Projects are available for complete beginners while more experienced stitchers are encouraged to develop and work their own designs. Workshops can be tailored to suit the needs of your group, evening, day, weekend (or longer). To ensure that everyone receives sufficient attention I request that workshop groups do not exceed 15 people.


Raised Embroidery (Stumpwork)

Create a 3 dimensional panel featuring either flora & fauna, animal characters or figures while learning a variety of raised work techniques.





Silken Treasures


Use silk cocoon strippings to create a special fabric, colour it with painted bondaweb & embellish it with hand or machine embroidery and turn it into a small bag or purse.


Teasing Textures


Start with painted bondaweb then add Tyvek, Expandaprint, foils and heat together with a variety of threads and stitches, to create an embroidered panel. Let the media combine and enjoy the result!



Ribbonwork


Using both silk and satin ribbons, manipulate and stitch ribbons to create your choice of design (or design your own) to create a small panel suitable for framing or to make a special greetings card.


Embroidered Landscape


Turn a favourite photograph into a richly textured stitched landscape. Using a variety of threads and materials and simple hand stitches on a painted background you will develop your own individual piece



Textile Figures


Learn to create a stump doll, including needle sculpting the head, wiring limbs and creating a fabric to dress your figure. You can choose to design your own fantasy figure or use a pattern I will provide.




Traditional Techniques— Beginners Workshops


Hardanger, Montmellick, Goldwork, Free Machine Embroidery, Hand and Machine appliqué, Freestyle etc

These workshops are aimed at beginners in each technique. They can be tailored to the individual group and be for a day or a series of shorter sessions.


I can also offer workshops on patchwork & quilting and making decorative beaded purses - please contact me if you would like details of these.



Qualifications & Experience
I am a qualified adult tutor with fifteen years experience of teaching in both formal and informal classes within adult and community and college settings and for branches of the Embroiderer’s Guild throughout the North. This has included City & Guilds Creative Studies and weekend workshops

I enjoy communicating my love of all aspects of embroidery and textiles and sharing ideas and techniques with fellow enthusiasts.

I enjoy variety and am always willing to develop new talks and workshops so if you have a particular request for something not described in this leaflet please feel free to contact me and I will do my best to help.


I am happy to travel any reasonable distance and my travel costs are reasonable. Please contact me for details of current charges and travel costs and to discuss your requirements.