Tapestry 'Celebrations' 2020
The British Tapestry Group is inviting all tapestry weavers to ‘celebrate’ your 'Midwinter / End of Year' festivities with us by weaving a small tapestry with your chosen theme. These will be shown here so anybody who visits the website can share the joy, be motivated towards a colourful Festive Season and give a happiness boost towards the New Year.
The emphasis is on ‘celebration’ and ‘positivity’, however you would like to illustrate it for us. It could be Diwali candles or fireworks, a Christmas tree bauble, or a bursting shoot from a bulb, whatever resonates as a ‘Celebration’.
Send your image, with your name and country, the size and title and what it means for you (up to 80 words), with the subject marked 'Tapestry Celebrations' to: webmanager@thebritishtapestrygroup.co.uk. Some have asked what are the deadlines. The answer is, there are none, but it would be nice to get as many contributions as possible before the end of the year.
Stephanie Edwards, Hertfordshire, UK
“Christmas Candle”
This was an attempt at a Christmas Card woven as part of a week-long course at Westdean with weaver Pat Johns. I’d only been tapestry weaving for a couple of months and she was introducing us to working with coloured warps and the idea of working with a mixture of techniques including wrappings/supplementary warps all of which was new to me. Her teachings certainly shone a light for me and allowed for all sorts of experimentation from all of the group there that week. Not everything worked beautifully but it set me on a course that I’ve never regreted following. The piece itself had been sold a few years ago so I only have the photo as a memento of the same.
Marion Borthwick, Surrey, UK
"Memories of India"
Please find attached my image of the tapestry done during the November lockdown.
This was done to cheer me and others up with the bright colours.
Uisce Jakubczyk, Ireland
“After Rain” 20 x 40cm, woven and knitted with linen twine and metallic thread
In Ireland where I live we rarely have a white Christmas. We have plenty of rain or a snow which turns into rain.
I am watching the world out of my window with droplets of rain rolling down the glass. It may not be very festive but brings feeling of calmness and peace.
May we all have a bit of sunshine tomorrow!
Jeannie Koroluk, Canada
"Spicy Christmas", 40cm X 34cm
Grounding in one's senses provides moments of sweet respite for our overworked brains. I used star anise for the 'star' decorations, whole cloves to 'stud' the tree, and fresh cinnamon sticks along the bottom edge. Fragrant!
Malgorzata Buczek - Sledzinska, Poland
"Cabaret"
Let us start the New Year 2021 joyfully and healthily with a new cabaret.
Happy Holiday Season,
Hanna Wojdała-Markowska, Radom, Poland
"My structure - grandmother's wardrobe" 20 x 20 x 3 cm
I associate the end of each year with organizing, remembering and reflecting on passing away. I celebrate past time and I think that looks like piles of clothes in the wardrobe.
Kate Colwell, California, USA
“The Light Always Returns: Celebrate Solstice 2020"
The dark of winter has always been hard so I celebrate the Solstice and the increasing light. May there be light and health for all in 2021.
Paula Armstrong, Essex, UK
"Lichen" 38 x 43 cm sculpted and collaged tapestry weaving with pulled warp
Whatever else is happening there are always plants to watch as they complete their life cycles year on year. They are symbols of hope, of life ever renewing. I wanted this image of lichen to be moving upwards to the light. Happy season to everyone during the festival of light and life.
Madeleine Darling-Tung, Canada
“Celebrating Joy” - 28 cm x 22.5 cm
“We embrace ‘Joy’ in difference ways, with the final outcome suggesting that every moment must be celebrated in the process of living. This Celebration is particularly special and appreciated, when there is a fulfilling sense of accomplishment upon the completion of a new tapestry.”
Joanna Pasynkiewicz, Poland
"My Dream’s Ocean"
From the end of November you can hear from everywhere "Christmas is coming”.
People are dreaming of white Christmas, how they will spend this time with family, what they will cook, eat, drink...
I am dreaming of the Ocean, different colours of water, the waves, how I have been laying on the boat deck and have been keeping my hand in the blue ocean.
Aleksandra Herisz, Bytom, Poland
"A Celebrating Planet" 2020 ø 20 cm, cotton thread, pine needles
The New Year gives us hope for new dreams. I want to celebrate all the good things that happened in my life. I weaved with pine needles, so that their scent would fill my home during this Christmas time. I want to share with you my joy of celebration and hope for new dreams.
Murray Gibson, Nova Scotia, Canada
"Fireworks" 2020
(last Tuesday!) Wool and cotton, 25 x 25 cm.
Spontaneous colour decisions at the loom gave me the freedom to celebrate each arching row of weft.
