Ruth Smith
I have a special interest in the festival dress and textiles found in remote SW China and an obsession with making books based on the ingenious tradition of ‘zhen xian bao’ - or thread books - which is now sadly in decline. I love to enthuse others by giving talks and workshops on stitch and little-known paper folding techniques. This gives me the opportunity to share and promote this amazing book making craft and celebrate the needlework skills of some of China’s minority peoples. My background includes teacher training at Goldsmiths College, a move into adult education teaching City & Guilds embroidery and design; an MA degree at Winchester School of Art in 1992 followed by travel and research in farming communities in Guizhou Province, China.
Books include Miao Embroidery from SW China, Minority Textile Techniques: Costumes from SW China which I edited followed by Folded Secrets Project Books 1-4 and A Little Known Chinese Folk Art: Zhen Xian Bao.
Colour and texture inspire me. I love to work with a subtle palate often highlighted with something metallic.
I enjoy cooking, gardening, and swimming and membership of the Arts Society and the Embroiderers’ Guild.
Books include Miao Embroidery from SW China, Minority Textile Techniques: Costumes from SW China which I edited followed by Folded Secrets Project Books 1-4 and A Little Known Chinese Folk Art: Zhen Xian Bao.
Colour and texture inspire me. I love to work with a subtle palate often highlighted with something metallic.
I enjoy cooking, gardening, and swimming and membership of the Arts Society and the Embroiderers’ Guild.