April's Meeting: "Experimental Textiles" with Nikki Parmenter

Here in the Dales, April 4^th brought rain, hail and snow. Roads to Grassington were flooded and my car had to creep through fast flowing rivers to reach our Embroiderer’s Guild monthly meeting. In our Threshfield meeting room views of the raging tempest outside across the valley were a stark contrast to the warmth of the sewing community within. Today was a stitch morning and a collation of the Pearl Hoop Embroideries to celebrate the Grassington Guild's thirtieth anniversary. This will be one of the items in our textile exhibition at Grassington Festival on June 24^th & 25^th, where we hope to meet many visitors interested in textile art.

A stitch morning is always exciting. Members bring something they are working on and we stitch together and natter. Each stitch morning brings something else to see and I always look forward to these days with great excitement. The selection of pieces can only inspire and especially after a month of bitter cold snowy weather.

During the afternoon we were joined by our guest Nikki Parmenter who gave a talk on “Experimental Textiles”.

Nikki is a Cheshire based artist who specialises in mixed media textile pieces. The talk explained the development of her work from paper pieces to larger mixed media projects full of experimental textiles. Nikki illustrated her talk with a huge range of examples and each piece as breathtaking as the next. Words or my photos do not do justice to the stunning colours, detailed craftsmanship and intricate details included on all her work. Nikki is truly a great artist who puts her soul into each item she creates. She shared with us the inspiration behind her thought processes and explained the variety of source material that she draws on.

“I investigate myth and legend and draw parallels between societies, showing that although many people have different beliefs we are all united by visual iconography.”

Nikki continued to astound us while she related how she transformed felt, fabric, threads, beads, metal, acetate, Angelina fibres, wire, hose pipe, pipe cleaners, plastics, jewellery, wood, car spray paint, wadding, metal mesh, felt pens, paper and funky foam into magnificent artistic stories.

“I have exhibited widely both in group and solo shows both here and abroad  and have had articles published in magazines and on the internet. I also  feature in Kim Thittichai's book, 'Experimental Textiles'. My work has won  prizes at  The  Ferens Open, The Potteries Open and the Grosvenor Open  Exhibitions.”

This month Nikki has an article in the “Stitch” magazine.

The exhibition and explanation of Nikki’s “Experimental Textiles” was just what we all needed after the long winter months here in Wharfedale. Thank you Nikki for sharing your stunning pieces with our group; you are an inspiration to us all.

The most exciting news is that Nickki will be returning to us in May to give a three day Workshop! During May of each year the Grassington Guild hold a three day event called “Stitching in the Dales”. Members are offered two contrasting textile workshops. This year we invited Nikki who will be the tutor of experimental textiles “Small Worlds” and Nicola Jarvis who will be exploring William Morris with her crewel and silk bird workshop. As numbers are limited, the workshops are first offered to members and associated members and finally to other keen needle workers.
There are currently still a few spaces left on the workshop with Nicola Jarvis.