The Rainbow Girl

www.therainbowgirl.etsy.com

Contemporary Blue 'broderie anglais' (detail)

I learnt to dye my own fabrics and threads when studying for my City and Guilds level 3 diploma in Embroidery. I loved using them so much that I decided to sell some of them to other like minded people.

I now dye a variety of  cotton fabrics, viscose/wool felt, embroidery threads, silk carrier rods and lace to sell to other embroiderers and textile/fibre artists from my shop on Etsy. I find the combinations of colours which occur during the dyeing process, absolutely fascinating and always get a thrill when I see the results of a dyeing session!


Artist statement:  The colours of my fabrics and threads are one of the inspirations for my own embroideries.  I am also fascinated by vintage textiles and embroidery techniques, such as 'broderie anglais', and am exploring contemporary ways of using traditional methods.  I prefer hand embroidery, but am challenging myself to use more free machine embroidery, and also enjoy patchwork and quilting.

I belong to a group of textile artists called NINE, and am currently working towards an exhibition inspired by the sculptures in the Gibberd Garden in Harlow.

-Sarah Hopping

Location:  Bishop's Stortford, England, United Kingdom
Online shop:  therainbowgirl
Blog:  Rainbow Dreams
Other social media:  Twitter
Membership:  Embroiderers' Guild
Languages spoken:  English

Hand dyed cotton scrim - blue sky, gray clouds by The Rainbow Girl

Tags:  hand embroidery, fabric, thread, hand dyed, colour, texture, stitch, knit, embellishment, quilt

Stitching Life

http://stitchinglife.com

I am a textile artist working full-time from home in the UK. I work entirely by hand, making art quilts and small stitched cloths from mainly recycled materials such as old linens and clothing. I dye most of my fabrics and threads myself and occasionally sell hand-dyed materials.

Artist's statement:  Although my formal art training is in paint, I prefer the tactile quality of textiles as a medium of expression. Cloth is with us throughout our lives, a constant presence that touches us, both literally and figuratively. Our very first experience following our birth is that of being wrapped in a cloth; as preparation for the grave, we are wrapped in a shroud.

I choose to work by hand because I love the feel of the needle and thread through cloth, and I like to feel the way the cloth is responding to stitch. I think of the process of stitching as a quiet conversation between myself, the needle and thread and the cloth itself. The act of piecing scraps of cloth together is a metaphor for the way our lives are composed of brief moments joined together. I also think of the many women before me who have sat quietly and stitched, either for duty or for pleasure. I prefer in general to work with natural materials - linen, cotton, silk, wool - and I remain mindful that these were once part of living organisms. I try to remain respectful to the cloth, to the process and to tradition.

-Karen Turner

Location:  East Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Blog:  Stitching Life
Online shop:  stitchinglife

Languages spoken:  English

"Midnight", Art Quilt by Stitching Life

Tags:  patchwork, applique, embroidery, quilting, cloth, thread, stitch, (by) hand, abstract

DyeVerse

www.dyeverse.co.uk

Shani is a handspinning, dyer and weaver, who produces textiles with a "twist".

DyeVerse, her company, runs courses in colour, writing and textile construction, beginner through to experience, located in Wales and the South West.

Artist's statement:  I am an established writer and practicing crafts person with a passion for exploring/challenging the possibilities of textiles. I specialise in combining arts and crafts with contemporary design to produce textiles and objects that are both practical and desirable.  

I don't use complicated looms, techniques or equipment to produce my garments and installations, preferring to create work with simple constructions.  This way I enjoy and engage fully with the process, rather than drowning in technicalities, and the finished item is something which has come into being "through" a slow and deliberate production journey not "because" of it. 

Simplicity of construction along with quality of materials will ensure a welcome addition to your wardrobe or wall, or a bespoke present for a treasured friend or that special occasion.

My work has been featured in the Yarn Forward Magazine and various other periodicals and exhibitions throughout the UK, and I was involved with the creation of the SpinDyeWeavers, a textile workshop project in 2009.  

Location:  Bristol, United Kingdom

Online shop:  DyeVerse

Blog:  DyeVerse
Other social media:  
   Bristol Creatives
   Ravelry
   Spinning Daily

Memberships:

   Heritage Crafts Association
   Textile Forum South West
   Bristol Creatives

Languages spoken: English

DyeVerse: Dyeing, Spinning and Weaving in Bristol, UK

Tags: handcrafted, textiles, artistic, handspun, historic, traditional, contemporary, sharing, slowcloth

Silversoles Felted Textiles

www.silversoles.co.uk

I am a British Textile Artist who focuses my work in feltmaking creating textiles for interiors and to wear. I create collections of scarves, bags, corsages, wall pieces and one off commissioned pieces. I also teach feltmaking to groups of all ages and abilities. I am keen to network with other makers, galleries and those interested in my work.

