A bouquet of winter white flora is inspiring my creative thoughts towards embroidery. The quieter palettes of whites, creams, ivories catch my imagination and, forgetting dull February, I think of the wonderful White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle in summer created by Vita Sackville West.

Just as the famous Red Border at Hidcote Manor Garden inspired me to stitch a dress panel of floral lace textures, perhaps Vita's influence will shape a new creation for my exhibition in May.

I have always been fascinated by the history of fashion, the fabrics of the past and the stories that pervade them. The interplay of design references from vintage clothes continue to filter into my creative embroidery, my 2013 exhibition, entitled 'Fashioned with Stitch' explored such themes. My current muse is a sepia photograph of my grandmother, dressed in the uniform of the Women's Legion, circa 1915; a poignant snapshot starts a fresh direction for a contemporary textile (see photo in 'Open Studio Exhibition'). This new work is also planned for my coming exhibition, with three months to go, I had better get stitching!

For 'Vintage Favourites', I have unwrapped some of my World War 1 silk embroidered postcards to feature in the Newsletter. Every time I look at these treasured mementoes, I am touched by both the beauty of the delicate embroidery, and the hand written messages to loved ones.

Recently I was interviewed for the textile magazine, Filzfun, about my work and life as a textile artist (Published March 5, www.filzfun.de). The interview took me back to 1974 and my first encounter on a workshop with the charismatic Constance Howard, who sparked my decision to set up a professional embroidery studio.

So, 40 years on, I hope to be celebrating with a lot of creativity in my studio in 2014!

I shall look forward to meeting some of you at my exhibition in May.

The chilly winter months of January and February are a favourite time for hibernating and being creative in my garden studio. With just a few months until my 'Open Studio' exhibition in May I am getting ready to commence new works.

Prior to even touching my sewing machine I gather a jigsaw of references to influence design, juxtaposing the different facets of visual inspiration on mood boards. A photograph of my grandmother, dressed in WW1 uniform of the Women's Legion emerges as a keystone for a new design collection. Khaki starts the colour mood for textured threads, with nature's palette enriching the mix with deeper shades of olive and crimson (see photo of 'mood board'). A story in stitch begins……………..and a series of embroidered samples for my May exhibition, fingers crossed!

In contrast to the earthy tones of khaki, another inspiration theme pursues the romance of whites, ivories, creams. My imagination turns to a legendary garden, the writings of Vita Sackville West and a box of Edwardian lace, references of the past infuse a design for a contemporary stitched lace (see photo of 'mood board').

As well as the larger, more complex embroideries, I am enjoying a return to the 'Swinging Sixties' era for design research, to indulge in floral nostalgia for another collection of embroidered accessories.

The show will also feature the 2013 collection of embroideries created for 'Fashioned with Stitch', at The Macclesfield Silk Museum. Botanical paintings and drawings will be displayed alongside the textile works.

'Open Studio' Exhibition: May 10, 11,12,16,18. Times: 12-6 daily. Details and directions for Sue's studio please email: sue.rangeley@btinternet.com or telephone: 07596 441503.

This event is part of Oxfordshire Artweeks 2014 www.artweeks.org

Detail of embroidered choker 2013.
Photo credit: Emily Gale.

Patterns of the late 1960s and early 1970s influenced a series of machine-embroidered accessories for last year's show.

The romance of 'flower power' continues to swirl around embellished chokers with flowing fringes, and machine stitched lace accessories, for collections in 2014.

Floral nostalgia in stitched sugar candy shades, or monochrome mixes of greys, charcoal, splashed with yellow.

Exploring the dimensions of accessories with stitch challenges decorative design in a variety of directions; whether bijoux embellished bags or intriguing textile jewellery, embroidery can bedazzle and conjure a little magic!

Drifts of snowdrops always herald the end of winter and the beginnings of spring. The images (right) were taken recently in the gardens of Chastleton House, a Jacobean house in Oxfordshire www.chastleton@nationaltrust.org.

I am reminded of the winter cool of my 'Frost' embroideries, created in 2010. One 'Frost' Stomacher panel, featured in 'Embroidered Originals', now resides in the permanent Textile Collection of another National Trust house, Gawthorpe Hall in Lancashire. www.gawthorpehall@nationaltrust.org.uk

Photo: Winter cool, snowdrops at Chastleton.

© 2014 Sue Rangeley. All Rights Reserved.
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