Textile Artist: Appliqué Art

Abigail Mill studied Embroidered Textiles at Cumbria College of Art and Design and graduated in 1990. After graduating, she set up her business with the help of The Prince’s Trust and has been working ever since. Over the years she has developed her own unique style and technique of free machine embroidery, and has been featured in several craft books and magazines.She has also taught in art schools and worked on private commissions, including artwork for the Buxton ward at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.As well as selling her pictures at art and craft fairs across the UK, Abigail runs a publishing business, printing greetings cards from her original artwork, which she sells through gift shops and galleries in the UK, France, America and Japan. She sells to major clients such as John Lewis and has been selected by the Crafts Council to exhibit regularly in New York and San Francisco. Abigail lives in Bristol, UK. www.abigailmill.co.uk

• Introduction 6Materials and equipment 8Inspiration 16Colour 20Texture and pattern 24Techniques 28Shop fronts 50Teatime treats 64Country garden 78Animals 92Seaside 106Templates 122Index 128

I came into contact with Abigail Mill a few years ago when she came to the Bristol branch of The Embroiderers’ Guild to give a talk about her work as a freelance textile artist. She was an engaging speaker and I was very attracted to her delicate, pastel beach collages. I don’t know what it is about beach huts, but they always make me happy. On her website (https://abigailmill.co.uk/) Abigail Mill describes her book as follows:“My book is published by Search Press and is a snapshot of 20 years’ worth of embroidered images. This beautiful publication is sold worldwide and has been a huge inspiration for sewing fans, to take them into a more creative direction. Whether you are a quilter, an embroiderer, or general crafts enthusiast, this book is hugely inspiring. It's packed full of images and ideas from over dying fabric to different stitch techniques. There are gallery sections and step-by-step chapters to work through too to make your own embroidered picture. If you haven't got time to use it as an embroidery tool, then it makes a great coffee table book!”I agree with every word. Stitch Magazine in the June/July 2015 edition says “From flower-sprigged beach huts to a seal bobbing merrily in a floral sea, Abigail's decorative approach will brighten any home. It's simple to translate your own holiday snapshots using this charming folksy style. … These pretty fabric sketches make superb use of pattern and texture … Appliqué is perfect for utilising precious scraps of haberdashery or cherished clothing remnants. Fully exploiting appliqués freedom, Abigail renders a bucket and spade in chirpy polka dots and peps up a gaily striped seaside parasol with cotton lace. Techniques are clearly shown but the book's strength comes from Abigail's exuberant approach - mixing frayed edges with finished ones, applying fabrics in gathered and folded form as well as flat; this, truly, is reworked fabric made fabulous.”As the author says, “I create texture using frayed and ruffled edges, but I do not like to use straight lines, seams or hems.” A lady after my own heart. I’m not very good at precise work, and although I like crisp creations, my heart sings more when they are free. After the introduction, the book covers materials and equipment (fabric being the most important), inspiration, colour, texture, pattern and stitching followed by building a scene. The last half of the book consists of examples and step-by-step instructions. I recommend this book. As Abigail Mill says, “it makes a great coffee table book”, although I would suggest that you either create something inspired by her work or do one of the projects.