Something Quirkier

Enveloped is a VERY large quilt made by many hands. It hangs from the ceiling in the gallery and cascades down to encase a chair. You can sit on the chair, enveloped, listening to whispered stories about small blessings.  

This collaborative work was inspired by the story ‘Enveloped’ about a crocheted blanket made by a CWA member. A nurse at the Canberra Hospital gave it to a friend of mine who was in hospital. 

Community members were encouraged to make a patch in response to a story. They were given the following prompts to follow:

Design your patch so that it communicates an idea or emotion related to small blessings. If you need inspiration, read the stories that have already been shared. Patches need to be received by mid-January 2024. 

The patch can be any size or shape - but no smaller than 10cm x10cm up to 1m x1m. Straight edge shapes (eg squares, rectangles and triangles) will be easier to work with.... but we will find a way to include circles and other odd shapes in the work.

You can use any textiles and finishes in your patch - the only limitation is that it needs to be washable. You can use any technique or combination of techniques - quilting, embroidery, hand stitching, machine stitching, stencilling, painting, appliqué, felting, crochet, knitting, lace making....

When you have finished your patch, get in touch and we will work out how to get it to the Gallery to include in the blanket. 

Sessions were held at Gordon Primary School (ACT) with 7 classes ranging from Kindergarten to Year 4. During these sessions we discussed the idea of a ‘small blessing’ - drawing on links to kindness and gratitude. Seventy students volunteers to contribute to ‘Enveloped - telling their stories, writing a draft and designing a patch. They transferred their illustration to a piece of fabric. The students’ patches were arranged and sewn onto old sheets by Nikki, Kratai and Lynn. A mammoth effort - particularly from Nikki who did the bulk of the sewing in one week!

Each patch in the exhibition was given a catalogue number and included in the catalogue. 

Recordings were made of some of the stories and played within the installation. The stories were read by Stef, Pip, Michael C, Michael G, Millie and James, Amy and Lynn. Most of the stories were recorded at ArtSound Studio, and curated and produced into 10 minute segments by Bart Meehan. Stef and Pip made their own recordings and sent them to Lynn for inclusion in the collection. You can listen to the recordings:

Recording 1

Recording 2

Dazzling (by Bara Swain)

Pip’s story ’Nagasaki'

Stef’s recordings

At the conclusion of the exhibition the individual patches pinned to the wall were sewn into a wall hanging and exhibited at the Royal Canberra Show. 

The ‘cubby’ structure was dismantled and made into 4 single bed covers and will be donated to charities in the Canberra Region.  

C

Following are photos of the patches that were created for ‘Enveloped' and the stories that they reflect. They have been grouped together for each bed cover that was made.

Wall hanging 

7. 1 Gift in a dark moment

From a conversation with Jillian  “One of my favourite sayings is “In every dark moment there is a gift for you.” so even though the situation might seem really dark, somewhere in there, there is something special to come out of it.” Blue felt (merino fibre) with black fabric paint gelli print made by Lynn. Words stitched by Sandy. Approx size 45cm x 25cm.  

17.  A conversation between birds.

"I live in an apartment, and I was on the couch and a couple of cockies [cockatoos] flew up to the balcony and were just ok with me being inside and looking at them and being there. And they were doing their curious dance as they do, sort of just poking around, and I think one of them started eating a plant, a succulent, that I had out there, but it needed pruning so that was ok. And they flew off and then they both came back pretty quickly and one of them decided that time was off and flew away. And I could see the other one looking down at the other one a thinking “I don’t want to go yet.” And I could hear the first make this sound that pretty much sounded like “Are ya coming?’” in their squawk language. And the one that remained sort of looked back inside, looked to the direction that the first one had flown away and just followed “Like fine, I guess”. And it was just so unexpected because I don’t usually see native birds at all on the balcony (there’s plenty in the surrounding trees). And you can always hear the cockatoos at morning tea and after work, I thing that’s when they have their gossip sessions, what’s happened in their day. But it’s just really lovely to witness a conversation between birds.” (Stef). 

Merino fibre felt made by Lynn, stitched by Stef using yarn from Blackwattle Alpaca.   

9. Smile and feel special.

Small blessings can take many forms. For me, the term easily describes something that makes me smile, especially when unexpected. A small blessing can bring me down to earth; it has the ability to be humbling and bring joy. For example, when visiting a friend with children, the older of the two, a 5-year-old boy, saw me waiting at the door before anyone else did. He yelled my name in excitement, announcing my presence to the whole house. Not getting all that much in the way of a response from his 2-year-old sister, he bounded up the stairs to tell her I was at the door. A squeal of excitement was then heard from the top of the stairs, followed by the chant of a 2-year-old declaring my arrival. I was happy to see them regardless, but the pure joy and excitement from them both really did make me smile and feel special.

Story shared from a friend in Canberra. Patch made from felt made by Lynn. Stitching by Stef. 

87.  At last!

During lockdown I started taking photos of wildlife and trees on my daily walk. I would often hear the kookaburras but I could never see them. Then, one day, just a metre away from me there it was - a kookaburra in all its photographable glory! I took some wonderful photos to add to my "walks of lockdown" collection. Seeing that kookaburra made me smile and feel really good. That was a small blessing.

