Meet our tutors for 2021. They’ll be teaching one and two day classes in dedicated rooms at the Convention Centre. Class sizes will be strictly limited and follow a Covid-safe plan. Timetable coming soon.
Chris Burton, Vic
@a_crewel_beginning
Starting out with Crewel embroidery, Christine has learnt from tutors in Australia and America and completed her Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework in London.
Christine exhibits, teaches at the Embroiderer’s Guild of Victoria and at various Melbourne shops, and has been published in Inspirations embroidery publications.
Awarded the Ethel Oates Scholarship by the Embroiderer’s Guild in 2017, Christine has most recently focused on historic 17th century embroidery techniques, in particular Blackwork, Stumpwork, Crewel and Goldwork and enjoys sharing these skills.
Crystal Gaye, SA
www.crystalgaye.com
Crystal’s love of Haute Couture Embroidery has taken her on a lifelong journey into fashion embroidery and beading.
Specialising in French haute couture tambour embroidery, goldwork, ribbon and bead embroidery, Crystal is passionate about sharing these skills with others and loves to teach.
Crystal is an international embroidery teacher for the renowned and prestigious embroidery brand Hand & Lock London, the premier embroidery house providing embellishment services to the UK Royal Family.
Crystal explains, “Embroidery is my way of bringing beauty into the world.”
Elena Kornienko, SA
silkyflora.com.au
SilkyFlora designer Elena creates unique silk flowers, embroidered 3D flowers and insects for hats, brooches, bouquets, wreaths and gifts. She is a certified flower designer with an understated style and a careful eye for detail. Elena trained in Japan with the founder of the Japanese Somebana (silk flower making) School, Sayoko Yasuda (July 2019).
Every brooch and headpiece is thoughtfully designed and handmade in her studio, and blends her modest, contemporary style with meticulous craftsmanship. Elena creates both custom and ready to wear items for weddings and special occasions, the races, and everyday wear, and is keen to teach her techniques.
Anna Lang, Qld
Anna Lang originally studied at the College of Art and experimented with many craft mediums eventually finding her love of embroidery.
On winning Creative Champion at the Brookfield Show in 1988, her prize was a year’s membership to the Embroiderers’ Guild Qld and she has been a member ever since.
Anna has won many prizes at shows and has been a finalist in gallery awards, and she completed a Diploma in Visual Arts in 2009. Anna has always felt a need to pass on her skills to newcomers and has spent much time teaching and judging for guilds and groups.
Anna teaches Stumpwork, Creative Goldwork, Elizabethan, Thread Painting & Design.
Deborah Love, Qld
In 1992, Deb joined The Embroiderers’ Guild of Western Australia and started teaching floral embroidery. Whitework eventually became her chosen technique and she has travelled to Mountmellick in Ireland, Deerfield in America and Eschwege, Germany to research Schwalm whitework.
Her projects have been published in Inspirations and Cross Stitch & Embroidery magazines. In 1998, the Queensland Museum purchased a Mountmellick pillow sham by Deborah and The Embroiderers’ Guild, Queensland’s Collection acquired her Mountmellick table runner ‘Butterflies and Queen Anne’s Lace Flowers’.
In 2017, she won Ireland’s inaugural international Mountmellick competition, an accolade of the highest order.
Cath Quinlan, Qld
www.blessington.com.au
Cath Quinlan has been designing and teaching for more than 15 years. Her passions lie in digitising, machine embroidery, free-motion quilting and education.
She has co-authored two internationally distributed machine embroidery books, published many projects in Australian craft magazines and digitised and sold numerous embroidery designs and patterns.
Her love remains in education and the ability to share what she knows with anyone willing to listen. Her teaching style is fun and relaxed, and she truly believes that ‘anyone can do it’. At AEC she’ll teach an introduction to machine embroidery.
Alana Wegner, Qld
Following vocational training as a cartographer, Alana found embroidery, enjoying knitting, crochet and lace making before becoming captivated by counted thread work.
Alana’s interest began with the technique of Hardanger, and she has explored many styles from around the world such as Egyptian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Indian and Japanese.
Her particular interest is in designing and working samplers in many techniques. She is a guild tutor, and a certified judge for NSW and Qld guilds, and has won several awards including a Master Artisan prize at the Abbey Medieval Festival. She has completed her Ukrainian portfolio and is currently keenly researching Latvian embroidery.
Wendy Williams, NSW
www.flyingfishkits.com
Wendy Williams has worked in the quilting arena for 15 years. She is an award-winning quilter and bag maker with her work often in the Sydney Quilt Show. Wendy started a career in fashion which led to her love for wool applique and embroidery. She is author of the wonderful book Wild Blooms & Colourful Creations.
Wendy has taught internationally and across Australia, with projects she has designed that are suitable for beginners and advanced students. Embroiderers and quilters love the vibrant colours and options for the shapes and styles of embellishment in her work. Wendy’s trademark patterns feature bold but simple stitches making her designs accessible for all.
