I have been inspired throughout the lockdown by our local park and my regular walks there. On one recent walk I collected some plants that had fallen onto the path and used them to screen print on linen remnants.
These were then used as backgrounds for embroideries of local birds – a series called ‘Park Birds’…
‘Park Birds’ in the studio and in progress. I like to hand stitch using a mixture of perle and stranded cotton. I made the outline for these birds using a neutral colour and then filled in with more colourful shades.
When finished with the hand stitching I overstitched the pieces using my signature Bernina stitch on my vintage machine. I’ve been selling the pieces as part of the commendable https://www.instagram.com/artistsupportpledge and am enjoying seeing the little birds flying off to new homes!
I am also pleased with the revamped Crafts Council Directory site and have been updating my page. I update my courses on this site regularly under the ‘News’ page. I am teaching a new 8 week course for Kent Adult Education online in the autumn. In October, I’m hoping to be at the lovely Cowslip Workshops too – some spaces still available.
Finally, I am delighted to be a judge for the inaugural KDS Fibre and Textile Award at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Canada, where my exhibition ‘Stitched – a Homecoming’ took place in the spring of 2019.
Anne Kelly 