Re:Play
Is a Connections Fibre Artists group show
Opening on Sunday October 6, 2024, 1-3 pm
At Wellington County Museum, Fergus Ontario
Each of us had to choose a toy from the museum’s collection
I chose this lovely rag doll
It seemed to suit my plant dyed fabrics
And
I imagined that the mother who made this doll for her child had used
fabrics she had on hand…with no trips to the shops!
And finally I thought that any self respecting rag doll deserved a few blankets for her hope chest.
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| Thread Story - One |
Scraps inherited from my mother’s stash
Lace from my own wedding dress
Bits and pieces of explorations in stitch that had been rejected for past projects.
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| Thread Story - Two |
Bits and pieces that had been gifted to me
Like the piece of whitish bark cloth laid on top of the brown fabric
This was a gift From Al during the 2023
Connections retreat at Crieff.
A place where lots of sharing goes on.
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| Thread Story - Three |
But as is usual with me….
the thread and stitching became the most important part of the story.
I just can’t resist…..so there is no point in holding back!
It is not just the rhythmic act of stitching
It is also the texture of tiny ripples as layers of cloth become one through many, many stitches.
There is hardly an inch without stitch!
They became known as Thread Stories in my mind.
A favourite corner with a tiny shot of colour from my mother’s stash.
A precious piece of my wedding dress lace.
It was a bolt of lace given to my grandfather during WWII
He was a doctor before the National Health existed
And so this lace had been in payment for some kind of treatment.
My grandfather passed away before I was three….but I remember him.
My grandmother, Robin, kept the bolt of lace all those years until my wedding in 1969.
Then she and my mother made it into a hooded coat to go over my wedding dress.
So special to have that link between the generations.
There were several scraps with holes
And I felt the need to add bright patches as reverse appliqué to peak through.
My foundation fabric for this piece was an old linen serviette
As I stitched the rolled edge of the serviette began to tear away.
I didn’t have the heart to remove it and so just let it drape down and kept in place with more stitches.
The memories we are leaving behind with our stitches
Will soon be hidden from those who do not know!
Enjoy your memories!
And all are welcome for the opening on Sunday of course.
