now we are 50

Now we are Fifty! 2020 - What a strange time to celebrate a joining together of stitchers that began in 1970. But, our theme is Hope – Hope for the Future – and we wish it for everyone. As we stitched our anniversary pieces, we were mindful of Hope: in Pegasus soaring; in Snowdrops peeking; zebras dazzling. Our challenge was to each create a

30 x 30 cm textile artwork using shades of grey – black through to white – plus gold.

Brenda Parsons

My textile artwork was developed in winter and was created from a personal winter photograph taken locally. Creating textiles brightens my day. So with this stark winter scene I have embellished, stitched and celebrated in gold print and sequins the brightness in my mood change made through textiles. It became the celebration of the moment and the celebration of 50 years at the same time. Over 50 years of the Textile Studio the Textile Art of the changing members has changed the lives of the stitchers and brightened the days of the audiences for their work. Happy 50th birthday.

Carole Hawkins

A Blackwork flower sample stitched in 1970 has been reinterpreted in 2020 using organza, chiffon and gold paint

Coral Singleton

Illustrating the connections and interweaving of different skills and personalities which have existed throughout the 50 years history

Eve Barnes

Fiona Freeman

My embroidered picture is in shades of grey with black and white and a touch of gold showing the writing on the plaque on the Brass Crosby Room door where we have our Textile Studio Meetings. I have embroidered the grain on the picture of the wooden door in the centre of the embroidery. Bottom left is a miniature of the first embroidery I exhibited as a T.S. member, of the topiary at Hall Place and top right the flint stone wall. Bottom right the snow drops in Spring which can be seen from the Brass Crosby room.

Heather Washington

Jan Cook

Janet Crowther

Karen Butti

Karen Morton

Woven print from a photograph I took of the early darkening sky driving back from a trip to the coast in January 2019. The title refers to my feeling of a new year getting underway and all the possibilities for travel and trips out to the coast and beyond that I anticipated in the months ahead. At this point in time Covid was the vaguest of rumours and seemed something that was too far away to have any impact on our lives. This naturally monochrome image of road and sky with just a glimpse of the gold line of setting sun describes a pinpoint on a timeline for me, epitomising the contrast of what I thought lay ahead and the reality that ensued. January 2019 was also when I joined Textile Studio and discovered that the group was in its Golden Anniversary year!

Maureen Lauder

A copy of a 1970's newspaper, folded, stitched and embellished with gold to mark Textile Studio's 50th anniversary year

Pam Smyth

This Snow Leopard is collaged with different grey fabrics, some from the 1970s. She represents resilience in the strange world of 2020 and her gold eyes reflect hope for the future.

now we are 50

30 x 30 cm textile artwork using shades of grey – black through to white – plus gold.

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