Vase of Flowers 12th June

On this course, you will spend the day in Marksbury Village Hall BA2 9HP(a small village near Bath) creating your own textile piece featuring Flowers in a Vase. Choose your hand painted background, select a material for your vase, choose a vase shape then get stuck in creating your floral arrangement.

This workshop is perfect if you are an absolute beginner in free motion embroidery but all abilities will be catered for if you have some experience but want to learn my techniques.

If you'd like to learn how I create my flowing florals and glorious grasses, this workshop is for you! You'll learn a variety of techniques to create your finished textile piece. There will be plenty of inspiration available for you - I have a library of design ideas, as well as lots of samples and embroideries.

Free motion embroidery is an exciting technique where you are able to 'draw' with the sewing machine by lowering the feed dogs and moving the fabric around under the needle. It is also known as freehand sewing and thread painting. This is a technique that I have really refined over the years and I use it in all my textile pieces. I have a lot of experience in free-motion embroidery and teaching, you will learn how to use the sewing machine to its full potential - you'll be amazed at the results!

You will spend the morning learning different techniques from my demonstrations, and then putting them into practice. After lunch, you will make your finished piece. 

See the photos for examples of lovely work from previous workshop participants, plus examples of flowers and grasses from my handmade collection.

What previous participants say:

"I absolutely loved this course. Jo is a talented and imaginative artist. Her excellent tutoring meant that the instructions were clear and set at a good pace. She didn’t intrude but was always available to help. Would thoroughly recommend a course with Jo. "

"Friendly atmosphere, clear instruction and encouragement from Jo. I felt filled with confidence, and as a result, produced something I was surprised I was so pleased with!"

What to bring - please read!

Please bring your sewing machine, embroidery foot, general sewing kit, sharp scissors and an 8" wooden embroidery hoop. If you want to bring your own design ideas please do so. 

Also bring a packed lunch, I will supply snacks and drinks for the day.

Your sewing machine needs to be able to lower the feed dogs to enable free-motion stitching, as well as a darning/embroidery foot for your machine.

If you don't have a sewing machine, you are welcome to rent one for £15; please select 'Rent a Sewing Machine' and the relevant date from the drop down menu.

Embroidery hoops are available to purchase on the day, if you have one bring it along 8 inches x 1cm deep.

All base fabrics will be supplied but please bring your own thin applique fabrics. Thin fabrics include cottons such as patchwork and quilting fabrics or shirt material.

A general sewing kit comprises spare bobbins, spare needles (machine and hand sewing), good quality machine threads in dark colours, small scissors for cutting thread, medium scissors for cutting fabrics, extension table if you have one. Bring your machines spare feet and accessary box. 

All workshops take place in Marksbury a small village near Bath, 

The workshop will run from 10.00am until 3.45pm, we then have until 4 to pack away.

Places on each workshop are limited to 10 so that I am able to spend as much time with each workshop participant as possible. 

If you have to cancel due to COVID, or any other valid reason, I will give you a 50% discount when you book onto another course in the future.

I will also have to cancel the workshop 2 weeks prior to the day if I have less than 5 people attending.