Chris Spencer BA (Hons), MSDC
After a career as a Calligrapher and Illuminator textiles stole my heart . I had always enjoyed decorative sewing but it was the need to keep creating whilst my daughter was tiny that led me to a more serious interest in embroidery and other aspects of textile art..
Over the years I achieved City and Guilds, NCFE and ‘A’ level qualifications in Embroidery and Design and then in 2011 I fulfilled my dream and graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in Embroidery from Middlesex University, London, UK . During the degree studies I found a passion to create pieces that would combine both concept and the best of technique thus finding a home in both the worlds of high craft and fine art and hopefully destroy the divide.In 2001 I formed (and still lead) the exhibiting group Material Girls and in 2008 I founded the Eastern Region Textile Forum – an association of Textile Artists based in the East of England.
I taught both Calligraphy and Textile Art for over 25 years and am a qualified Further and Higher Education Lecturer. I exhibit extensively and have recently was delighted to have been awarded a full membership of the Society of Designer Craftsmen.’
‘Having explored a variety of textile techniques my current practice is to use fibre and hand embroidery.
’Website chrissythreads.com
After a career as a Calligrapher and Illuminator textiles stole my heart . I had always enjoyed decorative sewing but it was the need to keep creating whilst my daughter was tiny that led me to a more serious interest in embroidery and other aspects of textile art..
Over the years I achieved City and Guilds, NCFE and ‘A’ level qualifications in Embroidery and Design and then in 2011 I fulfilled my dream and graduated with a BA(Hons) degree in Embroidery from Middlesex University, London, UK . During the degree studies I found a passion to create pieces that would combine both concept and the best of technique thus finding a home in both the worlds of high craft and fine art and hopefully destroy the divide.In 2001 I formed (and still lead) the exhibiting group Material Girls and in 2008 I founded the Eastern Region Textile Forum – an association of Textile Artists based in the East of England.
I taught both Calligraphy and Textile Art for over 25 years and am a qualified Further and Higher Education Lecturer. I exhibit extensively and have recently was delighted to have been awarded a full membership of the Society of Designer Craftsmen.’
‘Having explored a variety of textile techniques my current practice is to use fibre and hand embroidery.
’Website chrissythreads.com
Jill Birleson
I have always liked making things. As a child my mum taught me to knit, crochet and embroider by hand. When I got older she also taught me to make my own clothes. I joined the local branch of the Embroiderers Guild and recently claimed my 25 year membership badge. I have completed Part 1 of City and Guilds Creative Embroidery and have an HNC in Design Crafts. I have attended numerous courses and workshops over the years covering a range of mixed media and textile subjects. My favourite techniques involve surface decoration and stitch.
I have always liked making things. As a child my mum taught me to knit, crochet and embroider by hand. When I got older she also taught me to make my own clothes. I joined the local branch of the Embroiderers Guild and recently claimed my 25 year membership badge. I have completed Part 1 of City and Guilds Creative Embroidery and have an HNC in Design Crafts. I have attended numerous courses and workshops over the years covering a range of mixed media and textile subjects. My favourite techniques involve surface decoration and stitch.
Julie Chellingsworth
‘Purely by accident after following a lifelong interest in embroidery I met someone many years earlier who had encouraged me to take a course in creative textiles and now it has become part of my life’
‘I have more interest in machine embroidery these days. I like to use natural fibres mainly and my greatest inspiration comes from colour. I love strong colour’
‘Purely by accident after following a lifelong interest in embroidery I met someone many years earlier who had encouraged me to take a course in creative textiles and now it has become part of my life’
‘I have more interest in machine embroidery these days. I like to use natural fibres mainly and my greatest inspiration comes from colour. I love strong colour’
Margaret Lacy
‘ I have been interested in embroidery and stitching for most of my life. Since retiring from a career as a teacher in Adult education and a National Association of Flower Arranging demonstrator I can now devote more time to developing my textile work. I have passed the City and Guilds Design for Craft – Stitched Textiles part 3 and joined the Embroiderers Guild where I am able to continue my journey discovering and using the many and varied aspects of the textile world.’
‘My work is interpretive and explores traditional and contemporary hand techniques in creative ways. I am experimenting with different materials and threads and working on projects that have a common theme.’
‘ I have been interested in embroidery and stitching for most of my life. Since retiring from a career as a teacher in Adult education and a National Association of Flower Arranging demonstrator I can now devote more time to developing my textile work. I have passed the City and Guilds Design for Craft – Stitched Textiles part 3 and joined the Embroiderers Guild where I am able to continue my journey discovering and using the many and varied aspects of the textile world.’
‘My work is interpretive and explores traditional and contemporary hand techniques in creative ways. I am experimenting with different materials and threads and working on projects that have a common theme.’
Maria Spiller
My earliest recollection of sewing is aged about 6 or 7, decorating tray cloths with embroidery stitches, then making an appliquéd tea cosy and my parents buying me my own small sewing machine. I was taught by nuns, but sewing and embroidery skills were also abundant within the family at that time. Since then I’ve tried most things - dolls cloths, my own clothes, wedding and bridesmaid dresses, clothes for my daughter, soft furnishings etc and in the mid 1990s I started to dabble in patchwork and quilting.
The opportunity to teach patchwork cropped up in 2010 following redundancy from a 32+ year career in IT. This lead to more teaching for shops and craft studios, which I still do, a three year stint teaching in the adult community learning sector and, more recently, starting my own classes in 2017. I completed the City & Guilds Diploma in Patchwork and Quilting in 2017 taught by Janice Gunner.
Looking for new challenges since completing the C&G Diploma, I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to join The Material Girls.
Website www.mariaspillertextiles.com
Pauline Oakley
I originally trained in theatre costume and worked in the theatre as wardrobe assistant, then had my own dressmaking/costume business for a few years, before life intervened and I had to get a “proper” job. Seven years ago, with my children grown I returned to my first love and started studying machine embroidery with City & Guilds taking it to diploma level. I love texture and pattern and draw inspiration from nature. The photo is of one of diploma pieces. It is based on the wing markings of a marbled butterfly and is over 1 metre in length, with each marking being interpreted in a different technique.
Please follow me on Instagram as www.instagram.com/paulineaoakley.
I originally trained in theatre costume and worked in the theatre as wardrobe assistant, then had my own dressmaking/costume business for a few years, before life intervened and I had to get a “proper” job. Seven years ago, with my children grown I returned to my first love and started studying machine embroidery with City & Guilds taking it to diploma level. I love texture and pattern and draw inspiration from nature. The photo is of one of diploma pieces. It is based on the wing markings of a marbled butterfly and is over 1 metre in length, with each marking being interpreted in a different technique.
Please follow me on Instagram as www.instagram.com/paulineaoakley.
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Jacky Stockwell
From a young age I remember my mother sitting at a sewing machine, and this skill has travelled down the generations to me and then my eldest child. I enjoy making soft furnishings including curtains and cushions. I’m also very interested in up cycling, combing old jeans to make jean skirts, giving them a second life. However my love is working with yarn and I enjoy knitting, crochet and latch hook, all self taught. I’m looking forward to trying out new and exciting projects with the Material Girls. |
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Vivien Mitchell
After a break from designing and creating, I'm delighted to be rejoining The Material Girls. I'm looking forward to collaborating with the members and producing some original work, after a couple of years working on a variety of group projects for local churches, businesses and charities. I love quirky objects, 3d and dolls so look forward to putting my brain in gear and celebrating all things textile with old friends. |