Outdoor Art Engagement

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Louise

Just an update on an outdoor art project with a 3rd Year group from the Prince’s Trust XL Club at Arbroath High School.*Prince’s Trust xl clubs are for young people aged 13 – 19 for developing their skills and confidence for a positive future

I designed and delivered a 6 week creative engagement programme with interior designer Sooz Gordon to work on team building, allowing participants to be expressive and try new techniques and break a few perceptions. Over the weeks we took art out of the classroom and workshops took place outside. We creating transient art in the school grounds – from ground graffiti, yarn bombing, hula hoop structures and mild vandals. Mild Vandals was inspired by a current international graffiti movement. Each session was fast paced due to the limited 50 minute lesson time. Continue reading →

Drawing with Stitch in St Andrews Museum

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Louise

I spent a lovely morning in sunny St Andrews at the St Andrews Museum running a Drawing with Stitch workshop to go with the Botany Cultivating Collections exhibition. We had an inspiring wander round the gallery looking for shapes and images we would want to use in our own hand stitched drawstring bags. I was taken by an enlarged model of a pea in the pod. Here’s my wee sample below.

There was a lovely mix of images, painting and objects to choose from. Everyone was taken by something different for their design from seaweed, still life painting by Peploe, daisies to the table cloth in the activity room. We used a mix of stitches from running, daisy, chain and embellished with buttons or added applique in a relaxed atmosphere. Here are a few samples.

The exhibition finishes this Sunday 12th May so pop along if you can. This exhibition was set up by the Museum and Gallery Students from St Andrews University. The proceeds of the participants fees went to the St Andrews Botanical gardens and there’s a donation box in the gallery too.

Drawing with Stitch workshop for 11-16 year olds at the DCA

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Louise

I’m running a 4 week block of Drawing with Stitch for 11-16 year olds at the DCA. Where we will create cool tote bags. The course runs from the 25th April from 6pm – 8pm for 4 consecutive weeks. I’ve designed this to learn some basic hand sewing skills and also to encourage participants own creativity creating unique outcomes. Looking forward to meeting all the budding new designers and seeing their creative results. Block needs to be booked directly through the DCA box office and more info here.

Being a textiles and surface pattern designer I’m always using lots of ways of markmaking and stitch adds a lovely quality of line. I love decorating surfaces in images, patterns and words.

Here’s some some of my stitch samples below

Here are some of the young peoples creations, they worked so hard over the 4 evenings learning new stitches and creating a tote bag

Cultivating Collections Stitch Workshop

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Louise

I will be doing a stitch workshop at St Andrews Museum on the 4th of May from 10.30am – 12.30pm, inspired by the Cultivating Collections Exhibition. Participants will decorate a wee bag using stitch and embelishment. No experience necessary it will be a relaxed and creative session. All proceeds will go to St Andrews Botanic Gardens. Please contact the venue directly for booking – 01334 659380..

St Andrews is a lovely place to spend the day! I think I’ll have to check out Joules and Bibis when I’m there too!

Lovely Day Stitching in Anthropologie Edinburgh Store

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Louise

I’ve spend Saturday in the Anthropologie Edinburgh store doing a Stitch Workshops for Anthropologie customers. We were located in the lovely garden area downstairs, with lovely plants, paper tree trunks from the window display and surrounded by lovely Anthropologie products- perfect!

My workshop uses stitch and embellishment to decorate little bags. I brought along some stencils of things I use in my work – trees, leaves, pheasants, words and a wee Christmas pudding for a bit of festive cheer. I made some samples in advance to give people the idea of what to do and we used a range of wool, buttons, beads and ribbons….

I love it the window display at he moment! Pop along to see the giant paper owl!

Lots of passing people watching us from the windows and shoppers interested in us doing crafty stuff.

It was also great to be in store where my artwork is being used on Anthropologie wool scarves, with one of the style now half price – you’ll need to be fast to get one! And I’ve got such a connection with the store with originally doing the temporary storefront which is now being featured in store on the stairs area and I’ve also created collections of hand printed scarves for them.

Lots of happy makers with their finished bags!

We had lots of great finished products – cute elephant, button trees, dashing dog, leaves, christmas pudding and festive cat…… to name a few.

All the money raised is going to The Woodlands Trust Scotland (once I know the amount I’ll update you!) Thanks to all that came along and enjoyed the workshops!

Christmas Craft in Edinburgh Anthropologie Store

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Louise

I’m going to be in the Anthropologie Edinburgh store on the 17th November doing a Christmas Craft workshop. Using Drawing with Stitch and embelishment, where you can create you very own little cotton bag. I’m sure there will be a pheasant or two sneaking and peeking amongst the stitches and some woodland inspiration and of course some christmas cheer!

This event is for Charity and all the proceedings will go to The Woodlands Trust Scotland. I wanted to pick a charity that fitted with my work and thought they fitted perfectly.

This event must be pre-booked in advance, see above flyer.

Looking forward to it!

Snail trails……..

Posted on March 11, 2012 by Louise

I spend a lovely few hours with some creative crafty ladies at my ‘Create your own bespoke shopper – drawing with Stitch and Button’ workshop for Fife Contemporary Art & Craft.

To start the session I showed some of my samples with various stitch techniques, then we all had a rummage through the buttons – everyone loves buttons! Stripy ones are my favourites! I really encouraged creativity in a relaxed atmosphere and I hope all the participants enjoyed the session and it has given them a taster or inspiration to continue being creative!

I created a stripy snail design meandering across my shopper. I am fascinated with snails and their trails. I’m continuing to work on it in the evenings to as I find it really relaxing.All the participants created lovely things from – tree with button leaves, art deco flowers with a lovely red and black button border, flowers using all the stitches, chain stitch bamboo using lovely wool, intricate patterns and motifs.

It was a lovely relaxed atmosphere at the venue Vic in St Andrews, where we got the tastiest scones with cream and apricot jam – yummy! (i had more than one!!!)

Thanks to Fife Contemporary Art & Craft for inviting me to run a workshop in St Andrews.

Drawing with stitches workshop

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Louise

I’m running a workshop in St Andrews this Saturday 10th March for Fife Contemporary Art & Craft. To create your own bespoke reusable shopper – drawing with stitches and embellishing with buttons. It’ll be a lovely relaxed session being creative, meeting new people and creating something unique. For more info and to book please click here

Louise Kirby

creative process and projects of Louise Kirby

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