Kapiti Creatives
Members of Association of NZ Embroiderers’ Guilds.
Seventeen textile fanatics meet monthly in Waikanae to share, challenge, inspire and work separately and together to create ‘Art’ in its wider sense.
Twelve of us are represented in this exhibition. Driven by our love of fabric, threads, stitch, colour, texture and any other techniques that inspire – we use a mix of all mediums – we create totally different pieces, learning from each other’s efforts and outcomes. This provides us with constant practise and learning at each month’s gathering.
Journeys- Our Way displays the individual diversities, preferences and similarities of those members of our group.
We hope our works intrigue and inspire other artists.
Alison Parsons
I am a slow free stitcher who enjoys working on small pieces which contain texture and found objects. For many years now the needle and thread have found their own ways from within my imagination. I choose not to stitch to a predesigned pattern but rather to ‘go with the flow’.
haul1971@outlook.com
Sandra Hall
My journey
I AM LOST
But I am found
I am a strong person with a sound constructive mind and soul. I knew my place in the world. 23 November 2016 7.10pm my world collapsed. I became lost, unsure, very quiet.
I hid from the world, society and life.
I stopped.
The days kept going.
The rain still rains.
The sun still shines
and the wind still blows.
I am loved.
Scars that once sat on top are now deeply held in my psyche, hidden from prying eyes and care to be freed when I let my resolve drop.
A mixed media textile artist after having a 27-year smocking business I love to mix the very traditional with innovative new ways.
I AM FOUND
Betty Smythe
The best description of my embroidery style might be “diverse” – I enjoy a number of different types but my favourites would be the polar opposites of gold work and mixed media (such as these pieces). I am inspired by historical sources from my culture, literature both old and new, sciences, books, textures… I have an inner magpie that loves the bling, and a dragon that loves gold!
My pieces were inspired by a literal journey – the trip of a lifetime to England and Ireland. I saw beautiful medieval buildings, both intact & ruined; and walked stunned through the great museums. I returned with many, many photos, and now have far too many ideas!
Facebook: Betty Smythe
Instagram: bettysmythe
Billee Mutton
The Earth is a taonga to value and protect.
The pieces represent the beauty of nature,
and the care required to cherish it.
Materials are offcuts, reused or obsolete where possible.
Bobby Duncan
I was born in Whanganui, the youngest of 4 children, and was taught needlework, crochet and tatting by my grandmother and dressmaking and knitting by my mother. These skills continue to be used, and in the 1980’s I discovered quilting and have been running a long arm quilting business for 20 years. My love of textile and colour evolved into the formation of Fabric by Three Ltd, a small business with my husband and sister-in-law. We dyed and sold hand-dyed cotton fabric for many years. Classes with Claire Benn, Nancy Crow, Jeanette deNicholas Meyer and Hollis Chatelain as well as completing London City and Guilds Level 3 diploma extended my skills. Many quilts have been made and exhibited both in New Zealand and in Canada, Japan and France. More recently I have returned to needlework and joined Extensions and now looking extending my practice incorporating quilting and needlework together. I am a member of the New Zealand Regional group of the Surface Design Association, and a life member of Aotearoa Quilters and Kapiti Coast Quilters Guild.
Caroline Strachan
My stitching journey reflects my interests in the natural world and frequently environmental themes. My career started off in this area and I am passionate about the land and water. My stitching varies between the very detailed and realistic to broad strokes and abstract depending on how the mood takes me and how I might be inspired by a theme, an idea or even just a collection of beautiful materials to work with.
My stitch journey started as a teen working some embroidery on my clothing in the 1970s (as you did). I picked up the hobby again in the 1990s and have moved it from a hobby to an art practice that takes up a sizable part of my daily life. I live in Hutt Valley and have exhibited there and in other centres in New Zealand.
http://www.carolinetextiles.com
Diane Harries
My work reflects my interest in natural history and exploration, in their geographical and temporal contexts. I use a mix of thread, fabric and paper to stitch sensitive narratives through my work. My scientific background permeates my organic approach.
d.vanillablue@gmail.com
All the stand alone works by Diane are now fully displayed on the gallery webshop page. Use the magnifing glass icon to zoom in so you can truely appreciate these works.
Donna Kennedy
I love embroidery, any type of stitched art and have experimented with many of its forms.
It makes me happy as I work with my fabric and thread.
For this exhibition I have continued a story from an inspiration after a regular watching of the TV show Time Team using Geo Scans to ‘see’ the history that lies beneath our feet. The discoveries of earlier lives under layers of earth and buildings have continued to influence the shape of my fabric and stitch for the last year or so.
I use both new and reclaimed materials that always just make themselves ‘known’ to me. I have an abundant collection of supplies that are a constant when the urge to make something arises.
donna.kennedy72@outlook.com
Finola Chamberlain
Exploring and learning something new is still fascinating to me, particularly in using colour, textures and shapes to create an object which hopefully is of use in some way. Art, it has been said, requires courage, and this, for me, comes with the opportunity to interact and learn with like-minded artists.
Check out Finola’s works in Journeys – Our Way and more of Finola’s practice that we have enjoyed in the gallery on: https://fromoutofthebluestudiogallery.com/finola-chamberlain/
Featherandfibre@xtra.co.nz
Judith Balchin
I belong to a quilting club and an embroidery guild and have exhibited in New Zealand, winning exhibitions both regionally and nationally, the latest being in 2021.
As a textile artist, I am best known for creating mixed media miniature scenes of New Zealand using new and old fabrics, threads, paint and paper, machine and hand embroidery.
As our pathway through life constantly changes and evolves, so does our journey through art. Early in 2024, due to a hand injury, I was unable to stitch and turned to drawing. Later in the year I managed to do some stitching. Taking inspiration from an embroidery retreat, I have created “A Country Lane”, a series of four books illustrated from a poem I wrote, using my photographs and drawings.
I hope you enjoy my journey down the lane and the eco-printed books using leaves gathered during my walk.
Judith Balchin
Email: judestextileart@gmail.com
Facebook: Judes Textile Art
Pru Durrant
Since childhood I have loved to stitch, draw, and paint.
My ideas for design and composition come from observing our natural environment- the landscapes, bush, and the beaches, still life, people and man- made structures.
I am inspired by wind patterns in the sand, the shapes of shells, of trees and of mountains,
By textures of mosses and lichen, and the microstructures in plant life.
I am passionate about creating felt out of fibres such as wool, silk and cotton whether in neutral tones or vibrant colours.
Because Pru’s work for Journeys – Our Way is not for sale I have included detailed images here as a slideshow.
Robyn Ingleton
Currently working her way through modules for City and Guild Qualifications Robyn has created these beautiful themed collage works which explored colour of a limited palette – allowing the play of pattern and texture to speak.
Here are some of the makers that have created works for Journeys – Our Way. They are members of The Kaipti Creatives Group.