-Emma Jackson

Artist's statment:  Silversoles is the design label of UK textiles artist / designer Emma Jackson who creates sumptuously textile textiles for interiors and to wear. Each piece is unique having been individually handmade in England fusing traditional and contemporary felting techniques. 

Emma utilizes the memory of wool in her work to explore the fibres' potential to form sculptural, textured and raised surfaces. Inspired by organic forms and patterns her work has distinctive colours, striking sculptural shapes and exquisite textures which echo her sources of inspiration. Working with merino wools, silks, soya and velvets Emma makes limited edition collections and works to commission to provide a bespoke service for her clients.

Emma is a qualified teacher who offers feltmaking and a range of other textile techniques workshops, with groups of all ages for recreational or professional development. She holds a textiles teaching post at the Midlands Arts Centre,  Birminghm. She is a member of the International Feltmakers Association, design GAP, the Midlands Textile Forum and Designer Makers West Midlands.


Location:  United Kingdom
Online shops:  Silversoles, Great British Designs 
Memberships:
   International Feltmakers Association
   Design GAP
Languages spoken:  English

Felted Textiles by Silversoles

Tags:  textiles, felt, feltmaking, nuno, embroidery, fibre art, workshops, weddings, gifts, cobweb

Gina Pierce Design

www.ginapiercedesign.co.uk

I am a textile designer and educator, working in London, UK.

Having worked as a freelance surface designer, I now produce my own range of fabrics and wallpapers, plus a small range of bags and cushions. I sell to interior designers, architects and the public, and can produce bespoke prints from the range, or new, personalised designs.

I am inspired by history and location, researching into ancient fabrics, maps and buildings for imagery.  My work uses both digital and hand prints.  I am interested in combining the two methods of production along with aspects of 'digital craft'.

I am also the Course Leader of BA Textile Design at London Metropolitan University.

Artist's statement:  My aim is to  create beautiful and interesting designs inspired by people, places and stories from our recent histories. They can evoke memories of the past, reminders of events that may have been forgotten, and which can be celebrated and given new life.

In my own work and in my teaching, I use and promote both traditional and new technologies, and believe by combining these we enhance creative practise.

Location:  London, United Kingdom

Online shops:  Gina Pierce Design, Not on the High Street

Memberships:  Hidden Art

Languages spoken:  English

Gina Pierce Design

Tags:  printer, historical,  textile designer, interior furnishings, researcher, lecturer, teacher, digital technology 

Cath Stonard

"Summer Squall" by Cath Stonard
cathstonardtextileart.com

Most of what I do is purely textile based art to hang on walls. I occasionally dabble in jewellery, mainly brooches, or greeting cards, and these are made mainly for family and friends. I have exhibited locally in a small gallery, and I also belong to a small art group, and have shared exhibitions with them. Time is my main enemy,as I still work three days a week, but with retirement just around the corner, I hope to extend my repertoire. 

Artist's Statement:  My passion is for cloth, texture, colour, thread, dye, paint, putting them together in various proportions, experimenting, playing and generally thoroughly enjoying myself. Sometimes I will translate landscapes, seascapes, flowers, or a still life with these mediums, and other times I will allow these materials to speak to me, inspiring a piece of work that is more abstract. I also enjoy the unexpected results that can occur from a spontaneous approach.

Location:  Carshalton Beeches, Surrey, UK

Blog:  stitchclothcolour

Memberships: 
   kairos-artists
   Contemporary Quilt Yahoogroup 

Languages spoken:  English

"Woodland Walk", Art Quilt by Cath Stonard

Jane Deane, Naturally

www.janedeane.co.uk

I am a textile designer producing a range of items from dyed fibres for handspinners, through handspun yarns, to finished woven  items.  I teach spinning, natural dyeing and weaving throughout the UK and abroad and am co-author, with Alison Daykin, of Creative Spinning.

I love textiles, creating them, turning fibre into yarn, yarn into beautiful coloured skeins, coloured skeins into woven items. A beautifully presented feast will not always make my mouth water, but a basket of beautifully coloured wool will have me drooling in seconds!

I have a studio at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity,  and work from there and from home. My work has been exhibited in many galleries in the UK and is currently in the Duchy Square Gallery Shop and The Art Chapel, Moretonhampstead, Devon.

Artist's statement:  In addition to my passion for creating textiles and passing on my skills, I seek to minimise the negative impact I have on the environment. I have changed my practice to using natural dyes, a restricted range of mordants and using my skills and knowledge of the dyestuffs and colours to create the effects I want rather than relying on a chemical to do it for me. I fully realise that 'natural' does not necessarily equate to 'safe' so am cautious about my materials, processes and techniques.

I use natural fibres and am actively concerned with the current Campaign for Wool, a movement supporting the greater use of wool and the reduction of synthetic fibres in the environment.

