Give me Sunshine

I haven't composed on the iPad before so this will look a bit old fashioned. I've spent this week in preparation: measuring, cutting, re-measuring components of exhibition pieces, then attempting to pack for an coordinate the annual pilgrimage to the sun. My aim is to have at least 8 very productive days stitching so I return de-stressed!

Like the travelling family, last summer I made a travelling memory book. It currently resides with my sister. I hope she tucks away a couple of memories, maybe a photo or two, before passing on to my brother. We each have it for a year, which means 2018 it will come back to Europe. Unfortunately, I have yet to master the art of moving a photo between apple and Google so you can't see it here...it will have to wait.

Dodgey wi-fi may delay postings but hopefully I'll be able to keep in touch....I did manage to secure red toenails prior to departure.

It began as a Nativity

We were starting to prepare for Christmas at Christ the Cornerstone, CMK, and everyone generally agreed that our crib set is just too small. Christmas Eve sees almost 1000 people visit the church and the tallest figure is under 30cm. I offered to make a textile prototype at about 70cms tall. In place, even this was too small - we need something REALLY BIG! but...given the issues of travellers, refugees (Jesus was a refugee) and the multi-cultural nature of our congregation, I offered to make a family which could move round the church during the four weeks of Advent and people could just respond...words, music, cuddles, whatever, noting things in the family's journal. 
Here are the members of the family.

The experiment was fantastic: People wrote them letters, took them home for meals, wrote prayers to focus on the plight of refugees and how we could help and took them to heart. The family will be at our exhibition in Worthing and I'm looking forward to see how visitors there will respond. 

Finally Getting my Act Together!

Technology takes so much time to get organised that I have taken a day out to bring my blog up to date instead of working towards this exhibition. This publicity photo of our work looks pretty good - let's hope the people of Worthing find it as interesting! This was about all I could manage today so more about my own work later in the week, especially the travelling family and their December experience.

 FIVE

An Exhibition of Contemporary Textiles

by 5 artists inspired by 5 continents

6 – 21 May, 2016

Studio Gallery at Worthing Museum & Art Gallery

Chapel Road, Worthing, BN11 1HP

Tuesday to Saturday 10:00am to 5:00pm

Free Admission

Parking in Union Place opposite the Museum

Inspired by the splendour and variety of textiles across the continents, FIVE stitchers will present individual interpretations of textile traditions from around the world. Works will include clothing, mirrors, cushions, gold-work and small decorative items, most of which will be for sale. Two Saturday workshops led by the artists will accompany the exhibition.

Barbara, Cheryl, Elaine, Jane and Suzanne say of themselves: “We met at Missenden Abbey courtesy of Janet Edmonds’ City & Guilds Diploma course. After six years of hard graft we were ready for a change but tended towards dabbling in techniques! We decided that a challenge was necessary and determined to offer up our creative work for public scrutiny. Our backgrounds are as disparate as our styles. Here we have been inspired by traditions from around the world, re-interpreting these in a range of materials and techniques.” 

The group will also lead two workshops in Worthing during the exhibition based on south Asian mirrorwork and crazy patchwork, drawing on the Museum’s own textile collection.

For more information contact Cheryl at mkstitcher2016@gmail.com

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Two Saturday workshops led by the artists accompany this exhibition:

7^th May – Carry the World:  Make a bag based on the Indian Buskari style decorated with mirrors and metal threads. Cheryl and Suzanne will lead the day aiming to pass on all the traditional skills you need to complete this exquisite project. Please bring a small pair of scissors for cutting threads; if you prefer to use a thimble or hoop, bring them along.

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14^th May – Piece the World:   The day will focus on making a beautiful crazy patchwork cloth from those precious fabric scraps full of memories to be made into a Needle Case. Be inspired by the Museum’s textile collection. Elaine and Barbara will help you compile your “new” fabric and embellish it with a range of decorative stitches. Although fabric will be provided if you have any special pieces you would like to incorporate, do bring them along! Please bring small scissors and your own basic sewing kit if you have one.

Both workshops will be held between 10.30 and 4.30pm. No experience beyond threading a needle is needed and all the materials necessary to complete a project will be provided. Cost for the day is £35 including refreshments but you will need to provide your own lunch. Fifteen places will be available for each workshop.

