The notion of ‘a layered history’ takes on a whole new meaning in textile artist Jean Littlejohn’s hands. Her work ‘Taepa’s Portal’ literally captures hundreds of years of period designs in a single piece through fabric layers and varied stitching techniques. And now you can learn how it all came together with this very generous insider’s look from Jean herself.

Pay special attention to her use of an embellishing machine, which she thinks is often underestimated. It’s incredible how she uses it for mark-making by stitching on both sides of her fabric layers.

This piece was showcased at a recent exhibition called ‘Side by Side’ that Jean hosted with her artistic partner, Jan Beaney. Jean and Jan are not only world-renown for their individual textile art, but they’re also seen as cutting-edge educators across the globe. Their publishing company called Double Trouble Enterprises offers a wide range of books, DVDs and digital workshops. Founded in 1997, Double Trouble has been providing inspiration and instruction to textile artists of all interests and abilities.

Jean is also a member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists and Artists Fellow of the Society of Designer Craftsmen. And she is an Honorary Member of the Embroiderers Guild.

Using textiles reminds contemporary embroidery artist Cécile Davidovici of childhood comforts. After her mother’s death, Cécile Davidovici found that having something tactile to work on brought on a state of mindfulness and helped her through the grieving process.

Cécile had a creative childhood and studied drama, film and theatre, going on to write and direct movies exploring the link between innocence and illusion. She discovered embroidery after losing her mother and began to stitch images of her fading childhood memories. Still working to her themes of innocence and illusion, she wanted to capture and consider the hazy moments from her past, that she had glimpsed in old family home movie videotapes.

Her recent solo exhibition

If your partner comes home with a new library book, don’t be too quick to dismiss it – it may be the beginning of your new career!

For self-taught watercolour artist, now award-winning US art quilter Peggy Brown, this certainly was the case. An ex-journalist and mother of three young boys in the 1970s, Peggy delighted in a break from the chores. The watercolour book that her husband, Jim, brought home from the library, gave her a chance to relax and indulge herself in her childhood love of art.

Once opened and the paintbox wetted, painting became an obsession – and the beginning of Peggy’s trajectory to US art quilt royalty.

Peggy began – initially on paper and later on fabric – for her own enjoyment. But she gains true fulfilment through uniting with her viewers through her vision and the marks that she makes. In the same way, she sees her works as collaborations between herself, the artist, and her medium – watercolour.

Using vintage clothing and hand-dye batik fabrics as a starting point, Monica Gallon builds up layers of snipped fabric into everyday scenes of conversation or reflection, using stitched line drawings and pieces of coloured fabric collaged in a controlled and considered way. Her work is known for capturing a glimpse of real life; a look, a moment or an interaction. Her portraits and scenes draw you in as the viewer. You begin to wonder who the subjects are and what their secrets might be. This is what makes them so magical and entrancing.

A maker since childhood, Monica’s life-long fascination for textiles drives her. Fast forward a few decades and the years of artistic practice now allow her to take more risks. She has learned to trust her own judgement.

Monica gained her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden in 1974. She also attended the Dômen Art school (1975-1978) and the University of Skövde. She worked for over two decades as a high school teacher in Art and Design and as a scenographer and costume designer in the theatre industry. She is a member of Konstnärernas Riksorganisation (the Swedish Artists’ Association), the International Association of Art, VMT (Västsvenska mönster- och textilkonstnärer, a group of Swedish pattern and textile artists) and Nordic Textile Art. Monica’s work has been exhibited throughout Sweden. In 2006 she received a scholarship from the community of Mariestad and her work from the project was shown in Mariestad’s public spaces including the library and hospital.

Join us to discover Monica’s inspirations and methods. In this interview, she shares her artistic journey, which started by delving into her grandmother’s stash of fabric to make clothes for her dolls when she was a young child. She discusses the benefits of being able to work in a tranquil environment away from the hubbub of city life and how she finds herself really staring at people, taking in the minute details and then using those day-to-day interactions and moments to inspire her work.

When it comes to textile art, many of you will be familiar with the name of Jan Beaney. Often heard alongside that of her friend and fellow textile artist, Jean Littlejohn, together they make up the publishing company Double Trouble Enterprises – originating from a nickname given to them whilst working together in Australia. Established in 1997, the company markets a successful range of books, DVDs and digital workshops, all designed to give students the confidence to design and create their own unique work.

Fascinated by landscape in all its forms, Jan has long specialized in this area. Observation is key to her work and her mantra ‘the more you look, the more you see’ encourages her – and her students – to notice fleeting changes of light and subtle nuances that can be simplified or exaggerated in her textile work.

Jan has been a lecturer since 1959, is a seasoned exhibitor and has run workshops in the UK and around the world. Her list of accolades is endless: she is the longest-serving member of the 62 Group of Textile Artists having joined in 1963, is an Honorary Member of City and Guilds, an Honorary Member and past President of the Embroiderers’ Guild, and a Fellow of Society of Designer Craftsmen – to name but a few. She once had her own series on embroidery on the BBC.