Saturday 19 March 2022: Online Workshop (Thread Painting: The Artful Eye!)

Alison Carpenter-Hughes - Saturday 19 March 2022 - 3.00pm to 6.00pm (GMT)

Online Interactive Workshop: Thread Painting - The Artful Eye!

We're absolutely delighted to welcome yet another NEW tutor  to the CraftyMonkies talent stable in 2022 - the hugely talented & lovely Alison Carpenter-Hughes will be hosting this free-motion embroidery/mixed-media workshop entitled Thread-Painting: The Artful Eye - here's Alison to tell you all about what we have in store for you!...

Introduction by Alison:-

Hi everyone! I am an award-winning Mixed-Media artist, focusing on Free-Motion Embroidery, using a domestic sewing machine as a tool for ‘drawing’ or ‘painting.’ My practice is a process-driven exploration of material, considering moments of narrative that reveal intimacy and vulnerability. The series of 'Eye' works I’ve created over the last few years are inspired by ‘lover’s eyes’ from the 18th and 19th centuries. Lovers would exchange eye miniatures - love tokens that only the most intimate would recognise, hence allowing the recipient to wear the single painted eye as a piece of jewellery in public. I love the intrigue and poignancy of these pieces, revealing a tantalising glimpse into a personal history that has been lost through their anonymity. There is the possibility of so many different stories told just from a single eye!

This workshop will give you a starting point to learn free-motion embroidery in more depth as I show you my own processes of thread-painting pieces of art. Through my guidance, practice blending colours for shading using free-motion embroidery, opening your eyes (pun well & truly intended!) to a new way of creativity and personal story-telling!

What You Will Learn in this Online Interactive Workshop:-

This workshop will focus on Free-Motion Embroidery techniques to create a beautiful 'Artful Eye' artwork with a domestic sewing-machine. Starting with the template (provided upon booking), we will transfer the design onto fabric, and then using a photo as reference, we will work with straight and zig-zag stitches to build tone and shade, while considering how to use the thread colour palette through close observation. The class will give you ideas for using these techniques further for creative expression through examples and demonstration. Due to workshop time restraints and the nature of thread-painting, you may need to finish your piece after the class.

Skill Level for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

This is a fairly fast-paced workshop, perfect for those with some experience and proficiency using free motion embroidery, wishing to build their knowledge and confidence creating artworks in this medium.

Please Note:

The project will be completed outside of the workshop. Templates, photo reference and additional notes will be provided.

Material requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

● Calico (or similar weight and colour of fabric) - Ironed flat: 31cm/12in square

● Print out of the templates and colour reference photo on A4 paper

● Carbon transfer paper/graphite paper with a stylus or biro (Demonstration)

● Clear or masking tape

● A large piece of scrap paper or card

● Small pieces of scrap paper

● Cloth rag

Alternatively, use your chosen method such as, water soluble stabiliser with ultra fine Sharpie permanent marker, a light box with extra fine waterproof pen, or a window with plenty of light for transferring the design.

● Aurifil (A) 40 or 50 weight 100% cotton threads or Gütermann (G) all-purpose polyester machine threads:

Or a selection of quality sewing machine threads of your choice similar to the colours below:-

● Black (2692)(A)

● Mid Brown (467)(G)

● Toast (6010)(A)

● Wheat (2125)(A)

● Pale Blue (75)(G)

● White (800)(G)

● Grey Blue (788)(G)

● Greyish Blue (71)(G)

● Dark Blue (593)(G)

● Dark Petrol (537)(G)

● Wine (730)(G)

● Blush (2420)(A)

● Dusky Cornflower Blue (655)(G)

● Mink (52)(G)

● Light Peony (2437)(A)

● Pink (658)(G)

● Faded Rose (991)(G)

● Light Lemon (2110)(A)

● Light Brass (2920)(A)

● Dark Sandstone (1318)(A)

● Aluminium (2615)(A)

● Palest Peach (210)(G)

● Apricot (2205)(A)

● Tiramisu (6731)(A)

● Dark Wine (2468)(A)

● Darkest Brown (682)(G)

Equipment requirements for this Online Interactive Workshop:-

● Iron and Ironing Board

● Scissors:

- Thread snips

● Sewing-Machine:

- Fitted with universal machine needles: size 80 or other suited to free motion embroidery

- Set up for free-motion embroidery: feed dogs dropped down or a darning plate fitted and an open toe quilting or darning foot attached

- Using an open toe foot allows you to see the area you are working on more clearly, but if you are comfortable using a different type of quilting foot, that is fine.

● Embroidery Hoop: 8in

● Sewing-Machine Screwdriver

● Unpicker

Pattern Information relevant to this Online Interactive Workshop:-

Once your booking is confirmed, and well in advance of the class date, you will receive a FREE Pattern template, reference photo(s) and additional notes to use for the workshop.

​Tickets for this Online Interactive Workshop (via the Zoom platform) will be limited & allocated on a first-come/first-served basis! If applicable, any free pattern, or other information, relevant to this course will be forwarded to you after booking and approximately 5 days before the course date. The ticket price of £30.00 is based on ONE person attending this crafting class.

This CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop is being broadcast from the United Kingdom and the class time given is based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). We advise you check via Google Search (or similar) to see corresponding start-time in YOUR location!

Ordering MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT Online For Any Class/Workshop!

In light of the ongoing situation regards potential delays with supply of certain materials/fabrics/equipment from around the world due to the lasting impact of Covid-19, please ensure you book your place & order any materials/fabrics/equipment online in plenty of time ahead of course dates.

Enjoy This Class/Workshop Again on YouTube!

A link to a recording of this workshop will be sent to all who buy a live ticket for the Zoom broadcast approximately 5 working days after the event; the video will be available to view for 30 days from the video release date.

Are you not able to attend this class due to living in a different time-zone? Are you otherwise engaged on the date of this workshop? Well, we have excellent news!

This class will be available to view via Pay-On-Demand via our Online Shop for 30 days following the video release date (approximately 5 working days after broadcast on Zoom).