Today is the Centenary of International Women’s Day which is celebrated world wide to mark social, political and economic achievements of women, in the past, in the future, and to encourage equality with men in all things. It grew out of the early Suffragette movement which campaigned for women’s right to vote in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Suffragette colours of green, purple and white are now used to mark this significant day for women everywhere.
Sharon B has asked needlewomen to post photos on Stitchin Fingers worked in the three colours – Purple for dignity, White for purity and Green for hope, so do have a look.
Have a look at this too where Daniel Craig (007) and Dame Judi Dench ( M) team up for two-minute film highlighting the need for gender equality. Utube here to view it.
My IWD has been spent in the garden – a local garden club is coming to visit early in April, and this place needs a major overhaul. Due to the unseasonal wetness of this summer, commitments to various classes, and a whole heap of other excuses, there has been little maintenance done out there for months! I can sort of get by if I keep the grass short, but a close inspection would show how neglected it has become. This is just some of today’s rubbish – I have only cleared a small portion of what needs to be done, barely scratched the surface really, so there will be many more loads to remove to the tip before the garden is worthy of being visited….times like these I think 3 acres is a bit much for an old girl…..plus it also means there will be little stitching done until it is finished! Grrrrrr!
Yesterday the EG creative group, Nifty Needles had its monthly meeting. It was an interesting day as we experimented with various ways of making silk paper, cheats felt and various other backgrounds that could be further embellished by surface stitchery.
This first one is made with silk and wool fibres using wall paper paste. It is almost translucent and very light in weight.
The next was made with silk, wool and tiny snips of waste threads from stitching, using textile medium. It is a bit thicker.
This one is made with scraps of sari silk strips sandwiched between two layers of bubble wrap, and ironed with a very hot iron on and under pieces of baking paper. I did not like the result at all – stiff, and covered with an opaque layer of plastic. I could not think of how one might use the piece at all – I suppose it could be used for sides of a box, but it is not something I would try again.
Back to the garden to clear up some more weeds while it is still light…….
I was touched on IWD to receive an email from the driver we had in Madagascar wishing me a happy IWD (in French) I was pleased that it must have had coverage in Madagascar – probably relayed from French TV I would think.