Frances Pickering

Making books and teaching people how to make them has become the main focus of my work. I find teaching very rewarding and derive great satisfaction from watching others make their own individual and personal books.

I love experimenting and I use many unorthodox methods to construct and decorate the books I make. I gain great pleasure from the fact that I have made the complete book.

I recycle as many things as possible and start with very cheap and unpromising materials and strive to turn them into something of worth.

Though I do use machine embroidery, mostly for practical reasons, to stitch background layers together or to work on outlines, it is hand stitching I love the most. Feeling the fabric and thread as I stitch connects me with my work more than any other process. I find, no matter how much I experiment, my work always ends up being a book and each one is a journey – who knows where my next book will take me.

COMMISSIONS AND EXHIBITIONS

I work to commission, creating books tailored to my client's individual needs. I also exhibit regularly and I take part in the South East Open Studios event every year. I make guest appearances at various shows throughout the year.

PUBLICATIONS AND ARTICLES

My book called “Page After Page”, was published in October 2009. My work has been published in various textile magazines.

PREVIOUS TEACHING

I have taught: City & Guilds Embroidery Parts 1 and 2, Machine Embroidery 7822, Machine Embroidery Distance Learning 7822 and Stitched Textiles Masterclasses in colleges for many years.