Inter-generational Quilting Project

 As the clock struck midnight, marking the beginning of 2024, I found myself still immersed in a world of fabric, needle, and thread—a promising start to the new year! I had embarked on two special commissions, one of which has been a truly extraordinary journey.

The larger commission brought me to Old Ford Primary School in Bow, East London, where I collaborated with their artist in residence, Veronica Rowlands, on an inter-generational quilt project. The inspiration? Comfort objects—those cherished items that bring solace and warmth to our lives.

                         Showing the class some of my quilts for inspiration 

Veronica had previously arranged with the Sunny Jar social enterprise for a fabric dyeing class using food waste and artist Milou Stella on parent/carer embroidery workshops depicting cherished memories. Veronica and I then teamed up for three classes with enthusiastic year 8 kids. Together, we guided the students in creating collages of their favorite objects, utilizing the beautifully dyed fabrics combined with old clothing and fabric scraps.

The result is a vibrant tapestry of personal memories and comfort items, each square telling a unique story. From the soothing hues of natural dyes and pressed flowers to the embroidery pieces submitted by some of the parents ,the quilt has become a living canvas of shared experiences and creativity.

                                             Some of the kids collages

My role in this project is stitching together the threads of collaboration, creativity, and inter-generational bonding. I brought to life the collective effort of the students, parents and their unique interpretation of comfort with my own style of hand sewing. 

The completed quilt will be displayed in the halls of Old Ford Primary School, a testament to the power of art in fostering connection and expression, and a symbol of collaboration, creativity and the magic that unfolds when generations come together. It was a joy to be part of this unconventional project, a departure from my usual endeavors but one that left a lasting impact. Pictures of the finished piece soon!

Here's to more unexpected and meaningful projects in the tapestry of 2024!

                                                The quilting in progress