Artwave 2024 - Stitchwave at The Stitching Post

Each year during Artwave artists and makers in and around Lewes open their studios for visitors.

This year at The Stitching Post we are celebrating the work of nine different makers - all of whom work with fabric and in stitches. The perfect venue to showcase work of - embroidery, patchwork, slow stitching and so much more!

We will be open September 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th 10.30am - 4.30pm. Each day we will serve tea, coffee, cakes and scones. So please do come along and support us whilst enjoying our very special setting.

Read more about the artists exhibiting here below …

Alison McDonagh

Alison was brought up in a household where someone was always making something and the sewing machine was a constant presence on the dining room table.

Following a machine embroidery course at West Dean College, Chichester, she gave up her teaching career to pursue textiles.

Her love of colour, pattern and texture feeds into her artwork and the fabrics she makes from upcycled scraps.

Beth Power

Beth Power is an embroidery and textile artist living on the edge of Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. She creates beautiful and tactile pieces of artwork using layers of pre-printed cotton fabrics which are then intricately embroidered and embellished with found or upcycled materials, trimmings and 'bits', to create fabulous textures and an overall landscape scene. These embroideries have been affectionately called 'Stitchscapes' and are described as "the art of painting with needle and thread". 

Beth has created the brand, Dotty Textiles, and now runs a successful business producing Stitchscape kits and products, running workshops and giving talks about her style.

Ana Kirby

Ana is a textile artist living in Lewes. She says …

‘My work uses Stitch as a letter, a number of stitches forming a word, and more stitches forming a sentence, a paragraph, sometimes a whole story! And the stories I stitch involve three main themes:

- slow stitch that invites reflection and self awareness leading to greater agency to cope with everyday stresses and pressures

- family heritage

- artivism/activism/craftivism to do with the plight of Children in Childrens Homes’

Sarah Becvar

Sarah is a textile artist specialising in freehand machine embroidery. Her designs are heavily influenced by the natural environment surrounding her garden studio in the weald of Sussex, situated down the lane from her family farm where she spent many of her childhood days walking through fields and woodland, gathering armfuls of wildflowers to sketch.

Her collection has grown to include floral notecards, zipped pouches, original artwork, linen aprons, embroidered bookmarks, lavender bags and more recently linen eye pillows filled with beautifully scented Yorkshire lavender and wheat grown on her family farm.

Sarah runs workshops within her own studio in East Sussex, teaching the wonderful technique of drawing with thread, inspiring clients to create their own piece of artwork or functional product.

Marilyn Willis

Marilynscreativethreads

offers a unique range of handmade fashion accessories and gifts, using her love of hand embroidery combined with vintage fabrics, lace, buttons and personal memorabilia.

Marilyn has worked in Fashion and Textiles for many years, both as a designer and lecturer. Currently teaching a series of hand stitched workshops, in Sussex. 

This includes hand embroidered projects, Sashiko stitching and Visible Mending.

Jo Oakley

Handmade patchwork pouches, bags and notebook covers made in soft, harmonious colours, from new as well as vintage fabrics and finished with hand stitched quilting and hand sewn embellishments and trims.

Kelly Dillon

After years of making gifts for friends and their children Kelly decided to turn her love of sewing into a small business. Moving from London to the beautiful county town of Lewes in 2013 gave her the opportunity to launch The Stitching Post.

Her inspiration comes from the colour and beauty of fabric. Kelly works with each piece in turn, co-ordinating colours and shades. Each item is hand sewn, often finished with hours of hand quilting detail. She is particularly drawn to the richness of fabrics from Japan and the Orient.

Kelly’s studio in Isfield is a haven for quilters and sewers alike. She stocks hundreds of high quality cottons and regularly runs classes and workshops.

Lexi and Lu

Lexi & Lu is a Sussex based lampshade company. The creation of Lexi Rylands and Lucy Lowry, two mums who met at the school gates. Looking for creative career changes outside of London and sharing a frustration with overpriced interiors they struck upon lampshades. They create bespoke designs and run lampshade making courses in the local area.

Carole Brown

 'I work from a home studio in the garden and love seeing the plants and wildlife outside. They inform most of my fabric choices, and many of my items feature plants, flowers, birds, insects or animals. Above all I enjoy creating things that give me pleasure to sew, which means I am constantly changing my range, and exploring new fabric combinations and sewing techniques. I never tire of seeing a length of fabric and a reel of thread transform into an actual object. My bags are created to be both beautiful, useful, and just a little bit different!'