Stitch a Portrait
11/8/20251:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Location: Art Place Studios, 2015 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Event Description
Instructor: Helene Lund Den Boer
Dates: 11/8, 11/9, 11/16
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Member: $80 Non-Member: $90
In this three-session workshop, you’ll learn how to transform a favorite photo into a one-of-a-kind stitched portrait. Designed for both beginners and intermediate stitchers, this class blends creativity, storytelling, and technique in a supportive, hands-on environment.
What to Expect:
Day 1: Bring a photocopy of the person you’d like to stitch. We’ll trace it, transfer it to fabric, and get well started on your piece. You’ll also see a short presentation walking through the process step by step.
Day 2: We’ll come back together to troubleshoot, ask questions, and share progress so you feel confident working on your portrait throughout the week.
Day 3: A shorter final session to add finishing touches and celebrate everyone’s creations.
What to Bring:
By the end, you’ll walk away with a meaningful, personalized stitched portrait and the skills to keep experimenting at home.
Artist Bio:
I’m originally from Denmark, but since 1996 I have lived outside my Mother country. After living in England and various parts of the United States, I now reside with my husband and our daughter in western North Carolina, in the Smoky Mountains. Visual art has always played a central role in my life, especially drawing and painting. I’ve long been drawn to portraits and visual narratives, with a consistent focus on women - their stories, presence, and emotional depth. For many years, I worked primarily in oils, later transitioning to acrylics. Over time, collage also became part of my practice. But in 2017, after moving to North Carolina, my work took an unexpected turn: I discovered a fascination with textiles and began sewing images instead of painting them. Though the medium has changed, I still consider myself a painter - I now work with fabric and thread rather than paint and brushes. The core of my artistic inquiry remains the same: exploring light and shadow, and telling stories with women at the center. I hold a BA in Fine Art from Norwich School of Art and Design, UK, and an MA in Illustration/Sequential Design from the University of Brighton, UK.
“Essentially, I see myself as a storyteller. I see each piece as a sequence in a story in which the beginning and ending are unknown. The story belongs to the viewer; only the scenery and a title are given. My work revolves around the female figure and character. Throughout my life, I’ve been inspired by strong and fascinating women. These are the women I seek to portray - their secrets, dreams, vulnerabilities, and strength. In each piece, the figure is the actress - the core everything else centers around. Inspiration comes from anywhere: a beautiful font, a vintage movie poster, a hummingbird, a song title, or an Asian flower pattern. I continuously collect images, words, and anecdotes for future ideas. Fabric is a fairly new medium for me; I am intrigued by the texture and the sense of subtlety the material offers. I strive to use fabric in the same way I used paint, with a focus on light and shadow. I’m always hunting for ideas for stories to tell - for compelling motives and interesting characters. I enjoy the hunt immensely, and it’s always a glorious moment when idea, motive, and material come together in harmony.”
Dates: 11/8, 11/9, 11/16
Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Member: $80 Non-Member: $90
In this three-session workshop, you’ll learn how to transform a favorite photo into a one-of-a-kind stitched portrait. Designed for both beginners and intermediate stitchers, this class blends creativity, storytelling, and technique in a supportive, hands-on environment.
What to Expect:
Day 1: Bring a photocopy of the person you’d like to stitch. We’ll trace it, transfer it to fabric, and get well started on your piece. You’ll also see a short presentation walking through the process step by step.
Day 2: We’ll come back together to troubleshoot, ask questions, and share progress so you feel confident working on your portrait throughout the week.
Day 3: A shorter final session to add finishing touches and celebrate everyone’s creations.
What to Bring:
- A photocopy of your chosen portrait
- A notebook for notes and sketches
- Optional: special materials like fabric, ribbons, or buttons you’d like to incorporate for personal meaning
By the end, you’ll walk away with a meaningful, personalized stitched portrait and the skills to keep experimenting at home.
Artist Bio:
I’m originally from Denmark, but since 1996 I have lived outside my Mother country. After living in England and various parts of the United States, I now reside with my husband and our daughter in western North Carolina, in the Smoky Mountains. Visual art has always played a central role in my life, especially drawing and painting. I’ve long been drawn to portraits and visual narratives, with a consistent focus on women - their stories, presence, and emotional depth. For many years, I worked primarily in oils, later transitioning to acrylics. Over time, collage also became part of my practice. But in 2017, after moving to North Carolina, my work took an unexpected turn: I discovered a fascination with textiles and began sewing images instead of painting them. Though the medium has changed, I still consider myself a painter - I now work with fabric and thread rather than paint and brushes. The core of my artistic inquiry remains the same: exploring light and shadow, and telling stories with women at the center. I hold a BA in Fine Art from Norwich School of Art and Design, UK, and an MA in Illustration/Sequential Design from the University of Brighton, UK.
“Essentially, I see myself as a storyteller. I see each piece as a sequence in a story in which the beginning and ending are unknown. The story belongs to the viewer; only the scenery and a title are given. My work revolves around the female figure and character. Throughout my life, I’ve been inspired by strong and fascinating women. These are the women I seek to portray - their secrets, dreams, vulnerabilities, and strength. In each piece, the figure is the actress - the core everything else centers around. Inspiration comes from anywhere: a beautiful font, a vintage movie poster, a hummingbird, a song title, or an Asian flower pattern. I continuously collect images, words, and anecdotes for future ideas. Fabric is a fairly new medium for me; I am intrigued by the texture and the sense of subtlety the material offers. I strive to use fabric in the same way I used paint, with a focus on light and shadow. I’m always hunting for ideas for stories to tell - for compelling motives and interesting characters. I enjoy the hunt immensely, and it’s always a glorious moment when idea, motive, and material come together in harmony.”