Bulgarian Triennial of Mini Textile 2023

I’m pleased to announce that my hand embroidered artworks – Reel Stories 1 & 2 – are part of the Bulgarian Triennial of Mini Textile 2023, held in the city of Sofia. The exhibition on theme of ‘CONNECTING’ is curated by the Union of Bulgarian Artists.

The exhibition takes place 20th November – 11th December 2023 at the Gallery to the UBA, SofiaPress, 29 Slavyanska Street, Sofia, Bulgaria.

There are 217 artists from 32 countries taking part in the Micro Textile category.

Bulgarian Triennial of Mini Textile 2023
Bulgarian Triennial of Mini Textile 2023

Artworks were jury selected from an international group of artists – Beatrijs Sterk (Germany), Snezana Skoko (Serbia), Asadour Markarov (China), Antonia Tabakova (Bulgaria), Dima Nedialkova-Kaprieva (Bulgaria), Margarita Dopcheva (Bulgaria) and Michaela Padeva (Bulgaria).

Reel Stories 1 - Cotton Weavers Poem
Reel Stories 1 – Cotton Weavers Poem
Reel Stories 1 - Cotton Weavers Poem
Reel Stories 1 – Cotton Weavers Poem
Reel Stories 2 - Cotton Mill Jobs
Reel Stories 2 – Cotton Mill Jobs
Reel Stories 2 - Cotton Weavers Poem
Reel Stories 2 – Cotton Weavers Poem

These pieces are part of a body of work about the Lancashire cotton industry.

Update: December 2023

I’m pleased to share images of Reel Stories on exhibition in Bulgaria.

Embroidery Magazine Issue 74

Embroidery Magazine Issue 74

I’m please to announce that Darning Sampler and Bunting Butties and a Brew are included in Embroidery Magazine Issue 74.

Embroidery Magazine Issue 74

The two page spread article showcases the winning entries in the Embroiderers’ Guild Members’ Challenge 2023 plus pieces from the ‘Fit for a King’ exhibition.

Bunting, Butties and a Brew & Darning Sampler are part of Embroidery Magazine Issue 74
Bunting, Butties and a Brew & Darning Sampler are part of Embroidery Magazine Issue 74
Darning Sampler
Darning Sampler
Bunting, Butties and a Brew
Bunting, Butties and a Brew

Please purchase your copies via the Embroidery Magazine website.

Crone

A new exhibition at the House of Smalls called ‘We Are The Witches’ prompted me to create a new piece of work called ‘Crone’ for the Dollhouse gallery. 

“Being a witch means living in this world consciously, powerfully, and unapologetically.” ~ Gabriela Herstik.

The exhibition takes place at The House of Smalls, Cambrook Court, High Street, Chipping Campden, Glos GL55 6AT from 11th November – 16th December 2023.

About ‘Chrone’

“The witches in fairy stories are almost invariably old women, like the crone—withered and malevolent. Old women no longer have to contend with the vagaries of the desiring gaze, and without an inherent eroticism a woman is a creature even less knowable than before. Being a witch promises us a lodestone: a legacy, a lineage of women, weird and wise, who came before us. And it promises a compass with which to navigate the unknowable territory of growing older.”  Sam George-Allen.

Chrone
Chrone

As a woman in my 50’s I’ve never really thought of myself as old.  This year however, something happened that made me think differently.

I was sitting alone in a train station, minding my own business, and avoiding engaging in conversation with two young men. One moved in close, called me a ‘Cranky Old Woman’ and both walked away. I felt uncomfortable and I know it was meant as an insult, but it really made me think. 

As women we go through years of unwanted attention from men to suddenly becoming invisible to them – but when do we cross this invisible line in time? – and at what point in our lives are we perceived by society as old, crones or witches?

Size 11.5 x 11.5cm. Hand embroidered cotton cloth, vintage Sylko thread.

Update: ‘We are the Witches’ Exhibition

Chrome
Chrome
We are the Witches Dollhouse Exhibition
We are the Witches Dollhouse Exhibition

I’m enjoying making small artworks that fit in perfectly with the scale of the Dollhouse exhibition.