I've been sewing for as long as I can remember - and that's a long, long time. As one of eight children, four of them girls, I and my sisters picked up early skills from my mother who had learned from her own mother. I remember her being a bit reluctant to leave me alone at her treadle sewing machine because I invariably caused a problem. I never did really get the hang of the smooth rhythm required to keep it stitching. Luckily for me, there were electric models at school.
Growing up in England, I was fortunate to learn sound sewing techniques since needlework was a required subject for girls. I can even remember the first thing I made - a yellow and white gingham cook's apron which I used in home economics class.
I eventually became a skilled dressmaker, constructing a few wedding dresses and tailored coats in my time. But I grew bored with that and learned upholstery. When I ran out of chairs to recover, I decided to try the decorative arts. I think I'll stick with this because there are always new ideas I can execute and I can do it any way I like - there aren't any rules. And since I love to shoot photos as well, I can incorporate elements of that too. I digitally paint images and use them in my fibre work.
Growing up in England, I was fortunate to learn sound sewing techniques since needlework was a required subject for girls. I can even remember the first thing I made - a yellow and white gingham cook's apron which I used in home economics class.
I eventually became a skilled dressmaker, constructing a few wedding dresses and tailored coats in my time. But I grew bored with that and learned upholstery. When I ran out of chairs to recover, I decided to try the decorative arts. I think I'll stick with this because there are always new ideas I can execute and I can do it any way I like - there aren't any rules. And since I love to shoot photos as well, I can incorporate elements of that too. I digitally paint images and use them in my fibre work.
Copyright © 2008 Deborah Milton. All rights reserved.
Meet the Artist