My creative life revolves around combining socially and environmentally sustainable practices. A few years ago I stepped back from architecture to focus on a small spectrum of linked textile practices, including growing useful plants, plant based dyeing and printing, recycling fabrics, sewing and embroidery.
The link between these has become quilting. Quilting is an old craft that combines artistry, skill, and tradition to create warm and functional textiles. Beyond function, quilts tell stories, commemorate events and express creativity. Recently quilting has seen a resurgence, with many artists exploring contemporary themes and innovative techniques.
Quilting is also a deeply social activity and predominately female, (a welcome change from the construction industry). Many quilters participate in quilting circles or guilds. These communities provide a space for creativity and connection, often crossing generations and cultural backgrounds.
After lockdown I came across a new local group, Quilt Club Seven Sisters. At the time the founder had similar interests to mine and was piloting an ambitious project to quilt a warehouse. I joined in and quilted my first naturally dyed pieces. Quilting has brought a direction and focus to my practice, a creative way to bring together recycling, dyeing, sewing and embroidery. My work includes a 4m x 5m indigo dyed patchwork for aerial dance, (with Quilt Club) and smaller quilts, using maps, banners and text.
History has been a lifelong interest, particularly social history. It was a visit to the archive of Suffragette banners at LSA that fired my interest in quilting banners and now, my research on the people behind the Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers is providing me with a panoply of amazing antecedents, .
Illustrated from left to right are:
Banner for the Dyers group using fabric plant dyed by group members.
Hand stitched plant dyed bannerette for Quilt Club Seven Sisters
Plant dyed Climate Change London Map
Indigo dyed quilt made of leftovers from aerial dance quilt
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