Eleonora Budden, London, UK
"Energy" 26 x 26 cm, wool, cotton and wire
I had been working on this at Morley College, when we were so rudely interrupted by Covid. Fortunately, several months later, I was able to get it back and finsih weaving it (yet to be mounted). So, it is celebrating the promise of light to come!
Krystyna Sadej, Canada
"Let's Dance" 35 cm x 13 cm, 2020
Just because some parties have come to a halt,
it doesn’t mean you cannot dream
or plan your dance party for when this passes.
"Let's sway
Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight
Let's dance.... " (David Bowie)
Robert Wieczorek, Poland
"Christmas MANDAL"
Size Ø 16cm; material: wool, cotton. Year of workmanship 2017
The thumbnail is my interpretation of the Christmas wreath.
Because it is a Christmas full of joy, love and hope for a better tomorrow.
I greet and wish you much health
Evelyn Grant, Berwickshire, UK
"Good Word for 2021"
This tapestry is looking forward to brighter things in 2021. We will be celebrating when the word ‘open’ reappears on all those closed venues , shops and events.
Rena Roohipour, Co Down, UK
"Mourne Wall" (6 x 8 inches)
This small piece of shaped tapestry depicts the Mourne Wall, a long dry-stone wall that traverses the scenic Mourne Mountains in County Down. Woven in 2019 and submitted to ‘Fate, Destiny and Self-Determination, a touring installation co-ordinated by Lin Dufour. Borders and walls feature strongly in our newsfeeds, but the beauty of nature restores hope and peace in difficult times. This was woven with cotton and wool. Stitching was used to emphasise the line of the wall, and the setting sun.
Ewa Maria Poradowska-Werszler, Poland
"Dandelions" (20x20 cm)
The tapestry was made in 2020. In anticipation of the summer, I weave Dandelions, they resemble light, airy soap bubbles.
It is wonderful.
John Barron, London, UK
"Christmas Fabric"
Christmas Fabric (or chocolate box design) is 26 X 33 cm and hot off the press.
With good wishes for Christmas and a much better year ahead.
John Barron, London, UK
"Spinning Top" (25 X 25 cm)
I've attached a couple of pieces I'd like to contribute for Christmas. I hope they are suitable. I've got through many weaves this year and I'd like to think my technique has improved and ideas becoming clearer. Whatever the ideas I do love weaving.....
Hilary O’Connell, West Sussex, UK
"Memories"
When I was young my mother and I ‘dressed’ our Christmas tree. Colourful lights and even more colourful tinsel until you couldn’t see the tree. This reminds me of those times. Carefree. It will return.
Materials: sari silk, wool and silk
Liv Pedersen, Canada
"The Rockies in the Winter”
Around 35 years ago many happy winter days were spend cross country skiing with the family. This tapestry is now under plexiglass.
Liv Pedersen, Canada
“Christmas”
The detail of this 1974 rya wallhanging, my first, shows elves dancing around the Christmas tree.
Claire Buckley, East Sussex, UK
"Sunset Star"
Hi Happy Christmas.
It is a colour blended technique with pulled warps and mixed fibres weft and stitched Gold star.
Thoma Ewen, Quebec, Canada
"Starwatch"
Your new “Celebration” on-line exhibition sounds joyous and uplifting. Thank you - it’s just what we all need at the moment, as winter and increased confinement set in.
We had about 18” of snow in the last week. Fortunately the temperature is now rising to above zero for a few days and the snow will hopefully melt as my car is completely snowed in! I hadn’t yet moved it to the winter parking area which is further from the studio but has snow-ploughed access.
Trish Graham, New Westminster, BC, Canada
"Blessing" (15 x 21 cm)
Thank you for the opportunity to display my work and help us all be more positive.
Pat Michell, South Australia
"Fantasy Rose"
We are in summer, very hot but changeable weather. We usually have parties in gardens and BBQ ‘s but not this year !
I was born in London lived in Cambridge, moved to Adelaide in1952 apart from lots of travel lived here ever since.
Artist Craftsman, creative designer, love my weaving.
Eleonora Budden, London, UK
"Snowflake"
I just thought my little tapestry "Fireworks" would convey what I feel right now, bursting with the will to send out a message of joy to all!
But you've seen that one already, so instead I will show the "Snowflake" I made out of coloured wire in 2016.
Happy End of Year!
Alex Friedman, California, USA
"Dreaming of Green"
Here is my offering. It is a tapestry from 2014 and was about the ongoing drought in California.
I always looked forward to when the hills turned green in February but now the green turns to straw much sooner. The drought continues and we have fearsome wildfires.
