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Sylvie Millen

@sylviesew

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Sculptural machine embroidery,mixed media art.
Exploring humanity through stories of repair, memory & transformation
@societyofdesignercraftsmen_sdc

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I’m delighted to be exhibiting Earth Angel with the Society of Designer Craftsmen.

Inspired by the connection between humanity, nature and spirituality, this textile artwork explores the delicate relationship between the human form and the natural world, using intricate machine stitching and earthy, golden tones.

I’ll be stewarding on the first day of the exhibition, so please do pop by! It would be lovely to see you, share conversations about art and creativity, and enjoy the fantastic work on display by so many talented makers.

@societyofdesignercraftsmen_sdc
@oxotowerwharf

#textileartist #freemachineembroidery
#contemporarytextiles #textiles by @sylviesew

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19 hours ago

Natural decay is never simply an ending. It is a gradual transformation — surfaces weather, fibres fray, colours soften and layers begin to reveal what has been hidden beneath.

#stl26day27
@seam_collective

In my work, I use layering, distressing and fragmented surfaces to echo these natural processes. I am drawn to the beauty found in erosion, ageing and imperfection, where marks of time become part of the story rather than something to conceal.

These altered surfaces often become a starting point for repair, renewal and new growth — a reminder that change can leave something fragile, but also something unexpectedly beautiful.

#SeptemberTextileLove26 #septembertextilelove
#TextileArt mixedmedi by @sylviesew

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19 days ago

Alignment

#stl26day26
@seam_collective

Not everything has to be straight to be aligned.
As I stitch, hundreds of wandering threads begin to connect, crossing and supporting one another until an organic form emerges. There’s something I love about finding order within apparent chaos 'mallowing the material' to guide me rather than forcing it into perfect lines.

#septtembertextilove26
#freemachineembroidery
#textileart #

Once the soluble fabric disappears, it’s the connections between those threads that hold everything together. by @sylviesew

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20 days ago

Emotion
#septembertextilelove26
@seam_collective

Earth Angel grew from emotion, intuition and a sense of something beyond words.

I’m often drawn to the quiet emotions we carry beneath the surface — love, loss, hope, vulnerability and strength.

Through stitch, texture and gold thread, I wanted this figure to feel both human and ethereal, as though she holds something unseen within her.

For me, art can express what language sometimes cannot. It can hold emotion, memory and meaning in a different way.

I'm really happy to share that Earth Angel will be exhibited @oxotowerwharf with @societyofdesignercraftsmen_sdc in November as part of their exhibition Uncommon Ground.

#SeptemberTextileLove #Stl26day25 #machinembroiderydesign by @sylviesew

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21 days ago

LOCAL

#septembertextilelove
@seam_collective

My garden is a constant source of inspiration. Its tangled stems, fading flowers and weathered forms quietly settle in my mind, often subconsciously leading me towards what I make next.

#SeptemberTextileLove26 #stl26day23 #textileart #machinestitching by @sylviesew

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23 days ago

The Space between the repairs.

#stl26day22
Battle.
@seam_collective

Often it is the invisible scars that healing leaves behind. The art of repair can be long lasting and challenging.

This machine free machine embroidered sculpture, took hours of work, however the most challenging part was how to present it, so that it held its shape. The way forward was to hand stitch soft wire across the torso, to give it increased strength and stability, then to shadow mount the whole piece onto foam board. ... anything is possible !

#freemachineembroidery #septembertextilelove #contemporaryart #septtextilelove26 by @sylviesew

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24 days ago

TIME

#septtextilelove26
@seam_collective

It takes time to make something look as though it has already lived a life.

I slowly build layers of fabric, thread and found materials, adding, wearing away, stitching and repairing until the surface feels weathered by time. I’m drawn to work that seems ancient yet timeless, something that might carry memories of the past while still speaking to the present.

Creating the appearance of age cannot be rushed. Time becomes part of the making.

#Stl26day21 Time #TextileArt #septembertextilelove #contemporarytextiles SculpturalEmbroidery by @sylviesew

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25 days ago

What "growth means to me"

#septtextilelove26
@seam_collective

✨Exploring new skills and not being afraid to give it a go !
✨Meet new people from the art and craft world... connect and collaborate
✨Take my textile art and present it to a wider audience
✨Continue to develop, grow and expand my skills and share my textile passion with others... through exhibitions, teaching and demonstrating.

#stl26day20
#contemporayart
#mixedmedia #seamcollective by @sylviesew

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a month ago

Day 18 – Conversation

#stl26day18
@seam_collective

Textile art can begin a conversation without saying a word. A face, a stitch or a repaired surface may connect with someone’s own memories and experiences.

I love hearing what other people see and feel when they look at my work. Sometimes their interpretation is completely different from my own—and that is part of the joy of making art.

What does textile art say to you?

#SeptTextileLove26 #FreeMachineEmbroidery SculpturalEmbroidery by @sylviesew

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a month ago

Day 17 — Texture

#septtextilelove26
@seam_collective

Texture is at the heart of my work. I build it through layers of fabric, thread and free-machine embroidery, allowing edges to fray, threads to trail and surfaces to become raised and sculptural.

For me, texture carries the marks of memory, fragility, wear and repair — inviting us to look a little closer.

#textile #stl26day17 #FreeMachineEmbroidery #MixedMediaArt SculpturalEmbroidery by @sylviesew

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a month ago

I’m thrilled to share that Mended Not Broken has been selected for the 121st Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition 2026.

This piece explores fragility, healing and repair — the idea that being marked by life doesn’t make us broken.

It means a great deal to see this work included in such a respected open exhibition. 🤍✨

#MendedNotBroken @bathsocietyofartists #BathSocietyOfArtists #BathOpen2026 #TextileArt #MixedMediaArt SculpturalEmbroidery ContemporaryTextiles HealingThroughArt by @sylviesew

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a month ago

Technology is today's prompt for #septtextilelove26
@seam_collective

I'm very happy with my Bernina 480, it has a some very useful technology that makes my machine embroidery run smoothly.

I enjoy the control it gives me, but I don’t think you need a highly technical or expensive machine to make interesting textile work. For me, it’s much more about experimenting, understanding your machine and seeing what you can make it do.

Technology supports the process — the ideas, materials and making are still at the heart of the work.
#machineembroidery
#stl26day16 #textileartists #fabricart by @sylviesew

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a month ago