Desi, Melbourne. Patches created by Desi using hand-dyed blanket from Chris.

88.  Shared stories

Its a response to another CRF (Canberra Region Feltmaker) member hosting me over the Feltmakers Convergence in Canberra - a small blessing (it was big actually) and we shared our stories - her from NZ and me from sheep country Rye Park. Everything in my picture is common to both of us, the rural scenery and SHEEP! Story and patch from Annette. Approx size: 36cm x 38cm. Appliqué hand made felt. 

89.  Sense of purpose, sense of place.

Linda created this patch (with some help from Annette) to reflect a story from Trish about growing up in the country and spinning, weaving and felting her own fleece. Approx size 32cm x 26cm. Appliqué hand made felt. 

90. Nagasaki.

A story, poem and artwork from Pip Sturgeon (Brisbane, by way of New Zealand).

In 2008 I had the great good fortune to travel to Japan. It was a serendipitous happening. I’d had an unexpected gift of an airfare. My dad had passed away the previous year and had always expressed a wish to return to the Japan of his youth, but life in New Zealand, mortgage, kids, etc. meant he never made it. So I decided to take him with me - in my pocket...

We'd always had a quiet Japanese presence in our rural New Zealand home: eggshell china teasets, geisha dolls etc. - the result of dad's tour to Japan as part of the combined Australian New Zealand repatriation troops called J Force. He was a 19 year old country kid with no particular skill set who joined the NZ Military Force in 1947 to help out after the bombing of Nagaski. He was stationed at Shimonoseki and celebrated his 21st birthday there.

As you might imagine the experience changed him profoundly.

Dad developed a lifelong love and respect for the Japanese people: the beauty, elegance, manner and custom of their culture, and particularly their grace and dignity in the face of the horror they'd experienced.

He formed a lifelong abhorrence of conflict and war. Somehow this passed into me.

I took some of his ashes back to Nagasaki and planned to sprinkle them in gardens surrounding Te Korowai Rangimarie - a gift of solidarity and friendship in the form of a monument from the people of New Zealand to the people of Japan.  It's an impressive stainless steel cloak of peace and I knew dad would rest peacefully there in the Nagasaki Peace Park. 

On the last day of my trip my plans were nearly derailed by extraordinary monsoonal rains. Had it not been for the grace and generosity of a young boy on the tram I may never have completed my task.

Beauty, elegance, manner and custom still on display after all these years - I saw what dad had meant.

Click here to listen to Pip tell the story. 

Pip wrote a poem that night. 

Nagasaki 

The boy on the tram was kind

His eyes full of concern as he gazed at the rain drenched foreigner

He offered his umbrella as she began to disembark

She politely refused

He politely insisted

She was gracious in her acceptance

The lilies in her hand the result of an awkward exchange the previous night

Mounting disquiet on the face of the florist that the foreigner was making a regrettable choice

Prayer hands up

Some pseudo Catholic crossing

Some pointing at the sky

 “Papa”

 “Heaven” 

Seemed to bridge the cultural impasse

 

So here she is,

Ashes in hand

5000 miles from his home

Bringing him to this chosen place of rest

Not exactly home for him

More a coming of age place

A ‘can’t shake it off for the rest of your life’ place

 

An impressionable young man in a devastated land.

95. A Newly creative person

Viv collected a story from a participant at the Feltmakers' Convergence in Canberra. The interviewee had become a newly creative person after the confinement of a life as a public servant. Key words from the story were “darkness to light”.

96.  Mindi

An observation form Judy: A small blessing is my daughter’s dog, Mindi. Patch for ‘Enveloped’ made in response by Carol by appliquéing hand dyed blankets (from Chris) with layers of tulle and diamantés. Approx size: 20cm x 20cm. 

97.  Cathartic Rabbits

A small blessing is having friends who accept you - warts and all. (L)

Some of the chat on our group’s 'What’s app’ (true links - couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried).

J: Sorry for rabbiting on today girls... don’t know why that person was in my head today  (two rabbit emojis)

H: That’s ok J. you are allowed to rabbit on... Sometimes you just have to. X

J: No - I think my rabbit belong in their burrows... (sad face emoji) I promise to be very quiet next week. (3 x kissy face emoji)

L: Nooooo - talk to your heart’s content.

J: (4 x kissy face emojis.)

M: I also vote for no quiet & much rabbiting on (2 x kissy face + 3 sunflower emojis) for first day of spring.

N: J, a cathartic rabbit is so much better that a rabbit with a blocked burrow... and the added bonus is, as a bunny, you are then surrounded by your bunny friends (bunny emoji). Happy Spring everyone (assorted flower emojis x 5 + smiley face).

The patch for ‘Enveloped is made by Lynn from hand felted rabbits (inspired by Keith Haring dogs) appliquéd to hand dyed blanket (thanks Chris).  Approx size 35 x 35cm. 

