19th March 2026

Stitching a Voice a presentation by Bethan Hughes

 

 

Mini Workshop 13.00 - 15.30 

 Applique Flowers part 1

 19th February 2026

 Deborah Collum's presentation Embroidering the Truth: a light hearted amble through her textile art journey, considering why textile arts are beloved by many women and so few men, was interesting and a contrast to our speaker in January Mr X Stitch.

As a child Deborah always drew and painted however her career path took her in a different direction, although she  became a teacher later in life and was head of Art. She retired due to ill health, but her work has influenced her creative process and retirement has given her time to explore.

This started with Deborah painting on paper which she then tore up and sewed together, as part of the process she found the textiles community who shared ideas and support.
 

Her focus is very family and home based, her 1st pieces of work made use of children's cotton vests onto which she applied/attached various bits of toys, buttons, badges, key rings etc which she had kept in a drawer rather than throwing away.

 

 

 

 

 

Next Deborah used a simple house shape, rather like a childs drawing, which she made using various bits of old fabric, patchwork etc - this relates to looking after the family.

 

 

 

This led to the creation of books of textile experiments which are tactile and useful for ideas and reference.

World events like the 'boats' bringing migrants, the War in Ukraine which displaced people /children have led to creation of work which depicts this for example dresses embellished with scenes, a destroyed home fragile and patchworked together.

Deborah's work also features landscapes, the view from her window of her long thin garden, farmland with the earth/soil and sky.

During 'lockdown' Deborah created a self portrait the basis of which was an old tray cloth (the home connection). 

 

 

 

 

 15th January 2026

The view from the cutting (and stitching) edge presentation by Mr X Stitch, Jamie , was interesting and thought provoking.

Jamie started stitching at the age of 10 and returned to stitch in 2003 when he bought a kit to occupy time through a long journey.

Following this he began to create his own X stitch patterns that he was interested in. In 2008 Jamie became Mr X Stitch developing a blog where he shared work of others, he entered competitions and taught X stitch at the RSN.

Jamie has been involved in collabarative Art projects including Blackburn Cathedral where he had stitched work mounted in hoops, with information about the pieces on the back, which were then suspended to view .

 

He has created books to raise awareness Push Stitchery, Mr X Stitch -Guide to X stitch, then magazines in which X Stitch Revolution was the first theme.

 

This has been followed by podcasts in which Jamie interviews embroidery and textile artists as well as people who love crafts.

 

Jamie has set up the Mr X Stitch Contemporary  Needlework Prize which features 4 categories - 3D textiles, hand embroidery, machine embroidery and mixed media.

In 2023 Jamie started the Crewe Creates Project and is now based in the former Burtons Store in Crewe which he is renovating and developing into a gallery and creative space for local people/children/students. 

   

 

 18th December 2025

Christmas Celebration with a 'Surprise Speaker'

Our speaker for the Christmas celebration was Judy G, a flower arranger, who talked about her work and demonstrated a variety of simple but very effective flower arrangement techniques. These were suitable not only for Christmas but were adaptable for use throughout the year.

 

The ideas presented were able to be created by adults as well as some being suitable for younger family members to try.

As seen in this (front right) where a beaker with a taped grid over the top provided a guide as well as stability for the flowers and character decoration. 

 

 

The bonus was that the flowers used by Judy were bought from the supermarket and supplemented by any available greenery from the garden, meaning that any one could achieve the flower arrangements produced.

The arrangements and left over flowers were raffled so many members had the opportunity to create their own Christmas flower decorations.

 

There were many contributions to the 'Christmas swap' gift tag which were enjoyed by their recipients.

 

 

 

 

The buffet lunch was enjoyed as was the opportunity to chat with fellow members at the tables. 

 20th November 2025 

The presentation 'Creative icebreaking' given by Angie Hughes was supported by her varied selection of work and was both interesting and informative. 

Angie has not been well so is slowing down, reducing her workload so that now she can do what she likes and wants to do.

This includes things on 'Zoom', talks/workshops, on-line tutorials and in person workshops.  Angie's work has evolved to suit this and she has used a visit to India to inspire some of her work as well as drawing on her imagination.    

 

 

The decorative tiles on monastry floors  together with the ideas provided by illuminated letters led to this piece. With stitching on gold foil and use of gold threads together with the uneveness of the tiles. 

 

  

 

 

      A workshop 'A mighty oak'  features a lone tree in the landscape and is created using needle felting to make the texture and completed with the application of organza and stitching. 

  

     

          

 

 This is an Asami childs pocket , a 3D piece, made using old velvet,beads, cords and handstitching.

 

 

 

 

    

 

  This piece was created by Angie for a poetry festival - TS Elliot Four quartets. It was inspired by the 4 elements - it depicts Fire. Made using thread painting/ stitch on calico. 

 

 

The work of Rebekka Johnson, artist, inspired the piece 'flowers' and this led to quilting, the resulting (yellow/green below) based on a flower box with flowers growing towards the sun.

From this Angie improvised creating the square/log cabin freestyle quilt which used up remnants from previous quilts and work. 

 16th October 2025

 

Tina's presentation 'An embroiderer's tale' was a fascinating insight into her creative work and the extraordinary journey that developed from this.

Like many of us Tina has always enjoyed crafts, sewing etc and on leaving school applied to the Royal School of Needlework for an apprenticeship. This comprised 2 years of learning various skills /techniques and the 3rd year working in the workshops on projects. Throughout she was paid a weekly wage but had to provide her own materials and threads.

 

Tina's first piece was crewel work, followed by goldwork and  then a silk shaded piece featuring a flower.

 

 

 

 

Next came the 'master piece' to showcase skills featuring her take on an animal, saint and a cross - Tina selected an African theme, the Chieftain (saint) created with long and short stitches and colour to create texture.

Then a 3-D piece, many choose to create a box and decorate it Tina however used her own design to make 'Wembley Stadium'

 

 

 

The third was 'Both sides alike' where the fabric is stitched through so the reverse is identical to the front, used for flags/colours etc , the lettering is stitched on to seperate fabric and applied onto the main piece.

The last piece was the 'Coronation goldwork'

 


 

 

Tina's third year in the workshop featured work on varied projects, picture of a dog owned by sponsor, those connected with churches , Embroiderers Guild etc as well as work experience where she went to Jim Henderson (Muppets) and saw how the world of work was outside the RSN.

After leaving the RSN Tina needed to find work so applied to any business that was textile related. From this she went to Jimmy Choo (couture shoes) for a trial day demonstrating sketching/design/embroidery/beading etc.

 This led to an internship for a month which extended into years of freelance work for them involving design work, embroidery and beading on shoes prior to being made.

Later Tina went to Locks, an embroidery workroom used by many designers/fashion houses, creating beading and embroidery for unique items.

One of these was the beading on a white Adidas tracksuit worn at the opening of Commonwealth games in 2002.

Another was beading/decoration on the dresses worn by Dame Edna Everage.

 

Following a part time degree at the London College of Fashion Tina applied for a job(employer unknown just a PO box), asked to attend for an interview/trial day and was offered a junior position, working at the Palace. She started with embroidered/beaded collars for dresses progressing to making state gowns, dresses for tours  and 'work wear' for Queen Elizabeth II.

Tina works freelance making wedding dresses, mother of the bride outfits, carrying out alterations, running embroidery/ dressmaking classes as well as giving talks.


 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 18th September 2025

 

September social and AGM 

Following the AGM and review of the year, members enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with each other, partake of the drink and selection of home made cake and look at the display of work featuring a variety of pieces from workshops undertaken throughout the year as well as the Travelling books project.