E-mail: sian@distantstitch.co.uk

Website: www.distantstitch.co.uk

Siân Martin gained a BA Hons at Birmingham College of Art and Design, specialising in Embroidery followed by an MA at the same college. She then continued with a Post Graduate Art Teachers’ Diploma at the University of Leicester.

62 GROUP OF TEXTILE ARTISTS, member since 1974             www.62group.org.uk

PRACTICAL STUDY GROUP, member since 1995       www.practicalstudygroup.co.uk

“TRACING THREADS” – 62 Group of Textile Artists, Hove Museum 2006

SOMERSET ARTS WEEK – Somerset College of Art and Technology 2006

Finalist in the International PFAFF ART EMBROIDERY CHALLENGE 2007 – starting at the UK Knitting and Stitching Show 2007.

“CREATIVE DIALOGUES” – Practical Study Group touring exhibition starting at Bankfield Museum, Halifax, continuing to Walsall Museum in 2008, Brewhouse Taunton, Peebles and Portsmouth in 2009.

She has written, directs and tutors ‘Distant Stitch’, a successful international embroidery distance learning course. www.distantstitch.co.uk

• Tutor for the ‘Stitched Textile Artists’ Masterclass at Urchfont Manor College, Wiltshire.

• Siân is currently a tutor at Urchfont Manor College on the City and Guilds Diploma in Embroidery, Level 3.

• Leads workshops for textile groups in this country and abroad.

‘Embroidery’ magazine, summer and autumn ’72, winter ’88, summer ’90, autumn ’93, winter ’95, May ’96, January 1999

‘Stitch’ magazine December 1999, August 2001 & ‘Classic Stitches’ magazine April 2003

‘Inspiration to Stitch’ by Bailey Curtis 2003

‘Fibre Visions’ by Fibre.Art.Wales. 2002

‘African Inspirations in Embroidery’ by Mary Sleigh 2004

Constance Howard’s ‘20th century Embroidery in GB from 1978’

‘Starting to Stitch’ (Batsford) edited by Val Campbell-Harding

‘Contemporary British Textile Art by the 62 Group’

‘Textile Aspects’ by the 62 Group

‘Creating Sketchbooks for Embroiderers and Textile Artists’ by Kay Greenlees

‘Keeping it Personal’ article in Design-it the Computer Textile Design Group magazine.

Celebrity Artist Interview Workshop on the Web June 2006 www.workshopontheweb.com

shells

shirt

tomato

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Creating dramatic relief shapes in fabric using the simple Japanese method of steaming setting. The fabric surface is tied and stitched into different formations before being steamed for 10 minutes to set the shapes. The ties and stitches are then removed to reveal the exciting results.

The famous ‘tomato’ dress was created by tying lots of marbles into the red silk organza fabric with strong thread. After steaming, the marbles were removed and ………      >>>>

STUDENTS - please bring the following items for the workshop: -

1. Any fabrics you might like to try to create relief surfaces in. Synthetic fibres hold the steam setting permanently, but are slippery to manipulate; fabrics like silk, calico, organdie and organza work well although will not survive the laundry. Thick fabrics aren’t so impressive. I shall have some silk organza and synthetic voile and satin for sale.

2. Lots of small hard objects such as screws, shells, marbles, buttons to tie into the fabrics to form the relief shapes.

3. Strong thread (linen thread and works well) to tie up the shapes.

4. Needle and strong sewing thread in black if possible.

5. Hair dryer

STUDIO REQUIREMENTS

• Table covered with old towel or absorbent cloth