Author: everystitchastory

Hello I'm Laura a public historian, textiles practitioner and community arts facilitator and I run Every Stitch A Story. My work champions the power of textiles to help individuals and communities uncover, explore and document past and present narratives by creating and preserving tangible textile objects.

Dare to Dream Comes to Ashbourne Festival

everystitchastory

There are some days that remind you why creativity matters – Saturday at Ashbourne Festival was one of those days.

With the roads closed and the town centre filled with people, Ashbourne seemed to take on a different rhythm for the day. Families wandered the streets, musicians and performers entertained the crowds, artists and makers shared their work, and everywhere there was a sense of celebration. Under clear blue skies, the town became a place of creativity, conversation and connection.

I was delighted to be joining Derbyshire Makes and the Dare to Dream team for the festival’s Sewing Bee, helping to create Ashbourne’s Sea of Dreams.

Inspired by this year’s festival theme, Ashbourne by the Sea, we invited people to stop by, pick up a needle and thread, and add their own contribution to a growing collaborative artwork. Visitors stitched fish, shells, boats, waves, stars and seagulls onto pieces of fabric in shades of blue and green, each one carrying words and ideas that reflected their hopes for the future.

What unfolded throughout the day was something rather special.

People who had never picked up a needle before sat alongside experienced stitchers. Families stitched together. Friends stopped for a quick chat and stayed to make something. Children carefully chose colours and shapes while adults shared memories, ideas and stories. Some people spent just a few minutes with us, while others settled into the making for much longer.

Again and again I was reminded that creativity doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it begins with a simple shape, a length of thread and an invitation to take part.

There was a particular joy in stitching outdoors, surrounded by the energy of the festival. The bright colours of the fabrics echoed the summer sky, and as more and more pieces were added, Ashbourne’s Sea of Dreams began to grow before our eyes.

What I loved most was seeing the conversations that emerged through the making. People spoke about kindness, community, nature, peace and play. They shared hopes for Ashbourne and dreams for the future. Through the simple act of stitching, strangers became collaborators and individual contributions became part of something bigger.

Community projects like Dare to Dream remind us that creativity isn’t just about producing beautiful things; it’s about creating opportunities to connect. Making together slows us down, encourages conversation and gives everyone a chance to contribute, regardless of age, experience or background.

A huge thank you to everyone who stopped to stitch with us throughout the day. Every fish, shell, wave and star helped bring Ashbourne’s Sea of Dreams to life.

It was also a pleasure to work alongside Dare to Dream artist Sue Reddish and the wider Derbyshire Makes team, whose enthusiasm and generosity created such a welcoming space for people to get involved.

As the festival drew to a close and we packed away our threads and fabrics, I left feeling inspired by the hundreds of small moments of creativity I had witnessed throughout the day. In a world that often feels rushed, there is something quietly powerful about taking the time to sit together and make.

I am already looking forward to joining the Dare to Dream team again in October at Masson Mills for the Women Who Make Festival.

Until then, I’ll be thinking about a sea stitched with kindness, community, creativity and hope.

Stitching Ashbourne: The Power of Community Creativity

everystitchastory

After 9 months of creativity, collaboration, and community participation, Stitching Ashbourne was finally unveiled last week in a beautiful afternoon of celebration, connection and shared pride.

From the outset, the project was designed as a participatory community artwork, creating opportunities for people across Ashbourne to come together through creativity, conversation, storytelling and shared making. Over the past 9 months, the project developed into a richly collaborative piece shaped collectively by the people, places and stories of the town.

The unveiling event itself felt incredibly special. Before the artwork was even revealed, the room was already full of warmth and energy: contributors reconnecting, families gathering, conversations flowing and people sharing excitement about seeing the finished work for the first time. It was a powerful reflection of what community-led creative projects can achieve, not simply the creation of an artwork, but the creation of meaningful connection.

When the piece was finally unveiled, it was wonderful to watch people discovering the finished artwork, finding their own contributions, pointing out details to friends and family, sharing memories from workshops and stitching sessions and celebrating what had been collectively created together.

Throughout the project, participants told us:

  • 86% felt more connected to Ashbourne
  • 82% learned new skills
  • 81% felt an increased pride in the town
  • 81% met people they would not normally meet

These outcomes highlight the wider social value of participatory arts practice. Projects like Stitching Ashbourne can foster belonging, confidence, inclusivity, civic pride, and opportunities for people to connect across generations, backgrounds and experiences.

A huge thank you goes to every participant, volunteer, supporter, community group, organisation, school and local partner who contributed to the project along the way. The generosity, creativity and openness shown throughout the past 9 months have been extraordinary.

