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The Domestic Duster Project with Vanessa Marr

The award-winning Domestic Duster Project, established by Vanessa Marr in 2014, uses the power of stitch to give women a voice in domestic contexts where they are otherwise silenced, unheard, or ignored.

The project invites women to embroider their domestic experiences, complaints, and celebrations as words or images onto a yellow duster. This exhibition showcases a selection of dusters that have been embroidered by women from across the world, challenging the legacy of so-called women’s work. 

Join Vanessa, as she shares the personal stories behind some of the dusters.

The Duster Project: https://domesticdusters.wordpress.com/about-this-project/ / https://www.instagram.com/domesticdusters/

Domestic Duster Project
Domestic Duster Project

“Each duster is unique and hand-stitched, transforming it from cleaning cloth to craftivist act. Whilst conversations often begin around cleaning, this is not the focus, rather it is a route to discussing women’s lived experiences and expectations of care, the mental load, and the sharing (or not) of home-based responsibilities. The experience of embroidering a duster for exhibition also addresses the benefits of stitching for health and wellbeing and the solidarity of group participation and common experience.  The ever-growing collection includes hundreds of dusters that have been exhibited and presented widely in community, creative and academic contexts across the UK, mainland Europe, and Florida, USA. ” – Duster project. 

Each piece tells a different story
Duster in the project

This is an on-going project.  Anyone, of any ability and from any part of the world can take part.

Filmed at the Knitting & Stitching Show, London 2023.

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.

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Open for Business

After a great deal of work behind the scenes, I’m pleased to announce that my on-line shop is now Open for Business!

Shop: https://www.catherinehill.art/

A selection of Greeting cards and Giclée Fine Art Prints are now available. Each based on one of my original hand embroidery designs.

Catherine Hill Art on-line shop
Catherine Hill Art on-line shop

Greeting Cards

Greeting cards designs – Worker Bees, Sound of the Kenwood Chef, Covid – 19 Part 1, Giant Cauliflower Harvest, Moors of Home, Matchbox Challenge, Sylko Addict, Time for Tea, Take Time to Smell the Roses and Summer ’76.

Open for business - Worker Bee greeting card.
Worker Bee greeting card.

Each card is printed onto unbleached 100% recycled 300gsm paper and comes with a 100% Recycled envelope. Packaged in a 100% compostable wrapper.

Open for business - Sound of the Kenwood Chef greeting card.
Sound of the Kenwood Chef greeting card.
Take Time to Smell the Roses greeting card.
Take Time to Smell the Roses greeting card.

Giclée Fine Art Prints

Giclée Fine Art Print designs – Sound of the Kenwood Chef, Covid – 19 Part 1, Giant Cauliflower Harvest, Moors of Home, Sylko Addict, Time for Tea, Take Time to Smell the Roses and Summer ’76.

Each giclée is printed with Epson ultrachrome pigmented light-fast inks on Fotospeed platinum etching 285gsm, 100% acid free, cotton & wood pulp mix. This combination produces a print with a lifespan in excess of 100 years.

Each print is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by myself.

Supplies

I’ve carefully curated two sets of DMC embroidery threads for you. The first contains my ‘Go-To Threads’. A collection based on the colour palette I’ve used in the homemade recipe series of work. The second is my colour of choice – the iconic red thread.

Drop me a line and let me know if there’s any other items you’d like included in the shop. Thank you – Catherine.

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Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn – Meet the Artists

Textile artists and authors, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, have worked together for over 45 years. Their Rhythms & Reflections exhibition builds on their love of detailed hand and machine embroidered surfaces.

Join Jan and Jean, as they share the stitches and techniques that created the work.

Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn:  https://doubletrouble-ent.com/ 

Books by Jan and Jean: https://amzn.to/4bN0G3N 

Jan’s work is inspired by the ever-changing landscape of the Wetlands of Lefkada in Greece.

“The colours and organic growth patterns provided the initial fascination. Excitement followed by observations of the lush, overgrown variety of grasses, which offered layers of glorious textures yet still maintain the rhythms and constrictions of the tidal waterways. Intriguing light and atmospheric changes in early evening and after sundown have led to developing new focal points.” 

Work from the Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn exhibition
Work from the Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn exhibition

Jean’s work centres on the rhythms and cycles of the moon, and she reflects on how our ancestors viewed these phenomena as evidenced in cultural myths and legends.

“During lockdown, the phases of the moon embodied continuity and reassurance in an uncertain world and became the focus of her work. Moon mythology informed pieces such as ‘Wolf Moon’ and ‘Sturgeon Moon’, whereas other works were responses to night-time observations of atmospheric cloud framed moons.“

Work from the Jan and Jean's exhibition
Work from the Jan and Jean’s exhibition

Filmed at the Knitting & Stitching Show, London 2023.

For a more inspiration, please browse the ‘Meet the Artist’ collection on my YouTube Channel.