ESCAPE

Cathy Jack Coupland

Combined, a simple needle and thread posses a world of power – to construct, transform, repurpose and decorate, triggering long-held memories or upholding centuries-old cultures and traditions.

They play with our emotions bringing promise of new beginnings, exciting potential or simple pleasure from time spent working with our hands.

American fashion designer Tom Ford said ‘Time and silence are the most luxurious things today’, so in an age where connections and peace are being eroded, embroidery is recognised for its connectivity, re-establishing those links to become a worldwide language.

Working with our hands quietens the mind while the hands work repetitively to alleviate stress and reduce anxiety, bringing a sense of timelessness and peace.  The muscle memory needed to create and build embroidery patterns provides that much-needed condition for our brains to simply switch off.

Embroidery offers both visual and tactile responses.  English embroidery artist Alice Kettle states that ‘textiles are about sensibility; the emotional content is the textile, the sense of feeling and seeing’.

From the world’s fashion catwalks to religious and royal regalia, from historical, traditional and cultural uses to passive yet powerful protest, innovation and endless creativity, embroidery can grasp our attention with its visual appeal aimed directly at our hearts and sensibilities.

Embroidery captures memories and dreams offering many a sense of community and self-worth.

Whether we work with wild colours and exciting textures or within traditional boundaries and techniques, the reward of stitching, by hand or machine, gives back tenfold.

Each stitch is a step into the unknown.

We develop, refine, utilise our instincts and follow our unique visions.

Stitch by stitch.