Mending my Ways - Corinne

One of 9 pieces by Corinne on exhibition in Mending My Ways

"When things go wrong you lose your way and the threads of life unravel. It feels like your world is falling apart. As things improve, you gradually pick up the threads and weave them back together to form the fabric of your life again; though it may be a new life"

' The manufactory, the laboratory, and the study of the natural philosopher, are in close practical conjunction.  Without the aid of science, the arts would be contemptible; without practical application, science would consist only of barren theories, which men would have no motive to pursue.'

Edward Baines, History of the Cotton Manufacture in Great Britain 1835


We have know this for a while haven't we - Kay

Mending My Ways - some views

The first of a few posts to come with work from 'Mending My Ways' which is currently being curated - more work to put up this Thursday!!

 Detail
 Carla Mines


 I have spent many years looking at the detrimental practices of modern man on Earth, especially in the increased production and disposal of plastic. 'Mending My Ways' meant that I had to look at the other side of me, the optimistic side that recognises the enduring power of nature.
The quotation in braille says
'What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, God calls a butterfly'.

Mending My Ways

Have a look at the link here to view more about our Exhibition
'Mending my Ways' which opens tomorrow at Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton Somerset.
We still have some pieces to add next Thursday - yesterday was a busy day setting up!
Photos and some feedback coming later this weekend!

Come and Visit Us!

THERE'S STILL TIME!!!!... Our exhibition at Ruskin Mill entitled "Curiously Enough" is only open until 1pm on Thursday, if you have not seen it, only 3 days left...In the meantime...with huge thanks to Ian Wilson, here are a few quotes from his review of our exhibition "Curiouser...?" at the Silk Mills in Frome last September...some of the work featured at our current exhibition "Curiously Enough" was shown at this exhibition...The review was in the Jan/Feb 2012 edition of Embroidery Magazine...



"...'A Print for Patti', made by Susi Bancroft while caring for her dying mother, was so hung that it moved in the slightest draught of air. Like a very English interpretation of a Tibetan prayer-flag, Bancroft's thoughts about making and grieving were hand-written on Liberty cotton lawn, cut and pieced  onto an unfinished quilt begun by her mother..."



"...Against the cream-painted stone walls Kay Swancutt's joined, seamed and stitched quilt like pieces in ecru fabric "Joins 1 and 2"-had a presence both quietest and impressive, which encouraged thoughts about the meditative slowness and repetitiveness of the making process..."


"...Uncoiling from a niche in the wall-like water falling from a cleft rock, 'River of Cloth' by Liz Hewitt had a single, sensuous line of blue stitches working its way down the white cloth and formed a fascinating companion to 'Water Stills my Soul', a slender strip of blue material with thousands of tiny white stitches making the unstitched central position into a meandering, curving stream and manifesting how the understated stitch can posses a semiotic power..."


"...Alison Harper recycles synthetic materials used for takeaway coffee containers, and also meticulously cuts crisp packets by hand putting the resultant lengths of fibre to many uses including knitting and making jewellery..."


"...'Friday Tea' celebrated this weekly ceremony in Lizzie Weir's family and consisted of a washing line of charmingly clean family linen bearing, in both hand and machine stitching such words as 'Jammy Dodgers', alluding to the cherished ritual...


"...Paying homage to the culture of Japan, Carolyn Sibbald's representation of a kimono, with sashiko stitching on indigo dyed fabric, was reconstructed but wearable garment that would look wonderful in movement...."


"...This exhibition bore exhilarating witness to the range of concerns and practices.personal philosophies and deliberations upon the processes of making of the Brunel Broderers represented..."

A few pictures from this past week..

 Alison, Corinne and one of our visitors making pom poms at the opening....

 Alison's workbox...

Carla's bees - and a treasured 'found' empty bees nest..

Part of 'a delicate rhythm' of Susi's

Trying to capture the shadows too!

last few days!

There has been some wet weather this week...!

 

     But we BB's know how to brighten the days...
     and how to add a bit of sparkle...

'Curiously Enough' is open Monday 11th, Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th from 10 - 5 and our last day Thursday 14th we open 10 - 1pm
More photos on the way and possible even a little film...

Curiously Enough Opening Party

Here's a selection of images to tempt you. The exhibition is set in a lovely ground floor room in Ruskin Mill. The tree outside the door laden with pom poms. Wonderful gardens outside to explore after a visit to our exhibition and delicious cakes available in the cafe.

Jubilee BB Cake!

Opening Tea Party Cake!

Update: Bank Holiday Tuesday (5th June) Exhibition will open at 10!  Hope this helps if you are planning a visit!

Another Piece in a Paper!

Matty Airey is the Stroud News and Journal's Arts Editor. Matty contacted me about my work for 'Curiously Enough' and we chatted on the phone - she had seen our publicity and also my blog - boostitch
I was so delighted with Matty's sensitive piece in this week's paper (May 30th) - to read it click Stroud News and Journal Arts Page
Thank you Matty!
Hope we see lots of you at tomorrow's opening 2 - 4 .... do come and see the show!
We finished the preparations, the cafe is fab and the grounds look simply stunning - the flowers are SO beautiful...