Special thanks also to the incredible team behind the scenes who helped shape and deliver the unveiling event itself, from preparation and installation through to welcoming visitors on the day. The celebration would not have been possible without such care, teamwork and commitment.

Although the unveiling marked the completion of this chapter of the project, it is certainly not the end of the journey for Stitching Ashbourne.

I’m delighted that the artwork will now become part of the brand new ARTbourne trail on 30th & 31st May before continuing on a wider tour of venues across the town, including:

  • St Oswald’s Church
  • Ashbourne Festival
  • Ashbourne Library
  • QEGS
  • The Heritage Centre

One of the core aims of the project has always been ensuring the artwork remains accessible within the community that helped create it and I’m excited for even more people to experience the stories, stitches, and connections woven throughout the piece.

If you are – or know of – a local venue, café, school, community space, or organisation that would be interested in displaying Stitching Ashbourne, I would love to hear from you.

To accompany the project, the Stitching Ashbourne souvenir guide is also now available. The guide includes:

  • behind the scenes photographs
  • images of the final artwork
  • the full display and tour schedule
  • details about individual contributions and contributors
  • project stories and highlights
  • activities for children

Copies are £5 including postage and packaging.
To order, please email: laura_burrill@outlook.com

Thank you to everyone who has followed, supported, contributed to, and championed Stitching Ashbourne over the past 9 months. It has been a privilege to facilitate a project rooted so deeply in creativity, participation, and community connection, and I’m excited to see the artwork continue its journey across Ashbourne

Tickets are now live for the Stitching Ashbourne Unveiling

everystitchastory

There’s something really special about reaching this point in a project, the moment where everything comes together and can finally be shared.

After nine months in the making, Stitching Ashbourne is moving into its final stage… and tickets for the unveiling are now live!

This project has been in development since last July and from the outset it was about creating a space for people to come together, to make, to talk, to share stories and to spend time connecting with each other and with this amazing town. What’s been so lovely is seeing that intention become a reality. New friendships have formed, conversations have unfolded, and a real sense of shared ownership has grown around the work.

Over that time, we’ve held 24 workshops across Ashbourne, in schools, cafés, church halls and community spaces. More than 200 people have taken part, contributing over 170 stitched pieces, each one bringing something personal, thoughtful and unique.

And piece by piece, it’s all come together.

What’s been created is a large-scale collaborative artwork that reflects Ashbourne through the people who know it and live it. It feels rooted in the town, its stories, its character and the people who make it what it is.

We’re now preparing for the exhibition and unveiling, an opportunity to bring everyone back together, to see the finished piece for the first time, and to take pride in what’s been created. The event itself has been shaped with the community at its heart and feels like a natural continuation of everything the project has been about.

Tickets are now available, and it would be wonderful to fill the room with everyone who’s been part of the journey, along with anyone who’d like to come and experience the work.

It’s a one-off moment, the first time the artwork will be seen in full.

You can book your place here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/youre-invited-stitching-ashbourne-community-exhibition-unveiling-tickets-1987300427074

Do come along if you can, it would be lovely to share this moment with you!

What’s Coming Up: Stitch, Story and Community

everystitchastory

Hello,

The next few months are set to be a busy time of sharing and celebrating some of the incredible work we’ve created together and I wanted to share what’s coming up and invite you to be part of it.

There’s something really special about seeing these pieces out in the world. What begins as individual contributions, small, thoughtful, personal, gradually becomes something much bigger. These projects continue to celebrate the power of community art: how each stitch, each story, each person’s input helps build something meaningful, connective and lasting.

At the heart of it all is storytelling. That’s always been the thread running through my work. Stitch gives us a way to share voices, hold memories and gently explore the narratives that shape our lives and communities. Some of those stories are joyful, some are more tender or complex, but all of them matter – and it’s a privilege to help hold space for them.

Over the coming weeks, there are a number of opportunities to come and see the work, take part, or simply spend a bit of time connecting with it.

The 80 Candles Quilt will be on display at Ashbourne Library from Monday 13th April to Saturday 18th April. On Saturday 18th April at 11am, I’ll be there for a short, informal talk, along with a book signing and a gentle craft activity for children.