Location:  United Kingdom

Memberships/Organizations:

   Duchy Square

   Textile Forum South West
   Crafts Council

Blogs:  caterpillarsandcocoons, creativespinning

Other Social Media:  Linked In

Languages spoken:  English

Textile Designs by Jane Deane of Naturally

Tags:  spindle, dyepot, indigo, warp, weft, silkworm, spinning wheel, carders, woolcombs, shuttle

Alison Yule Textiles

http://alisonyuletextiles.co.uk

I'm an award winning textile designer, hand weaving fabrics for interiors and apparel.  I'm in love with weaving and have been passionate about it since I was 8 years old!

Hallmarks of my work are rich textures, unusual colour combinations and simple clean designs.  Products can include cushions, wall panels, window panels, throws, rugs and fabric lengths.  If you're looking for some home detailing that is unique to you then give me a call or email.

Artist's Statement:   I create art pieces for the wall in my hand woven fabrics, that fuse contemporary design with traditional fibres and techniques.  Each piece is richly textured, but with a simplicity of design that sits very comfortably in a contemporary setting

Passionate about using natural fibres with simple, traditional weaves, I like to give the pieces impact by incorporating areas of texture and unusual colour combinations.  At present, I am working with plain weave (the simplest weave construction), weaving with over twisted yarns to give areas of pile or using very textured yarns in areas of inlay over the plain weave, to produce my decorative wall panels. 

My inspiration can come from almost anywhere, but I'm particularly drawn to nature and my local landscapes.  Plants and flowers, whether exotic or grown locally have always excited me, and the challenges of transferring a 3 dimensional form into, what is essentially, a 2 dimensional canvas are what I thrive on!

Recently, I have been exploring the use of plain weave with linen and inlayed texture, dyeing my yarns to give very ethereal lighting effects, inspired by the light on water and through foliage, at different times of the day or night!  These will be woven into  decorative, but functional pieces to be displayed in windows or as room dividers.

Other concepts I'm exploring are the use of plain weave and texture to produce representations of portraits as simple, woven line drawings of the body or as simple comic like images of the face.

Location:  Willington, Derbyshire, United Kingdom

Online shop:  alison yule textiles

Blogs:

   alisonyuletextiles
   willingtonweaver
   puretinctoriadyer

Other social media:  

   LinkedIn, Twitter

Memberships:

   Textile Society
   EMTEX
   Design Factory
 Languages spoken:  English

Euonymus Panel 3 (wool with textured wool detail)
Weaving by Alison Yule Textiles

Tags: hand woven fabrics, contemporary woven fabrics, weave, woven art, contemporary woven art, hand weaving, wool fabrics

Dragon House of Yuen

www.dragonhouseofyuen.etsy.com

I have always loved animals and have spent my whole life with many wonderful friends so it was only natural for my art to feature my first love. I have a great affinity with hares, rabbits and all kinds of deer and antelopes.

I also love to write and have incorporated my short stories with my textile soft sculptures to give each one a positive and hopeful story.  My stories always carry some sort of sage advice or small wisdoms.

I create my sculptures so that they all come alive with endearing personalities and quaint traits and when you look into their glistening eyes you can feel that they are alive too.

To me the most important aspect of appreciating art is to enjoy and love what you see so all my creations come from my heart and hopefully will bring a smile to your face and will touch your heart.

My fine art is exhibited in local galleries in Scotland

-Annette Tait

Artist's Statement:  I am committed to making the world a better place by sharing my deep love of animals and hope that all who are touched by my work are also inspired to care for and love the animals of this fragile planet, and in turn protect and respect our planet.

I use as many vintage and not-new and thrift materials as possible in my work and recycle and reuse all my packing materials. I particularly love printed fabrics of animals and Scottish tweeds.

I am dedicated to my art and will only ever create positive works that spread love and hope and encourage others to do the same so that their lives and hearts may be enriched.

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Online Shops:

   dragonhouseofyuen  (Etsy)
   dragonhouseofyuen (web)
   hare-preservation-trust.co.uk/shop
       (Hare Preservation Trust's website)

Blog: dragonhouseofyuen

Membership: Artisan Gallery Team  (Etsy)

Languages spoken:  English, rusty Russian

 "Baby Squirrels", Soft Sculpture by the Dragon House of Yuen

Tags: hares,  rabbits, adorable, inspirational, caring, tweeds, vintage cottons, squirrels, soft sculptures, companions

Nejiribana - spiralling flower designs

www.nejiribana.co.uk

I create one of a kind hand embroideries using kimono silk and flat silk thread.  Pieces can take anything from 30 or so hours to over 300 (embroidery time) to complete.

I am a graduate authorised tutor of the Japanese Embroidery Center, Atlanta (the only centre for JE outside Japan) and am currently their only teacher in the NW of England.  I am enjoying bringing Japanese embroidery to a new generation of embroiderers in the UK.  I also sell vintage Japanese fabric in my Etsy shop.

