I provide a small number of face to face UK talks and workshops for groups during the year, as well as offering group mentoring days. I am happy to do talks via Zoom (groups will need a licence as I don’t hold one myself). I’ve now closed bookings for 2026 but happy to take 2027 enquiries including a new talk, ‘The Making of Me’
Group Workshops
TEXTtiles
(One day Workshop, suitable for any level including beginners. Kit £5 per person)
NEW for 2027, using your own handwriting, stamps, stencils, purchased fabrics, or hand-printed cloth, you create a series of nine small fabric collage “tiles.” Working on this smaller scale often sparks new ideas and unexpected discoveries, resulting in a cohesive little series that can presented in a variety of ways.
We’ll discuss how differences and contrast can strengthen your designs, when ‘less is more’ and ways to add further hand or machine stitch. 🙂
Sea and Stone
(1 Day Workshop, suitable for any level including beginners)
You will learn how to create successful pebble shapes that will be printed with acrylic paint onto muslin but you are free to explore other fabrics and papers, too! Prints will be arranged into visually pleasing stacks or cairns which could be framed or finished as a hanging. Alternatively, they could be arranged into a scroll or printed individually to piece together or appliqué etc.. Once dry and backed, we will hand-stitch in ways that enhance and develop texture, colours, contrasts and marks.
Re-Imagined
(2 day workshop, intermediate level, hand or free-machining)
Working with a well-known painting from history, you will start by finding various visual elements such as patterns, marks, colours and motifs. You will then develop a set of fabrics to re-assemble into new possibilities for a re- imagined piece of work based on your chosen painting. (You could work with papers if preferred). Your choice of format or assemblage can then be hand or machine-stitched into. You will receive a blend of teaching and mentoring throughout.
This workshop is designed to be a little more open-ended than some with the opportunity to work with your own preferences such as format, colours and type of stitch. Examples could include creating a 9 square arrangement, a scroll, hanging or concertina book. It might be interesting to display your re-imagined interpretation alongside your primary inspiration.
A Handful of Summertime
(2 Day workshop, intermediate level, free-motion sewing, summer months)
We will celebrate the lushness of nature in high Summer! You will go home with a stitched, mixed media concertina book using a selection of plants and flowers from the hedgerow or your garden.
Learn techniques for successful printing on a gel plate and ways to layer with wet-strength papers, exploiting their translucent and transparent qualities. Design information and tips will help you create pleasing and eye-catching work.
You will be composing and then stitching your botanical prints onto a paper base, supporting them with textures, snippets of text and line work as you wish. Free-motion machining and/or hand-stitch will be used to bring elements forward, celebrate your ‘hero’ prints and support the eye to move across and around your work.
(Please note, this is a recent workshop revision to a workshop previously named ‘Natural Selection’)
Rachael is a really clear teacher. The workshop was very well-organised. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and only wished it was longer, thank you! (West Yorkshire)
Unfolding Ferneries
(1 day workshop, beginner to intermediate, free-motion or hand-stitch, kit £5 per person)
We will use gathered ferns and variety of wet-strength papers to form a scroll or small concertina book. Gel plates will be used to create very fine prints which can be layered and developed. Text, letter stamps and lines of poetry will be used to compliment the images, and you will be encouraged to move from Spring to Autumn colours as you work to tell the story of a fern. You will then develop your fern motifs and a ‘stitch and tear’ technique will be demonstrated using teabag paper. Hand or machine stitching will be used to personalise, embellish and add interest and texture. Students will have spare prints which may be used for other small works at home. It is likely that stitching will be completed at home following the workshop.
Connected Threads
Layers of Meaning
(3 day retreat/summer school. Experienced students or groups)
This is an exciting and thought-provoking three day workshop with a mix of teaching and personal mentoring throughout.
We will delve into the rich tapestry of communicating meaning and personal significance through symbols in our creative work, building both metaphorical and physical layers.
You can find symbols and motifs in objects, colours, shapes, images, words, or phrases and you might be surprised to uncover some you hadn’t noticed before in your own work! This topic can be a really interesting aspect of personal expression, enriching and deepening practice.
Over the three days you will:
- explore why and how you can think further about personal symbolism
- be inspired by other artists
- record and develop personal motifs or symbols
- employ your discoveries by developing a piece of work
- and leave more conscious regarding the potential of motifs and symbolism in your work.
…There is treasure to be found! 😁
‘The course was one of the most enjoyable courses I have been on. Searching for personal symbols in small groups, chatting about personal likes or history with others made us all think deeply about our design…I very much appreciated the tutor’s mentoring too.’
‘The organisation was amazing…well delivered tuition with clear instructions, and a wide variety of activities. The course was thought provoking and everyone produced a wide range of samples as well as a main piece of work. I could do the whole weekend again!’ (Tollesbury, Essex)
Group Mentoring (face to face UK)
Particularly where a group comprises experienced members who already have a bank of skills and techniques to draw upon, a mentoring day can be a very effective use of group resources. It supports at a personal and whole group level, for example, preparation for an exhibition. Mentoring can help with clarity of direction, exploring possibilities, addressing blocks and feeling motivated.
I am an ILM qualified coach and mentor and have been working in this field for over 10 years. It is one of my deepest joys!
‘Rachael’s thoughtful feedback gave me just the nudge,confidence and encouragement I needed. Clear, kind suggestions that somehow made everything click…
Feeling very grateful and quietly re-energised.’
Member, Ribble Creative Stitchers
For details on any of the above, I’d love to hear from you using the contact page.
Rachael Singleton 