My 'Journey' piece Lanterns in the Sky, a Journeying Ship, and a Call from the Deep

by Caroline Gowers

I've felt a little apprehensive in sharing this, and have held back a little, as my Journey piece doesn't quite follow March’s workshop - couching different threads to represent journeysbut for me, it is a very poignant representation of my present journey. A couple of years ago, I had to quit my job. A lot of things had happened which unfortunately led to sheer mental exhaustion and a breakdown. Although I received lots of support, and I tried to return to work after sick leave, I realized that this particular journey was coming to an end. Feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally, unable to give anymore to the work, and the organization I had, in the past, felt so passionate about, I simply could not travel further on that path. It was a very difficult decision to make.

The months that followed were equally difficult, filled with anxiety, and a great sense of loss and bereavement. One thing I did know for sure is that I felt a deep need to concentrate more on the creative and artistic, which had lain, not forgotten, but quiet, for some time, with an aim to develop my skills and my own work. Although I have dabbled and have interests in other forms of art - photography, drawing and painting, writing, textiles, needle and thread, have always been what I love to do the most, and one of the things I dearly wish I could've pursued from leaving school. After resigning from my post as a Mental Health Support Worker, there were still hurdles and hoops to jump over and through, but I had also begun my sewing/ stitchery journey by signing up for a City & Guilds sewing skills Fashion course at my local Adult Education centre. I felt the structured classes would benefit me, along with the activities of the course, and well, I loved it! So, I followed this up with a short course for all levels in knitting and embroidery, as an improverthere is always something to learn after all, no matter what 'level' we are on! I then put my name down for a City and Guilds Embroidery and Knitting to begin the following academic year. I’m on my way, or so I thought. In December 2021, it seemed the rug was to be pulled from underneath my feet, again.

Another change in circumstances brought about a house move for me – a positive move, but still an upheaval, and the course I was so looking forward to was cancelled as not enough people had registered their interest. Argh! On the one hand I felt at a loss, I had started out on a different path to develop my creativity in sewing and textiles, moving forward from leaving the type of work I had been involved in, and fulfilling something I had wanted to do when I was younger. On the other hand, I also knew that I would've struggled to manage the coursework and a house move (especially since my 'new' home needed quite a bit of work to get it cleaned up and decorated).

Suffice it to say, the house move and making the place a home for myself, became the priority. My stitchery had to take a back seat for a while once again. A few busy and tiring months passed by before my new home began to feel more settled. Spring was moving into summer, and I desperately wanted to get back to working with needle and thread, but wanted something that I could easily pick up and put down when needed.

I decided to look at embroidery patterns on Etsy. I found some sweet designs that I fell in love with, designed by a lady who lives on the other side of the world in Australia! It never ceases to amaze me how easily we can now connect and share with others who live oceans away. At the same time, closer to home, I was getting to know my new neighbours, and had reconnected with a couple of old friends.

November 2022 arrived – the month of the Knit and Stitch Show in Harrogate, yay! It had been some years since I visited the Knit and Stitch so I was quite excited to be able to attend. Any of you that attended the event on the Thursday must remember the persistent downpour of rain! But nothing was going to put me off!

I arrived at the International Centre, somewhat damp, but it wasn’t long before I spied the Untangled Threads Stitchbook Collective stall/display and made a bee-line for it... 'this is exactly what I've been looking for' I gasped!

After spending some time looking at all the works that were displayed, and having a chat, knowing there and then I would sign up for membership as soon as I could, I jokingly said to my friend who was with me, ‘well that’s it, I’ve found what I’ve been looking for, might as well go back home now’! But of course, we didn’t. And so here I am.

This is my journey at present, and the story behind it. It’s taken me some time to be able to form my journey into words, and fully comprehend the textile piece of work that grew in front of me. I have no idea where it will take me, or what, if anything, will come from it, further down the line. Since having to leave my other work, I doubt myself in many ways. I have good days; I have bad days. But I feel compelled to create, and to do so 'intuitively', to find expression, and hopefully a way through my doubts and feelings of failure at not being able to work at this time, to find my sense of place and connection in the 'world' again.

The fabrics I've used come from an unwanted scarf, some pieces of silvery glittered polycotton, and other 'scraps' I have in my stash, along with a silver sewing thread. The ship motif is my own design which 'appeared' out of a series of pencil 'doodles'. The whole piece developed around the motif as I worked on it. The whale was the final, and unexpected, addition.

After sharing photographs of my Journey piece, and its story, on the Stitchbook Members Facebook page, after holding back and hesitating in sharing my piece, being quite different from the works other members have created following Helen’s March workshop, I have been reminded that it’s not only the process of stitching and creating, playing and experimenting with ideas and textiles, but the sharing of this too, the stories and inspirations within our worked textile pieces, and the comments,‘like’s’, conversations that arise, that somehow have the potential to nudge us forward into taking the next step, having a go at something else, a new technique, or the expression of the same idea but in a different way.

As much as I relish quiet time, becoming lost in the rhythmic nature of slow stitching, it is not always easy working in isolation - one of the reasons I joined the Stitchbook Collective. But on the whole, being part of the collective at this time is proving to be a significant part of my journey in more ways than I could’ve expected.

I was delighted to see on back of last Stitch Book that rags were going to feature. I have been playing with them for years having been obsessed with India after 2 visits and a trip to Myanmar before the present troubles

Here are photos of some weaving that will be bonded to silk for a cushion project and a heart cut from another piece . The loose one is the next one to process possibly with kantha stitch on top Having time to play as tonsils removed 3 weeks ago not to be recommended at 70+. Keep up all the inspirational work

by Pauline Eyre

I have just joined The Stitchbook Collective and I am a novice stitcher. Just completed my first workshop and I am rather chuffed with the result. Inspired by rain coming in to a Hebridean beach.

by Laura Munro

www.thenewsminute.com/article/ chekutty-dolls-how-kerala-got-its -new-symbol-hope-88236

Finally finished my "Journey" piece. Completing it was a journey in itself! It shows the journey of my life and close family beside me. Here was the first difficulty, who to include? The scale was also difficult as I am working on an A5 page, quite small. In August last year I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in my bones, a terminal diagnosis. The red line across the piece is this moment. I wanted to show the panic and unravelling I felt at that moment, the support of family, the final moving forward again but in a slightly altered direction. Also the future being unclear. Not just for me but for everyone . A lot to encompass in one small piece. I am reasonably happy with the result, it got a lot more complicated and then simpler and then ..... here it is ...

by Fran Flanagan

Well, a whole month has gone by and I am no way near finished my journey page. This is the 3rd or 4th go at actually stitching and I don't know how many ideas in my head. Each time I got an idea it then got more and more complicated and I have had to keep reminding myself not to over think the design. So here we are. A personal journey. The background green leaves is for my love of nature. The pieces on top are a journey in themselves as a group of friends and I have started to find out about geli printing. A print maker friend is running a few classes for us to try the process out. Then there will be family time lines, so a way to go yet ...