Join Mixed Media Artist Bernice Hopper and spend the day playing with various ways you can incoporate the use of text in textiles and how text can inspire your work. Bernice works with a combination of paints, mixed media and stitch in her artwork. Explore the techniques she uses in her work, trying them on paper and fabric building up a set of samples to takeaway or to be used on Bernice’s Sunday Workshop!

About Using Text in Textiles workshop:

Words, words, words! Have you ever wanted to include your own words into your textiles but had no idea where to begin? Join textile artist Bernice Hopper for a weekend of text in textiles and on Sunday books,with BerniceAs a regular demonstrating artist at the Festival of Quilts in the Creative Textiles Studio, a vibrant space which showcases the very best in contemporary textile art. Bernice is joining us for two days of textile art indulgence. I have seen a variety of books made by Bernice and I’m really excited she is coming to teach for us.
Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, 10am to 4pm. Book one day, or both if you want to develop your skills further.

Using Text in Textiles

Have you ever wanted to include words in your work, but not known how to start or what materials and equipment are suitable? This is the perfect place to begin. Enjoy a playful, experimental session exploring pens, crayons, paints, inks and printing on both paper and fabric, then create a no sew book to keep your made samples together.
Why do we use text in our textiles? Text, letters and fonts can create readable, structural patterns that work as a visual cue. You can create conceptual statements, express ideas of intent, add depth and meaning, include narrative and storytelling, or make your work more personal or poignant with memories and emotions. Whatever your reason, exploring the variety of methods taught by Bernice will be fun and informative, so Saturday’s workshop is the place to do it.

You will receive a detailed handout of Bernice’s various techniques, you can choose whether to experiment with them all or choose to focus on those that capture your interest in more detail. This is a great opportunity to try various ideas Bernice will encourage you to explore techniques and show you how you can further develop them at home. She will share her many ideas on how you will be able to use these new skills, and ways in which you can use the samples you make on the day.

Mixed Media paper will be provided to make a no-sew book in which to keep your samples, Bernice will give step by step instructions of how to construct your book along with a handout to take home with you.

About the Artist: 

Bernice is a textile and mixed media artist based in the West Midlands. With a background of 20 years in primary and special needs education, Bernice began to work creatively after obtaining City & Guilds qualifications in Photography and in Creative Embroidery.

Bernice’s work has often explored themes connected to specific locations, such as Venice, Florida, and the canals of the West Midlands. These themes have inspired her to create Artists Books and striking textile Wall Hangings.   She also loves to make fabric books.

Her most recent work explores the themes of “Captivity, Freedom and Identity”.  This series employs a limited neutral palette and incorporates elements of text and movement.  She has used text in a variety of ways including incorporating her own poems.

Date, Time, Location: Saturday 31st October, 10am – 4pm, Cabus Village Hall

Price: £70 for one day, or book both of Bernice’s workshops for £130 (£10 saving).

£40 deposit taken upon booking for 1 day, £80 deposit taken upon booking for 2 days.

Click here for the details of ‘Hanging Books’ on Sunday 1st November.

You will need to bring:

• ½ metre of Calico
• Several small oddments of cotton fabric (at least 10cm square) – choose colours you like to work with
• ¼ metre Bondaweb
• An A5 or A4 pad of cartridge paper
• Fabric scissors, paper scissors
• Sewing kit, embroidery threads
• Masking tape*
• Tissue paper or old dress pattern tissue
• Double-sided tape*
• Pen, pencil, ruler, eraser
• Notebook, camera
• Your lunch
• Remaining payment in cash (Please note if you cancel within 2 weeks of this event you will still owe final payment fee, unless we can fill your place in which case we will refund your deposit, thank you.)

Also bring if you have it (but don’t buy especially):

• Waterproof marker pens black and 2 other colours*
• Pens of different colours and nib sizes*  e.g. Uniball, Posca
• 2” decorators paintbrush*
• Water pot, Teaspoon, Old credit card*
• Small iron and ironing mat

Bernice will bring:

• Items marked with a * above
• Mixed media paper to make the samples book
• Various tools and media not listed for you to try

Provided for you: 

• Tea, coffee, biscuits and cake

If you are attending day 2 – Hanging Books then please consider the following if you wish to combine samples from Text in Textiles:

Using Text on a Hanging Book

For those who have booked to do both workshops over the weekend, there is the possibility of using the ideas from Using Text in Textiles to make the Hanging Book.

If this is an idea that appeals, you will need to bring to the Saturday workshop another ½ metre of Calico