First Lutradur Lantern workshop - a success!

 

Video made by Lizzy Curtis showing off her Lutradur Lantern

Although I have been working with Lutradur for many years, and teaching it as part of the Advanced Stitched Textiles course this is the first one day workshop making the Lutradur Lanterns. 

I must acknowledfe Amanda Neville for the idea when she made a tea light holder when we used Lutradur on the Bridging the Gap course in 2024 and, with her permisssion, I 'borrowed' her idea and developed it into a larger version.

The students at the Cosy Cabin workshop created some lovely examples, in lots of different colourways

We first painted papers with transfer dyes and hund them outside to dry

After stitching and colouring with the transfer papers, and foiling to add extra bling, it was time to get out the heat tools

Here Juliet is using her soldering iron to make marks and holes in the lutradur

Juliet's completed vase

We also used heat guns to burn the lutradur so it opening up into a filigree look surface

Here is Teresa in action

If you would like to book the Lutradur Lantern workshop then please contact me by email

maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

I can provide the materials for £6 and provide the soldering irons and heat guns for class use

£240 per day for a group up to 16

Out of the Fold collaboration

 

The theme for Out of the Fold's 2026 exhibition is 'Material Dialogues'

For our group challenge this year we are working in collaborative pairs, drawn at random, to make new work on the theme

Some pairs are producing a single piece of work with both artists working on different elements

Other pairs are 'swapping' elements throughout the process and incorporating these into separately produced works

Some are discussing ideas and interpreting them using their own choice of materials and artistic practise.

The process is challenging and stimulating in equal measure. 

My partner is Frances Overy who lives near Norwich. The city was famed and made wealthy by the woven wool industry and the use of madder to dye the vibrant red cloth.

Norwich has many landmarks in the city which record it's textile history including the Madder Market.

I live near Sudbury which has a great tradition of silk weaving and whose mills still produce woven silk of the finest quality.

Sudbury also has architectural evidence of this past with streets such as Weavers Lane. Sudbury blue, also known as Lavenham blue, was achieved by dyeing with woad and indigo

Out third dye inspiration also comes from Norwich and the other product produced in the city -  mustard

Frances and I have both been dyeing a variety of wool and silk fabrics and are sharing these for the joint collaboration

What will we do with these fabrics? And how will the theme of 'Material Dialogues' be translated into finished work?

The other materials we are exploring are paper (Mary's favourite) wood (Frances is a wood turner), and plaster (a new material for both of us)

Weaving  is the link between Norwich and Sudbury, and so we will present our joint installation on a series of spools inspired by those used on the looms.

You will be able to follow the progress of our collaborations on this blog and on the Out of the Fold website where you can read regular blogs posted by group members www.outofthefold.com/category/blogs/

The whole series of work from the collaborations will be seen first at the Creative Stitch Graduate Show 2026 where Out of the Fold are one of the invited alumni groups

Venue: Needham Market Community Centre, School Street, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8BB

Dates: 18th and 19th July 2026

And then at our main exhibition in St Margaret's Gallery, St Benedict;s Street, Norwich NR2 4TU in Sept 2026

NEW Machine Embroidery short course

 

A brand new 6 week machine embroidery short course is now booking at The Cosy Cabin, Risby Barns, Risby, Bury St Edmunds IP28 6QU

A different technique will be explored each week, practising the skill in the morning session, and then applying it to a panel in the afternoon.

The outcome will be a finished panel mounted on canvas measuring 12" x 24" (30cm x 60cm) demonstrating several machine embroidery techniques.

Skill level: some experience of machine sewing would be desirable.

The course will run on Fridays, 10am until 3pm 

To book please contact The Cosy Cabin on 01284 811 222

Week one: Line (trees)

Explore programmed stitches for creativity and free motion stitching techniques  to 'draw with the needle' to create the structure of the panel and line detail.

Looking at different ways of transferring a design

Colouring the background ready for stitch

Week two: Colour (bluebells)

Free motion zigzag - learn how to 'sketch and scribble' with the needle. Using stitch to colour, shade, blend and infill to dd areas of opacity and detail.

Week three: Shape (leaves)

Working with sheer fabrics and applique techniques to build up layers of tranlucency and shape. Free motion stitch for detail.

Week four: Layers (more leaves)

Using soluble fabrics and sheers to create elemts to add to the design and create 3D effects. Making slips and plaques.

Week five: Texture (bark)

Learn how to raise the surface using couching, making and stitching cords to add bold line and texture

Week six: Finishing touches (more bluebells)

Using cable stitch to add further texture to the foreground.

Finishing off the panel and mounting onto a canvas

All the skills acquired and practised on the course can be used for future stitch projects.