Penelope Maddick Sculptural Embroidery Course Student Testimonial Video

Speaker: Penelope Maddick

Penelope Maddick: Hello, my name's Penelope. I've been an avid anti sewer for the past 45 years until I inadvertently came across Meredith's amazing artworks and they just blew my mind. And I thought to myself, I'd really like to know how she does them. And then I learned that Meredith has the Sculptural Embroidery course. So I signed up for the course and I bought myself a sewing machine and I set myself the challenge as a mature age person to learn a totally, totally brand new skill. and I did, I've begun to learn enough that will keep on taking me forward, providing that I practice, practice, practice. And right at the beginning making little scribble sheets just to familiarize myself with how the machine worked and how the stitching worked. And the beauty of the water soluble fabric is that it makes little three that you can manipulate your, your sewing, your embroidery to make 3d. Little single leaf flower bowls. Again, just practicing the stitching, practicing different techniques and seeing how all of these things work and go together and then some double leaf flower bowls. And I'm really looking forward to now practicing and developing my skills a bit further and coming up with some creations of my own, that's the challenge.

Penelope Maddick: I joined the sculptural embroidery course because I really wanted to challenge myself. I, I wanted to learn a little bit about how Meredith created her amazing artworks. But I also wanted to see if I was capable of creating something. And as someone who doesn't consider themselves at all creative and who doesn't consider themselves to have lots of ideas. I, I thought this would be a fantastic way to challenge myself and, and it has been, I've learned so much, I've learned that I can learn something new at my age, I've learned that something that I've really avoided for all of my life ever since secondary school. There are elements of it that I can find enjoyable and that can challenge me. So it was all about, it was all about challenging myself and I've discovered that I can learn and I've gained hope out of this course. I've actually gained a sense of surprise that, that I've enjoyed embracing a sewing machine. Who would have thought. So it's just, it's been very eye opening and it's a beginning and it is showing me a path forward, a path that I've never really thought was open to me before. So I'm really looking forward to playing and practicing and investigating and developing my skills and my confidence and my creative abilities.

Penelope Maddick: So my favorite things about the sculptural embroidery course. Well, there's the fact that you can do it at your own pace at your own speed. Yes, it's a six week course according to the way Meredith has it, has it worked out and the videos planned. But the reality is that most people's lives sort of impinge on that six weeks. And for myself, I certainly found it difficult to complete within that time frame. And I love the fact that it, it actually didn't matter. I can, I could do the watch the video modules at any time. I wanted to, I could do my practice sewing at any time that I wanted to. And, and I was constrained by a very strict time requirements or expectations. So that flexibility of the, the method of, of learning was really, really important and something that I particularly liked. I also really appreciated the, the Facebook group that Meredith has started up for students of the course. And it was just, it is just wonderful to be able to see the level of creative ideas that so many current and past students have. And the supportive feedback of members of that group to each other and particularly the encouragement that is offered to those of us who were total beginners. So all of that was really, really positive part of the course. Other things that I particularly enjoyed about the the course were um Meredith's gentle and warm and ever encouraging and positive presence both in the videos and in the live Facebook Q&A's. No question was ever too silly. She took everything seriously and, and was full of encouragement and positive feedback and generous guidance. So all of those things together were my favourite things about the sculptural embroidery course.

Penelope Maddick: To someone who's considering taking this course in the future. I would simply say, just do it. stop dilly dallying. stop procrastinating, stop putting barriers in your path, just bite the bullet and do it. And you will be so pleased. You will be thrilled with your capability for learning. You will be delighted to be part of a wonderful community of like-minded people and, and you will just be so pleased with, with what you are capable of. So don't delay, be brave. It is about being brave because you, you're challenging yourself learning something new. And that's never easy, but the rewards are well worth it, do it.