Soulful Stitch – Book Review

Artist and author Deena Beverley reviews her latest book, Soulful Stitch, which she co-authored with artist Cas Holmes.

The book is a thoughtful, meditative guide to the ways creative textile art can soothe and comfort us during challenging times. The authors share how to use found objects, repurposed threads and personal items to create deep emotional resonance in your own work.

Soulful Stitch
Soulful Stitch

Soulful Stitch Book: https://amzn.to/3BnMD8m 

The Authors

Cas Holme’s work often contains snippets of text or discarded materials that have associations or conjure up memories. There is always a dialogue with the materials she uses. They bring their own history which is woven into the work. These collections of ephemera might seem meaningless but their apparent banality is open-ended. They are available to stimulate the imagination through the poetry of ordinariness. Everything has a connection and each viewer makes their own connections. Cas is author of Embroidering the Everyday.

Cas Holmes https://casholmes.uk/ 

Deena Beverley’s passion is for ‘making the ordinary extraordinary’ by taking a little time to inject a personal touch into the mundane. ‘Luxe for less’ is her personal mantra; often finding its form in repurposed items or reworked found materials. 

Deena Beverley  https://deenabeverley.com/ 

Both authors have recent lived experience of having to navigate new paths through big life challenges, making this book particularly heartfelt. It truly demonstrates how even in the toughest times, creativity in textile art can keep you afloat.  Packed with practical ideas, techniques and inspiration from two acclaimed textile artists. 

Textile Study Group – INSIGHTS Exhibition

A little textile inspiration from the Arnold’s Attic YouTube Collection. Today it features the INSIGHTS Exhibition created by members of The Textile Study Group.

In this video Mandy Pattullo, Alice Fox and fellow artists, guide us through the contemporary embroidered art in the INSIGHTS Exhibition and share the stories behind the work.

The Exhibition includes work by Lois Blackburn, Bobby Britnell, Jenny Bullen, Sarah Burgess, Penny Burnfield, Rosemary Campbell, Jean Draper, Janet Edmonds, Jan Evans, Alice Fox, Kay Greenlees, Gwen Hedley, Ruth Issett, Alison King, Sian Martin, Jan Miller, Sheila Mortlock, Amarjeet Nandhra, Mandy Pattullo, Shelley Rhodes, Mary Sleigh, Julia Triston, Dorothy Tucker, Ann Wheeler.

Filmed at The Festival of Quilts 2021.

Textile Study Group - hand woven forms by Alice Fox
Hand woven forms by Alice Fox
Textile Study Group - hand stitched vintage quilts by Mandy Pattullo
Artwork by Mandy Pattullo

The Textile Study Group was originally established in 1973 to promote a high standard of design in stitched textiles & the teaching of embroidery – members’ work is varied in the themes addressed & techniques employed – hand stitch, machine stitch, quilting, constructed textiles, pieced textiles, lace-making, mixed-media, sketchbooks & drawing, print, dye, in both two and three dimensions.

Watch this space! – join the mailing list and be first to see some wonderful artist interviews.

Art Textiles Made in Britain – ‘Found Exhibition’

A little textile inspiration from the Arnold’s Attic YouTube Collection. Today it features the ‘Found’ Exhibition by textile art group, Art Textiles Made in Britain.

Each beautiful artwork has been created using an element of discarded, reused or repurposed material. In this video Cas Holmes and fellow artists, guide us through the stunning pieces in the ‘Found Exhibition’ and share the stories behind the work.

This inspiring textile gallery shows us what is possible and what we can create within our own homes using what we all have to hand.

Filmed at The Festival of Quilts 2021.

Art Textiles Made in Britain - circles of cut out beer cans crocheted together with white thread - called Keep the Homeless Warm
Art Textiles Made in Britain – ‘Keep the Homeless Warm’ by Bethan Ash
Machine embroidered kettle on a red cloth by Cas Holmes
Artwork by Cas Holmes

This piece features in Embroidering the Everyday Book by Cas Holmes.

Artwork by Sylvia Paul - handmad quilt featuring images of theings found in an imaginery attic - a skull, Mona Lisa, spiders
Art Textiles Made in Britain – Artwork by Sylvia Paul

​Art Textiles: Made in Britain comprises of Bethan Ash, Louise Baldwin, Jessica Grady, Cas Holmes, Rosie James, Edwina Mackinnon, Sandra Meech, Sylvia Paul, Stephanie Redfern, Christine Restall, and Sarah Waters, some of the leading textile artists working in Britain today. Our aim is to promote British art textiles and to ensure their future; to introduce them to new audiences and to continually stretch the boundaries with new, vibrant work, both as individuals and as a group.

Art Textiles

‘Found’ is currently on exhibition at Queen Street Gallery, Neath.

Watch this space! – join the mailing list and be first to see some wonderful artist interviews.