Purchase this digital product and receive a link to the YouTube video of the CraftyMonkies Online Interactive Workshop featuring leading designer and craft expert Alison Carpenter-Hughes and her Thread Painting: The Artful Eye workshop which first aired via Zoom on Saturday 19th March 2022.
 
Once you have purchased this product, the PDF document you will receive contains a link to the private-access video on YouTube
 
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:-
Downloadable PDF contains full list of thread choices!
 
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.
 
This class is available to view as many times as you like for 60 days FROM THE DATE OF YOUR PURCHASE
 
NOTE: Any short video featured in this promotional info is a Trailer and not the fully-edited version you'll gain access to via YouTube!
 
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