I have only just started exhibiting my work here in the UK - I hope that joining TAFA will bring my work to a wider audience.

Artist's Statement:  I consider myself to be both artist and craftswoman.

All my pieces are created by hand following the way of NUIDO and its three aspects: the acquisition of technical skills and knowledge, the development of artistic sensitivity and awareness, and understanding the spiritual aspects of shishu.

I will always consider myself to be a student of 'nuido' - the way of embroidery, I aim to continue to develop and improve my skills and knowledge as long as I am able to embroider.

"The hands are the exit of the spirit."

- Master Iwao Saito

Location: Lancashire, United Kingdom

Online shop: nejiribana

Blog: nejiribana

Languages spoken: English

"Yo-yo San", Japanese Embroidery by Jane Smith

Tags: embroidery, Japan, silk, kimono, art, design, retail, handmade

Ruth O'Leary Textile Art

 http://www.rutholearytextileart.co.uk/

I'm an embroiderer and textile artist based in Sunderland, North East England. I mostly use traditional techniques, but in a contemporary way, and particularly love goldwork, appliqué, and split stitch.

I specialise in hand-embroidered pieces, from large, bold panels and hangings to small, detailed pictures, though I also produce free machine embroidered panels and vessels.

I am particularly known for 3D pieces, especially in goldwork embroidery, but also including hand-made slip cases for books, each one uniquely tailored to the book it contains.

Artist Statement:   I am a largely self-taught embroiderer and textile artist based in the North East of England. I am particularly interested in the ways in which centuries-old hand embroidery skills can be used in the modern day, especially the use of medieval Opus Anglicanum techniques. As such, I use its principle techniques – goldwork and finely shaded split stitch – in my own contemporary designs. This requires considerable craft skill, an eye for detail, and a good deal of patience! I also enjoy the challenges of hand-finished machine embroidery for larger-scale pieces, but the beauty and versatility of metal thread embroidery will always be my first love.


Location:  Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, UK
Blog: Ruth O'Leary Textile Art
Membership: Embroiderers' Guild
Social Media: Hand Embroidery Network
Language spoken: English

"Kate's Crow" by Ruth O'Leary

Tags:  Gold work, metal thread embroidery, surface embroidery, dimensional work, sculptural

Urbanknit

www.urbanknit.com

Urbanknit is my on-going love affair with colours and patterns. I love to make stuff! I love bright and bold colours and shapes that are also simple and functional. My main focus is on creating handmade accessories for those with a taste for something different.

Each hand-made piece is created to give the wearer the satisfaction of uniqueness and also to provide everyday accessories to complement various styles and reinforce the spirit of individuality.

I enjoy what I do and hope you do, too.

-Dolapo James

Artist's Statement:   Urbanknit is a design collective started by me,  Dolapo James, with the aim of providing fresh and interesting handmade fashion accessories; bags and scarves, that are unique and offer the wearer a sense of individuality.

From handbags and purses in bright African prints and batiks, to handknitted, there is something for everyone who'd like something a little bit different.

New designs, shapes and styles are added regularly and I am constantly exploring and experimenting with new ideas.

Each piece is carefully and lovingly put together by hand and one of my most important goals is ensuring that no two items are the same.

Location:  London, United Kingdom

Online Stores:   

     Urbanknit, Etsy,  Big Cartel, Not On The High Street  
Blog:  Urbanknit
Other Social Media:  Twitter, MySpace
Memberships: UK Handmade Network. Indiepublic

Languages spoken: English, Yoruba

Accessories by Urbanknit

Urbanknit on Facebook

Tags:  knit, chunky, wool, batik, clutch, tote, tie dye, woven, colourful, print

John Hopper

The Textile Blog

Bio:

John gained a degree in Constructed Textiles at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design in Scotland. He has a wide working knowledge of art and craft textiles and is now a full time writer with a great interest in both historical and contemporary textiles.  Since 2008 he has been producing The Textile Blog, a daily insight into all aspects of printed, woven and knitted textiles, as well as rug, tapestry, quilting, embroidery, lace, basketry design, as well as historical decoration and ornament. Through the blog he tries to approach textiles by viewing the subject in a broad and culturally diverse manner, including contemporary and historical articles from across the globe.

Embroidery by Jessie Newbery

The Textile Blog articles deal with the equality and the complexity of all historical cultures, peoples, and mediums. Whether a piece of textile art, design or craft has been produced by amateur or professional, in Europe or the Brazilian rainforest, it will be seen as valid and having merit.

-John Hopper

Location: Foxhole, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Blog: The Textile Blog
Languages spoken: English

Tags: textile, design, decoration, pattern, art, craft, weave, woven, fabric, applied