Jenny Bullen

I am primarily a hand stitcher, enjoying the comforting rhythm of working the same stitch over and over again, combining printed and dyed fabrics, building up layers of colour and finally embroidery.

I often use the surrounding landscape as inspiration but usually work in response to an idea rather than a particular image. Recently I have been experimenting, converting stitched samples into collograph prints; these in turn are printed onto paper.

Patternmaking and the use of print and dyes, especially the resist dyed indigo fabrics used in Japanese textiles are a great source of inspiration and I enjoy experimenting with indigo dye and any combinations of printing or stitch.

I am a freelance tutor and lecturer and in this role have travelled to many parts of the United Kingdom as well as the United States, specialising in teaching hand embroidery.

I am a member of the Practical Study Group, the Embroiderers' Guild and the Quilters Guild.

I am the author of several books on embroidery including the Madeira Book of Embroidery Stitches, and worked as joint editor of 'Embroidery Studio'. I have written several articles for Embroidery.

Over the last few years I have become interested in researching and collating information on embroidery and the embroiderers of the mid-twentieth century and in 2000 I was awarded the Embroiderers' Guild over-35 Scholar, a bursary to help me fund this continuing project.

Jenny Bullen

Collograph print
Closer view