We are thrilled and excited that the delightful and multi-talented Claire Wellesley Smith will be joining us for the first time this year to lead SLOW COLOUR & STITCH . Claire will be offering a skill new to our workshops, i.e. dyeing natural textiles and sewing threads with colors obtained from plants and flowers from the gardens of Les Soeurs Anglaises. But that's not all she'll be teaching…. with the luxury of five days to share her talent and techniques, the idea is for participants to stitch their beautifully colored fabrics into intimate "collages" which can either be further developed as purses, cushion covers, clothing etc. or simply framed and displayed as works of art in their own right
.
Here, in her own words, is Claire's creative philosophy:
Why do you enjoy
working with dyes and stitch?
The history of colour on cloth fascinates me, and
the stories that go with it. Dyeing with local plants gives you a new
relationship with the place that they grow, and it creates new connections. There
is something magical about the transformation that occurs when cloth enters a
dye bath. The slow nature of plant
dyeing and the plain sewing techniques I use mean that there is time to develop
a strong connection to the piece of work made.
What do you enjoy
about teaching?
The
conversations that arise in a workshop environment are so enriching -
shared experiences and knowledge that lead to exciting work. Teaching is a
reciprocal experience for me - as much as I love to show and to share
knowledge, I learn a phenomenal amount from my students. I love the way that so
many ideas can develop from one simple technique, and the unique work that is
produced by every participant.
What are ‘Slow
Stitches’ – how is this approach different?
The pleasures to be had from
slowing down processes can be many, with connections to sustainability, simplicity, and multi-cultural textile
traditions. I see a slow approach as a celebration of process, work that has
reflection at its heart, and skills that take time to develop.
What inspires you in
your work?
I live in Yorkshire, a place with a rich textile heritage
and a beautiful landscape. Stories,
memories and observations of place inform my work. The idea of ‘using what you
have’ - be that repurposed textiles and clothing, or local plants gathered to
make local colours - is a strong theme also and I am looking forward to leading
a workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises in South West France with it’s different
flora and fauna.
Can you share a
little more about what people can expect at the Slow Colour and Stitch
workshop?
I am very much looking forward to sharing with participants in May the slow textile processes, using natural dyes and hand-stitch. The wonderful
gardens around Les Soeurs Anglaises will be the perfect location for gathering a collection of local
colour. We will be using these and other natural dyes to invoke a sense of
place, and participants will create a harmonious palette of hand-dyed fabrics
and threads. These fabrics - alongside plain sewing techniques - piecing,
patching and darning will be used to begin a personal piece of work. I will
bring examples of kantha and other stitched work, and hand-dyed textiles, some
centuries old, as inspiration. We will also have a collection of vintage and
repurposed fabrics for participants to use in their work and there will be an
opportunity to visit a local brocante where
it will be possible to find traditional French linens and textiles. The techniques I use can be adapted easily to
a domestic setting, so that new, personal, ‘slow’ projects can easily be
created by participants when the workshop is completed.
Many thanks, Claire.
to book a place on Claire's Workshop, or if you have any questions, contact katie@lessoeursanglaises.com
