Tag: hand embroidery

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Lancashire Library Open 2024

I’m pleased to announce that Moors of Home has been selected for the Lancashire Library Open 2024, celebrating Lancaster University Library’s 60th Anniversary. Thirty two artworks are taking part in the exhibition.

Moors of Home. Part of the Lancashire Library Open 2024
Moors of Home. Part of the Lancashire Library Open 2024

The exhibition will be in show at the Lancashire University Library, Alexandra Square,  Lancaster LA1 4YW from 13th September – 4th October 2024.

Lancashire Library Open 2024

The exhibition theme is ‘How does the library inspire you?’

Libraries and books are the cornerstone to my work. They act as a valuable resource and inspiration. A portion of my work is focussed on my love of Lancashire Poetry.

The central panel is an extract from the Lancashire poem ‘Pennine Ramble’ written by Ebron, first published in “A Lancashire Miscellany”, a newspaper column featured in weekend editions of the Oldham Chronicle between 1956 and 1959.

My own words around the outer border depict a memory from my childhood of visiting my Grandparents in Stacksteads, Lancashire. Designed in Spring 2021 during lockdown in the UK. Cotton cloth eco printed with plants from my lockdown garden.

Update: September 25th 2024

Thank you curator Lela Harris for the following photos taken at the exhibition preview evening.

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The Domestic Duster Project with Vanessa Marr

The award-winning Domestic Duster Project, established by Vanessa Marr in 2014, uses the power of stitch to give women a voice in domestic contexts where they are otherwise silenced, unheard, or ignored.

The project invites women to embroider their domestic experiences, complaints, and celebrations as words or images onto a yellow duster. This exhibition showcases a selection of dusters that have been embroidered by women from across the world, challenging the legacy of so-called women’s work. 

Join Vanessa, as she shares the personal stories behind some of the dusters.

The Duster Project: https://domesticdusters.wordpress.com/about-this-project/ / https://www.instagram.com/domesticdusters/

Domestic Duster Project
Domestic Duster Project

“Each duster is unique and hand-stitched, transforming it from cleaning cloth to craftivist act. Whilst conversations often begin around cleaning, this is not the focus, rather it is a route to discussing women’s lived experiences and expectations of care, the mental load, and the sharing (or not) of home-based responsibilities. The experience of embroidering a duster for exhibition also addresses the benefits of stitching for health and wellbeing and the solidarity of group participation and common experience.  The ever-growing collection includes hundreds of dusters that have been exhibited and presented widely in community, creative and academic contexts across the UK, mainland Europe, and Florida, USA. ” – Duster project. 

Each piece tells a different story
Duster in the project

This is an on-going project.  Anyone, of any ability and from any part of the world can take part.

Filmed at the Knitting & Stitching Show, London 2023.

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.

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Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn – Meet the Artists

Textile artists and authors, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, have worked together for over 45 years. Their Rhythms & Reflections exhibition builds on their love of detailed hand and machine embroidered surfaces.

Join Jan and Jean, as they share the stitches and techniques that created the work.

Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn:  https://doubletrouble-ent.com/ 

Books by Jan and Jean: https://amzn.to/4bN0G3N 

Jan’s work is inspired by the ever-changing landscape of the Wetlands of Lefkada in Greece.

“The colours and organic growth patterns provided the initial fascination. Excitement followed by observations of the lush, overgrown variety of grasses, which offered layers of glorious textures yet still maintain the rhythms and constrictions of the tidal waterways. Intriguing light and atmospheric changes in early evening and after sundown have led to developing new focal points.” 

Work from the Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn exhibition
Work from the Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn exhibition

Jean’s work centres on the rhythms and cycles of the moon, and she reflects on how our ancestors viewed these phenomena as evidenced in cultural myths and legends.

“During lockdown, the phases of the moon embodied continuity and reassurance in an uncertain world and became the focus of her work. Moon mythology informed pieces such as ‘Wolf Moon’ and ‘Sturgeon Moon’, whereas other works were responses to night-time observations of atmospheric cloud framed moons.“

Work from the Jan and Jean's exhibition
Work from the Jan and Jean’s exhibition

Filmed at the Knitting & Stitching Show, London 2023.

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.