Stitching the past

Following her intriguing embroidery on a family farmer's smock shown in Stroud last year (previously featured on our blog here and here), Carolyn has become fascinated with the effect of adding the written word to textiles. 

She has visited local markets and searched the internet and has acquired several lovely examples of  antique Victorian children's clothing and other items. These (all in white cotton) include dresses, bibs and a delightful little mob cap. 

She has added to their story with carefully researched nursery rhymes and traditional sayings all of which have been finely hand stitched in red machine thread. 

Her work is truly exquitite and is not to be missed.  

It will be on show in our exhibition Praxis at The Forge Mill in Redditch from June 7th. Full details can be found in the bar to the right of this blog. 

Carolyn Sibbald

Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire

My work so often develops from places I've visited, especially those which make a lasting impression on me. Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire has been one such place. It sits perched dramatically on a clifftop high above the sea. 

All my pieces for our upcoming exhibition, Praxix, at Forge Needle Mill in Redditch were based on a single visit to the castle made at the end of July last year. They show varying degrees of abstraction but each piece was developed from tracings and drawings of my photographs, some of which were shown in a previous post.

Shown top is one of a series of four small figurative pieces exploring the buildings and layout of the castle which were developed from the tracings below it and to which colour and stitch were added.  

Details of this exhibition are shown in the side panel to the right. 

Margaret Robbie

Framing dilemas

 

Liz and Margaret discussing presentation and framing of work for our exhibition of new work at Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch from June 7th to July 16th. Much thought was given to width of mount and size and colour of frame. As it was my work being  discussed in this photo, I’m particularly keen to see the final result when I collect the pieces from the framers two weeks hence!

We are all showing work under the title Praxis, following individual themes which reflect our practice and personal interests. A varied and interesting exhibition is promised - and more tasters will no doubt follow in due course. 

Margaret Robbie 

Exhibiton in Redditch

Brunel Broderers will have an exhibition of new work in the gallery at Forge Mill Needle Museum in Redditch from June 7th to July 16th under the title Praxis. Details are given below. 

Praxis is defined as the exercise or practice of an art, science or skill. Each member will be showing work on an individual theme reflecting their practice, their interests and their own personal approach to creativity. The work on show is thereore particularly varied this time. 

The gallery is housed in the Grade 2 listed redbrick building of the mill which also houses a small museum and is part of the Bordesley Abbey Visitor Centre. The Needle Mill and its surroundings make for a most interesting venue and there is much to enjoy. 

History in Landscape

While exploring shapes and layers in landscape, this time I’ve used photos taken during a visit to the ruins of the beautiful Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in July …

... and have been enjoying the miniature views of the modern agricultural landscape that I saw through the medieval window frames of the castle. 

I am fascinated by these little ‘look throughs’ and their layered glimpses of  history set against the present day and have been exploring them through small drawings in pencil, graphite and Koh-i-noor paint. 

Margaret Robbie

Linda's going round in circles

Hand stitching circular patterns

 and preparing to build Moroccan doorways

Stitching fish

Trying out shape and colour …

… then using scraps of silk, I started to embroider fishes on the red list from my drawings.

Carla Mines

Researching endangered fish

 Carla has been drawing and researching endangered fish ready for stitching.

Carla Mines

Referencing ancient history

As I develop some new work, I’ve been exploring in photography the archaeological evidence left in landscape - particularly the shapes left behind - the circles (especially) in all their forms, the straight lines and grids, random piles of stones and upright forms. 

These photos among many, many others were taken recently in Aberdeenshire and at the amazing Roman fort of Vindolanda in Northumberland. 

Margaret Robbie

Threatened species

Looking at The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species I started embroidering some of the endangered species. 

I came across poems from ‘The Gorgeous Nothings’ by Emily Dickinson that were written on scraps of envelopes and thought that I too would embroider on scraps. I decided that I would not buy any more fabric but use what I have. 

Carla Mines

In Retrospect

 Liz has been looking through cupboards and under beds, as well as work on the wall and has put together an exhibition that covers her forty years of textile practice. It is fascinating the way the same themes keep re-occurring and the importance of hand stitch in her practice, but most of all the love of colour.

 Here's an exciting exhibition to visit at the Lansdown Gallery in Stroud where Quinary are showing  their new work