Another month gone by

Well, here I have been for the past month -- holidaying with family by the shores of Lake Michigan then, immediately on return, carpal tunnel surgery which leaves me single-handed until next weekend - no cooking, driving or washing up and until today, NO STITCHING!

I am working on my exhibition ethos, though, and ideas are taking shape. I'm thinking about immigrants to America over the past couple of hundred years and how they have shaped the way American society and culture operate. The only true universals for the USA are celebrating Thanksgiving (everyone does this regardless of credo) and July 4th (Independence Day/founding of the country). All the immigrant groups have managed to retain and develop their own art, costume (and stitch) and culture. The only things that really tie them together are those celebrations and the American flag. This gives me ideas of separation linked by red/white/blue. Then there's thinking about what that flag means within the culture - it seems to have a life of its own!

Then there's thinking about being an immigrant myself and whether my experience is the same as that of other immigrants : hanging on to scraps of heritage, passing on only what helps define me to my children to help define them.

Not quite an artists' statement but getting close.

Off to try needle and thread! til next time...

Coming back

It's been a long time - diploma done, a few commissions, families near and very far away  - life had taken over from art! Well, starting this blog again will keep me on my toes (I hope) and provide me with a record of new things evolving.
Target for 2016 is an exhibition of new work in May themed around international textiles with a view on USA immigrant culture.  I'm taking a few days for research then watch this space.
My "shot in the arm" has been a series of exhibitions and experiences: Diebenkorn, Delaunay, Fashion on the Ration and exploding colours of Kaffe Fassett in York. Jane lafazio, Nancy Crow, Judy Chicago and others are inspiring. As the saying goes, will keep you posted.

The winter is still so dark

Needleweaving, a bit of shisha and plenty of bling.

  The winter has been amazingly dark - only managed to make a few cards before Christmas.  I've been using two daylight lamps with little success. The sunny days are full of frantic activity to catch the daylight AND the warmth - I work a lot in the conservatory. Can you embroider in gloves?

   I'm working on my site specific piece for City & Guilds - a lectern fall and stole for the Hospital Chapel for the season of Lent - no pressure then since Lent starts on 22nd February! I finished the stole today and am pleased with the outcome (another photo) but working on this dark purple fabric is SO FRUSTRATING! It is so difficult to see what I'm doing. I feel a bit like those medieval embroiderers who carried their frames on their backs - I'm moving round the house, following the meagre daylight. I managed almost 5 hours today.  


   I've not worked in shades of dark olive, purple, brown and blood red before and they make a powerful combination. The cords are machined and the applied motifs were made on soluble - I'd forgotten two vital points - cords take ages to make properly and 3-d appliqued motifs mean changing the bobbin with every colour change! I hope the Chaplain is pleased with the result.

 All this detailed work gives me plenty of time to think about all the projects I've got to plan for. My next achievement will be a coat/jacket for me to wear! Haven't made anything of note for over 10 years.
I've roughed my design for the "Reaching Beyond" exhibition in July.
Will keep you posted.

Progress is Slow!

December already! Having had a great weekend at Great Missenden being inspired by African Textiles, I'm now working hard on a stole and lectern fall for the hospital chapel. The fabric was a donation and it is proving really hard to handle; it took me 3 hours just to get the piece framed up. We're getting some work done at home and my continuous wait for workmen is getting under my skin - just can't settle at anything for the moment.
I'm branching out to participate in an exhibition next summer on the theme "reaching beyond". You can see the themes, artists and other information at the website Reaching Beyond.  I was told to provide names for the work on show and enlisted assistance from my grandaughter.  I'm sure I'll be testing out ideas and patterns with my friends at the Branch. 
Speaking of the MK Branch, Lucille is now safely arrived in Ledbury and says she will start her own blog to keep in touch! Our Branch is now booked into the MK Gallery Project Space from 6th - 30th December 2012 for an exhibition of Chair's Challenge pieces. We'll also be holding a sit and sew session on Saturday, 17th March to get some experience of working with visitors to the Gallery. Next week I'm meeting the organiser at the University Centre MK to discuss options for exhibiting work there - will keep you posted.