Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

I have finally finished I think. The jacket is mostly made of paper. When it came to putting scissors to my great grandmother's embroidery I just couldn't do it, so photo copies were made of some of the pieces. The jacket has little envelopes instead of medals because when we moved into my great aunts house we found lots of lovely embroidered pieces in envelopes. Thank you Maria I really enjoyed the course. Also thank you to the Oxford branch for making me feel so welcome. It was lovely to meet you all although only virtually.

The Jacket
© Joy Hall

Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

The piece is called ‘Moth eaten’ and is really about ‘ broken, but beautiful’ I really enjoyed the challenge and plan to make another!

The Jacket
© Rosemary Meara

Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

I inherited some lovely embroidered cloths from both my grandmother and mother in law. While I admit to some concerns about cutting them up, they have been hidden away for some years now and I would rather they were put to use than not. I still haven't finished the hem of the jacket. I think it might have the red pleats that I've pinned on but I'm not in a rush to finish it yet.

The Jacket
© Amanda Smith

Outcomes from Maria Thomas Workshop

This is my finished creation. It's made from a remnant and the appliqué aspects are from my pre-loved oddity drawer which includes pyjama off cuts, hand dyed experiments with turmeric and a woollen star cut off some slippers the dog ate! The plant stem flowers came to represent my family who now live all over the country and we can't meet right now so Zoom keeps us together. I wanted to make something that represents the larger social change and the smaller familial change that has happened this year so it won’t be forgotten. The jacket is lined with a letter from my daughter, a recipe for chocolate cake (essential) and my first address in Oxford. Thank you Oxford Embroiderers Guild for being so creatively inspirational and welcoming.

The Jacket
© Jo Edwards

Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

As a would-be gardener this is my herbaceous border gardener's jacket....with a plea to help the bees and birds. Suffolk puffs with hand-dyed buttons and the pocket is a seed packet, appliqué birds, lazy daisy flowers and stamped bees. Medals were a challenge, and the little gold one actually reads "let it blossom" (the top to a bottle of Blossom Hill white Zinfandel now to be enjoyed). had to edge the jacket when fabric started to fray badly. Now thinking about another one....

The Jacket
© Alex Messenger

Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

The fabrics are old family tray-cloths, dressing table sets and remnants pieced together. The accidental placing of some pieces seemed to suggest denim and biker-style jackets, and as it was already busy enough without adding more appliqué, I decided to embroider into it. I''ve worked various insects and a thistle, and added heavy 'hardware' to re-inforce the idea of a bikers jacket, and also to stop the jacket becoming too sweet. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this - in fact may do another, this time in denim so that I can use my pretty buttons and lace!

The Jacket
© Fiona Beresford

Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

Vintage tablecloth, ruffled pattern paper channelling the inner punk rocker with safety pins - little gold ones. Broderie anglaise cuffs and inside neckline.

The Jacket
© Catherine Howard

Outcomes from Maria Thomas Workshop

The jacket and edging are made from recycled fabric bought before the Sue Ryder Nettlebed sales closed. I have added pockets with small pieces of travel passes, luggage labels with maps, old currency exchange ticket. Pockets are made from an old skirt. Inside is a stowaway kitten!

The Jacket
© Judy Seimers

Outcomes From Maria Thomas Workshop

I started sewing aged five, at infant school. Running stitch, then later tent stitch, and on and on. My jacket is a bit of my own history of sewing. Lots of dressmaking, teaching Textiles in school, embroidery, general stitchery, collecting old bits. The tablecloth came from my grandmother-in-law. I still love running stitch, fancy scissors, Broderie Anglais. It's almost like a 'memory quilt', but in jacket form!

The Jacket
© Karen Rowe