Calm Relief

Within her desire to create beautiful hand-crafted objects for public and domestic interior spaces, Cathy wants her current work to exude a feeling of serenity to contrast with her own perceptions of the hectic and frantic pace of life. Calm Relief is an embroidered wall hanging inspired by the carvings of natural forms often found on 1930’s architecture. In order to create interest using innovative interpretation of processes, Cathy has taken traditional surface stitches such as Herringbone stitch, French knots, straight stitches, and couching.  They have been used to create depth, shadow, and texture within this piece. Layering stitches is also a technique that Cathy enjoys, using different threads and scales. In addition, goldwork techniques,  typically seen on military and clerical garments, have been used within a contemporary context.  She has used  couched threads such as silk gimp and gold passing thread to create a tangle of texture across the raised veins of the fern.

Embroidered wall hanging measuring 145cm x 75cm

The wall hanging features individually embroidered and appliqued sections emulating a fern design. Materials used are Hainsworth 100% wool felt, stranded silks and cotton threads, goldwork metal threads, silk gimp, cellulose fabric, raffia, beads and sequins. Embroidery techniques include goldwork, surface stitches, beading, couching, and applique.

Main image photo credit - Tas Kyprianou