The 80 Candles Quilt: Honouring Lives Through Collaborative Sitch will be on sale at book signing events.
Sonja Jaslowitz by Laura Burrill

In May, I’ll be running Nature Memory Hangings, a workshop in partnership with Derbyshire Mind, set in the beautiful surroundings of Chatsworth House. It’s on Thursday 14th May, and it will be a mindful, reflective session using stitch to connect with memory and place. If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can book here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nature-memory-hangings-a-mindful-stitch-workshop-tickets-1984559271203

Then on Saturday 16th May, there’s the unveiling of the Stitching Ashbourne exhibition at Trinity Hall at The Link Centre, from 2.30pm to 5pm. This is always a lovely moment—seeing the work come together and shared publicly. Ticket details will be available soon.

St Oswald’s Church
The Town Hall from the Central Panel

The 80 Candles Quilt will also be on display at Mickleover Library from Tuesday 19th May to Saturday 30th May. There’ll be a talk and book signing on Friday 22nd May at 10.30am. It’s a free event, but booking is required, so you’ll need to contact Mickleover Library to reserve a place (01332 647884).

If you’re able to come along to any of these, it would be really lovely to see you. And if you feel like sharing with others who might be interested, that’s always hugely appreciated too. These projects are rooted in the idea that creativity belongs to everyone, and that storytelling—especially through stitch—can bring people together in meaningful ways.

I’ll be sharing updates and details on socials as things unfold, so do keep an eye here:
https://www.facebook.com/EveryStitchAStory

As always, thank you for being part of this. It really does make a difference.

If you’re looking for the details at a glance:

  • The 80 Candles Quilt – Ashbourne Library
    13–18 April
    Talk, book signing & children’s activity: 18 April, 11am. No Booking Required.
  • Nature Memory Hangings Workshop – Chatsworth House
    14 May
    Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nature-memory-hangings-a-mindful-stitch-workshop-tickets-1984559271203
  • Stitching Ashbourne Exhibition – Trinity Hall, The Link Centre
    16 May, 2.30–5pm
    (Booking details coming soon)
  • The 80 Candles Quilt – Mickleover Library
    19–30 May
    Talk & book signing: 22 May, 10.30am (booking required via Mickleover Library: 01332 647884)

Beyond Its Beginnings: The 80 Candles Quilt and a Place in History

everystitchastory

There are moments in a project when you realise something has moved beyond its beginnings.

A copy of The 80 Candles Quilt: Honouring Individual Lives Through Collaborative Stitch has now been accessioned into the collection of the The Wiener Holocaust Library in London. For those unfamiliar with the library, it is one of the world’s most significant archives dedicated to the study and remembrance of the Holocaust.

For the 80 Candles Quilt project, this moment feels deeply meaningful. When the quilt was first conceived, the intention was to humanise history. Each stitched square represents an individual life affected by the Nazi regime. Participants were invited to research a person, learn something of their story, and translate that connection into a piece of slow stitched textile. The process was intentionally reflective: a quiet act of remembrance, carried out both individually and within community workshops.

Alongside those who researched individuals they had never met, members of the Derbyshire Jewish Community shared something even more personal. They entrusted the project with the stories of their own families, memories of grandparents, great-grandparents and relatives whose lives had been shaped by persecution, loss, survival and displacement.

For many families, these stories exist primarily within personal archives or through oral history, passed down across generations. In some cases the individuals themselves are not widely documented elsewhere. Their lives are remembered through family memory, through the telling and retelling of stories, through photographs, fragments of documents and treasured recollections. To hold those stories, even briefly, felt like a responsibility.

The quilt became a space where those lives could be honoured. Participants took time to sit with the histories they encountered, often finding small but meaningful ways to connect with the person they were remembering. Through thread and fabric, each square became a quiet act of acknowledgement: a life recognised, a story held. The book was created so that those stories could continue to travel beyond the quilt itself.

Knowing that a copy of the book is now held within the collection of the Wiener Holocaust Library means that some of those personal histories now sit within one of the most important repositories of Holocaust documentation in the world. Researchers, educators and future generations will be able to encounter these stories as part of the wider historical record.

For the families who shared them, it means that the lives of their relatives are now held within a place dedicated to remembrance and understanding. And for the project itself, it feels like an extension of its original purpose. The quilt sought to humanise history through collaboration and remembrance. The accessioning of the book ensures that the stories behind those stitched squares will continue to exist within a permanent archive, helping to ensure that the individuals remembered and the families who carry their memory, will not be forgotten.

This moment does not belong to the project alone. It belongs to the members of the Derbyshire Jewish Community who shared their family histories with such openness and trust. It belongs to the participants who spent hours researching individuals they had never met, seeking ways to honour their lives with care and dignity. And it belongs to everyone who contributed their time, thought and compassion to the making of the quilt.

What began as a collaborative act of remembrance has now become part of a lasting historical record.

That feels quietly extraordinary.

If you would like to order a copy details can be found here.