Richmond Exhibition

My new wall hanging - in situ at the Station Gallery, Richmond.  It's a beautiful light and airy space in a converted railway station. If you get a chance to drop in you'll find a fantastic cafe, cinema, artisan bakery and ice cream parlour all under the same roof.

The Textila 3 exhibition runs until 2nd June.

Sashiko Stitching

Trying my hand at the Japanese technique of sashiko stitching has been, in equal parts, thoroughly frustrating and very rewarding!

Sashiko means little stabbings and was originally developed as a means of mending and reinforcing clothes.  Like many similar quilting techniques, it has become an art form in its own right with a range of traditional patterns as well as contemporary adaptations.  It looks very simple but getting perfectly even stitches that obey the rules of sashiko is not easy!  The reward comes in the rhythmic pattern of the work that takes on an almost meditative quality.  It is very satisfying. 

My Thursday morning stitch group at Cobbles and Clay cafe in Haworth, will be using this technique to embellish some fabric and then we will make it into small purses.  If you would like to join the group, we meet from 10-12:30 in the upper room at the cafe.

Tile Fragments

Two more pieces for the Textilia 3 exhibition which opens at the Station Gallery, Richmond on 21st May 2016.

These are individual tile fragments that I've mounted on fine net and suspended over a print on calico.  The print is a dictionary definition of the word READ, which describes its etymology from the old English raeden meaning to counsel or advise. 

They are deceptively simple, but each piece took several hours to assemble - about half the time was spent removing bits from the glass covering the box frame!