98. Dictionary definition

“To appreciate small or minor benefits, advantages or opportunities that one is afforded, particularly in the midst of an otherwise difficult, frustrating or unfortunate situation or circumstance. “  This definition came from https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/thankful+for+small+blessings . Orange handmade felt stitched with variegated ‘Sweet Pea’ from Blackwattle Yarns. Made by Lynn. Size approx 75cm x 20cm. 

100.  What a mother wants.  

A story was shared with Philippa at the Feltmaker’s convergence in Canberra: "I was at an Impro show (Lightbulb Theatre). During intermission the audience was set a task: Talk to the person who you came with - tell them something that you appreciate about them. Oh. Silence. I was there with my son - a young man of very few words. After a pause, he started to speak - and told me in detail what he appreciated and why - the list was quite long. I was surprised with his openness and willingness to share. I was also deeply touched by the kind words. I felt seen, and appreciated. I then had a chance to tell him what I valued about him and our relationship.”. She made this patch for ‘Enveloped' in response. Appliqué fabrics. 

LP turned this recount into a six-word story

Question asked.  Long Silence.  Son Speaks. 

There were many stories that featured cups of tea.  Here are some of them:

2. A pause in my day.

For me, a cup of tea is a small blessing. It doesn’t matter if I am having one alone or sharing a pot of tea with family or friends: it is a pause in my day that is pleasurable. I stop, make my pot of tea, select my cup or mug, choose where to sit and enjoy it. It is intrinsically a form of relaxation and either calm, comfort and / or joy. 

Nikki, Canberra. 

This story was converted into a haiku by ChatGPT (with a bur of help from Lynn) then stitched but Justine onto hand dyed blanket donated by Chris. 

131. The road less travelled

This piece was made by Suzanne, Ruth, Lenore and Gillian in response to the Group Challenge at the Southern Hemisphere Feltmakers' Convergence held in Canberra 2023. One of the small blessings about the convergence was that we could all get together in person again after the limitations of the Covid pandemic (the convergence was postponed for 3 years). 

Description for this piece: “The purple road to discovery: A geographical interpretation of our collective textile journey on the Road Less Travelled’. 

Note that the patch in the wall hanging looks slightly difference as it has had extra felting and fulling to ensure durability - plus some of the embellishments were removed so that the piece can be more easily washed. 

108. Words

Bron read the online stories about Small Blessings. She selected words that resonated and ‘sang’ - words that were included in many stories and that reflect what she values about experiencing a ‘small blessing’. The words were embroidered onto a patch for ‘Enveloped’. Calico and embroidery thread. Approx size: 28 x 28cm. 

14. Fills my heart

...So I was teaching yesterday in class and one of my year one students said “Sensei, Sensei, once I discovered drawing…. Drawing just filled my heart, I just have to draw.”

Kratai, Canberra. 

This patch was hand knitted by Anne with appliqué machine made felt in the centre. 

22.1 & 22.2   I Fell off

These two patches were made by EC students at Gordon PS. Both boys fell off their bikes and needed medical attention. Both were grateful that their parents cared for them and took them to a Doctor who knew how to make them better. A small blessing from the upsetting events were that both boys had an ice cream after the incident. I had to check - they don’t just get ice cream when they are injured. Whew.  Made from fabric paint on calico/old sheets. Approx size 40 x 40cm.  

23. Not until I'm bigger. A Gordon PS EC student told me about how he was playing at the Gordon playground on the BIG slide when he was much younger. He fell off! His brother rushed to tell his mum, then she rushed him to the Doctor. The Doctor said he was ok – but that he was not allowed on the slide again until he was much bigger. The student was thankful that the doctor said he was ok. Some years later (when he was bigger) he went down the slide safely – and it was fun this time. Made from fabric paint on calico. Approx size 40 x 40cm. 

24. My friends

An EC student at Gordon PS told me about how she is grateful that she goes to school and has many friends. Made from fabric paint on calico. Approx size 40 x 40cm.

25. Ringo

An EC student at Gordon PS has a bearded dragon lizard called Ringo. The student got him on his birthday and can now hold him whenever he wants to.  "He came home in a little box and we put him in a tank that we had ready”  Looking after Ringo makes him feel joyful. Ringo is really special "because he doesn’t try to run away when he is held". Made from fabric paint on calico. Approx size 40 x 40cm. 

26. I am smart and happy

An EC student at Gordon PS told me about how he is grateful that he goes to school. He loves learning new things, especially maths! Made from fabric paint on calico. Approx size 40 x 40cm. 

27. Rainbow whiteboard

An EC student at Gordon PS told me about how she is grateful that she goes to school. She also loves learning maths. Made from fabric paint on calico. Approx size 40 x 40cm. 

28. My cats, Ziggy and Jerry. 

My small blessing is patting my kittens when I am sad. I feel happier afterwards. Story from an EC student, Gordon PS. Made from fabric paint on calico. Approx size 40 x 40cm.  

29. Rainbow M&Ms

"It was after netball and my mum got me some M&Ms. And then I was - like - what? There is rainbow in the sky? “ Made from fabric paint on calico. Story from an EC student, Gordon PS. Approx size 40 x 40cm.