New Zealand Textiles at The Knitting and Stitching Show, UK

For me, 2015 has been the year of exhibiting my work in the UK. I came to live in New Zealand in 1975 as a 15 year old. I've been back to the UK a few times but have never really exhibited my work there, so its most unusual for me to have the opportunity to show my work in the Uk, three times in one year! I'd like to thank Laura Kemshall and Annabel Rainbow for all their hard work getting the first two shows together and Alysn Midgelow-Marsden from NZ for the third (see below).

The first show was with the ThroughOurHands group and was curated by Laura Kemshall and Annabel Rainbow. It was held in Bilston and I really wish I could have seen the whole show as it looked like there were some amazing pieces.

The second show was also with 'ThroughOurHands' and was part of the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. Laura and Annabel produced a lovely catalogue/portfolio book for the show which can be purchased on the Throughourhands website.

I produced a new wallhanging for this show. It was made in the pojagi style and I incorporated pieces of hand dyed but unfixed red fabrics into the hanging. When water was dripped from the top, the red dye bled into the surrounding fabric along the seam lines. Again, this work was about dye pollution.

Canary in a Coalmine

detail of Canary in a Coalmine

I am still trying to find a decent picture of this piece. I like subtle :-) but I think people preferred the more dramatic colors of Bitter Harvest, my other piece which was also dyed on the wall.

Here is a link to Helen Conway's blog where she talks about some of the pieces in our show, and you can see how one of my other pieces was dyed.

Bitter Harvest at the Festival of Quilts

The above photo was 'borrowed' from Laura Kemshalls' blog post for the show.


My third Uk show this year is an exhibition of textile work from New Zealand. It is curated by Alysn Midgelow-Marsden and will show at the Knitting and Stitching Shows in London, Dublin and Harrogate.
Over the next few weeks we are raising money to help pay for the expenses of getting the work to the UK and on the walls. We have a Boosted page where anyone can donate a little to get the work there.

Here are the names of the textile artists represented in this show

 Sandra Hall

Mia Hamilton

Michelle De Silva

Colleen Planck

Jo Kinross

Joyce Fleming

Joyce Stalker

Katherine Bertram

 Lea Wald

Margaret Johnstone

Ronnie Martin

Sherril Jennings

Yoke Martens

Yvonne Hamond

Clare Smith

Sarah Pumphrey 

If you donate some money to the Boosted page , the money only comes out of your account if we reach our target of $2200 . I understand that you may also be able to claim back some of that money in your tax refund. The total currently is $550 so we are a quarter of the way through which is fantastic. 

Thankyou any donors!

Clare