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Maggie Grey is a textile artist living in the south of England. She practises all forms of stitch and paper craft. Machine embroidery is her usual method of construction but she likes to do this on complex surfaces built up with layers. These layers may be fabric or paper, usually painted. Backgrounds are often simple materials such as commercial felt with foil ironed over it. A variety of sheer fabrics can be layered over this, often with heat applied. This method is sometimes enhanced by the use of the embellisher machine and Maggie has written a book on embellisher techniques (www.embellishandstitch.com).
She enjoys the design process for new work and this often spills over to become books which are heavily textured with gesso or texture gels. Walnut inks, Moon Shadow Mists and embossing powders are often used here. The computer is brought in to assist in the design process and the results printed out to form a base for hand or machine embroidery. Maggie's next book, 'From Image to Stitch' to be published in June, covers this subject. You can see some examples of her work in the Gallery.
In addition to her own work, Maggie edits Workshop on the Web and writes books for B T Batsford and D4daisy. She gives talks and teaches; she has led workshops by invitation all over the world.
She exhibits with Wessex Textile Artists (www.wessextextileartists.com) and the deadlines for their exhibitions are her driving force for producing new work. Their next exhibition, 'Fusion', will be at Highcliffe Castle, Highcliffe, Christchurch, Dorset, Wednesday 19th March - Sunday 27th April, open daily 11-5.
Maggie's Blog
As many of you will already know, Maggie has a blog which you'll find at www.magstitch.blogspot.com. It's updated every day or two (when she's not teaching). The blog often contains mini-tutorials and, with the comments offering a chance to discuss issues from design to the best sort of sewing machine, gives rise to a lively dialogue. There's even a video on using embossing powder hidden in there (20th November 2007 - click Archive 2007).
Workshop on the Web
In the March issue of Workshop on the Web, Jackie Cardy explores Celtic knots, and we have a workshop by Isobel Hall showing fantastic effects with encaustic wax. Hazel Credland has found a new, quick way to design with digital photographs and Kim Thittichai shows us how to make her heavenly bowls and vessels. Linda Bellinger's fantastic acetate printing (right), a celebrity interview with Alysn Midgelow-Marsden, Maggie's tutorial on vanishing muslin and a medieval tiles theme with Angela Bentley complete the line up.
All this in our step-by-step format, plus all the regular features. As ever, there are lots of new products, news, book reviews and exhibitions. If you haven't seen Workshop on the Web, visit the site and click Taster for a free preview containing exciting workshops.
Quiltwow
Quiltwow is Maggie's new publishing venture - an online magazine for quilters in the form of step-by-step workshops with excellent tutors. Commissioning Editor Carol Dowsett is finding us some wonderful tutors. In the March issue out on March 8, Christine Restall (right) shows us a simple method for screen printing which combines with painting to make a lovely wall hanging, Jane Coombes uses foundation piecing for a radiant rainbow, Helen Deighan shows us how to make a coil bag, and Beverley Wood gives us a tutorial on the use of threads. Jennie Pickering describes how to make a machine embroidered quilt using star and cross tiles and gives instructions for using sewing machine software as an alternative to free machine embroidery. Pauline Burbidge gains her layers of inspiration with landscape translation and we have more Journal Quilts and an interview with Barbara Weeks. Plus lots, lots more.
Don't miss it - go to the site www.quiltwow.com, have a look at the Taster and sign up if you're impressed.
Maggie's Talks
Maggie and Clive join forces for their talks to groups. Using a digital projector linked to a computer, they combine excellent quality still images with movies which demonstrate the techniques which Maggie is discussing. Very popular are her technique talks which describe particular methods of achieving given effects. Maggie is known as a lively and amusing speaker and Clive generally stays awake. Click the pic left for details of talks.
You can find Maggie in Jersey in March (10-16) for the Jersey Textile Showcase where she'll be teaching mixed media classes, one of her favourite subjects. There are lots of good things going on, so why not pop over. Details from Jersey Showcase.
You can contact Maggie by email at |
