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Faith is key when you’re cutting up family heirlooms

Is it easy to cut up hand-embroidered linen tablecloths, runners, pillowcases?It is not. As an adequate hand-stitcher I understand the skill, labour, time and patience that goes into each linen. I understand the desire to cherish these vintage domestic-craft objects...

Circular thinking can be a flow state too

I opened up my studio yesterday to the public to get some general feedback on a new series of paintings. Because even though I’m compelled to keep working on it and even though I’m enjoying a growing proficiency in this mash-up of stitching and painting I’m having...

Wild, brilliant colour is rocking my concrete-grey foundations

A wall of a Peruvian restaurant in Merida, Mexico is devoted to customers’ reviews written on ribbons. Carlyn Yandle photo Modern science calls it bunk but I am fully on board with chromotherapy, an alternative medicine branded by the labcoats as a...

A beautiful craftivism in a flowery part of the world

MORE THAN DECORATION: Flower images carry deep cultural significance for the Maya. Left: A figure dating from 600-900bc nestled in a lily. Centre: Needlepoint detail from a huipil (top), part of a traditional everyday dress. Right: Jesus emerging from a lily in an oil...

Gritty beauty seen in foundations of this pretty city

It feels like the Internet has killed the fun of taking snapshots of beautiful cities and people. So many times over the last four months in Mexico I’ve raised my camera (phone) to capture an impressive bronze sculpture or some baroque church facade then...