The Stitchery of Catherine Hill, a Lancashire Lass
I’m pleased to announce that “The Matchbox Challenge” has won two Embroiderers’ Guild Awards in The Embroiderers’ Guild “Exquisite Containers” Members’ Challenge 2020/21.
Matchbox: 5 x 3.5 x 1.5 cm. Hand embroidered, silk thread, cotton cloth.
Embroidered Panel: 20 x 12.5 cm. Vintage Sylko Thread and cotton cloth. Vintage finds from my childhood. Displayed in a vintage cigar box.
This new work called “The Matchbox Challenge” is my entry for The Embroiderers’ Guild “Exquisite Containers” Members’ Challenge 2020/21.
(Update May 2021: All the entries can be viewed in the Embroiderers’ Guild “Exquisite Containers” Members’ Challenge 2020/21 Flipstack Book.)
Matchbox: 5 x 3.5 x 1.5 cm. Hand embroidered, silk thread, cotton cloth.
Embroidered Panel: 20 x 12.5 cm. Vintage Sylko Thread and cotton cloth. Vintage finds from my childhood. Displayed in a vintage cigar box.
This piece has very special meaning. It brought back all the wonderful memories I had of this annual school sponsored event which kept us all busy for days. There was a prize for the winner who had the biggest collection. It’s amazing what you can fit into a matchbox.
… Half pence coin, Bronte museum ticket, key, duck button, jigsaw piece, lace, nut and screw, paperclip, ribbon, bulb, safety pin, sylko label, used match, wooden bead, mother of pearl button, pin, sequin, press stud, hook and eye, picture hook, nail, clip-on earring, elastic, string and wool, necklace, birthday candle, plastic stud, buckle, miraculous medal, split ring, fuse, piece of Airfix model, piece of silk, washer, end of a knitting needle, ‘reward to finder’ key tag, eye screw, suspender loop, cloth button, trouser hook and bar, stud and pin, chess piece, metal bead, used postage stamp …
My artwork has appeared in previous Members’ Challenges and also in a Guild publication.
In November 2020 I came across an article promoting the ‘Winter Pocket Competition’ from Yale University Press. After a long time thinking and designing I created this pocket titled ‘My Rochdale Lad’.
The pocket is hand drawn. The words are from a poem ‘Oh Johnny’ by R. R. Bealey, written in Lancashire dialect in the 1860’s.
Size 31 x 20 cm. Hand embroidered and hand constructed using embroidery thread, cotton cloth and vintage bias binding.
Two months to design. Ten days to embroider. Five days to construct.
I learned a great deal about myself during this project – including designing, planning and constructing – and it gave me the opportunity to rethink how I can present future artwork in a 3D way.