Tag: art

Threads of Community: Ashbourne Makers Tell Ashbourne’s Story

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Thanks to the incredible contributions of participants and volunteers, Stitching Ashbourne is blossoming into the meaningful, collaborative artwork it was always envisioned to be, an inspiring testament to the creativity and heart of this community. More than 170 people have contributed their creativity, memories and love for Ashbourne to this growing work. The process has brought together the youngest stitchers experimenting with thread for the very first time, those rediscovering skills from childhood, and lifelong makers sharing their experience. Every single square adds depth, character and meaning to the collective story being told.

This community-led project has been made possible through generous support from funders including Ashbourne Methodist Church, St Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne Arts, Ashbourne Town Council and The Rotary Club, whose combined contributions of £2,478 enabled materials to be purchased and workshops to be offered free of charge. Local venues and businesses have also played a vital role, donating workshop spaces valued at more than £5,000. St Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne Craft & Chat, House of Beer, Sticky Fingers, Ashbourne Library, Ashbourne Town Hall and Betty’s Sewing Box have all opened their doors and helped the project flourish.

Further donations, £265 from the crowdfunder and workshop donation tubs, highlight the generosity of the wider community. BUT!!! To bring the project to completion, an additional £2,754 is still needed. These remaining funds will support the delivery of the final workshops, administration, assembly and installation of the finished piece, as well as a hoped-for unveiling event that will bring the whole community together to celebrate. Contributions can be made via the crowdfunder or by contacting me directly.

As the creative phase progresses, stitched squares are being gathered ahead of the next stage of the journey. Once collected, the Central Panel Sewing Circle, an incredibly skilled group of local stitchers, will continue detailed work through December and January. Construction workshops are planned for February at Betty’s Sewing Box, where the final artwork will be assembled with care and craftsmanship. (If you’d like to help, please email laura_burrill@outlook.com

The completed piece is scheduled to be unveiled in the spring, coinciding with the opening of the newly refurbished Ashbourne Methodist Church. Once the date is confirmed, invitations will go out to everyone involved. After the unveiling, the work will embark on a tour of Ashbourne, with planned displays at St Oswald’s Church, Ashbourne Library, the Ashbourne Heritage Centre, House of Beer, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School and St Oswald’s Primary School. Interest from additional venues, businesses and community organisations is warmly welcomed to allow the artwork to reach as many people as possible.

Behind the scenes, a remarkable group of volunteers has helped bring the project to life. Alice, a University of Derby student on placement, has played a crucial role in supporting workshops. Catherine Hart contributed her expertise in working with children to deliver a special session at St Oswald’s Primary School. Clare, Jackie, Sue and the Ashbourne Craft & Chat team have ensured workshops ran smoothly—setting up spaces, serving refreshments, and helping manage busy sessions with warmth and enthusiasm.

As the squares, stories and stitches come together, the true essence of the project becomes ever clearer. Stitching Ashbourne is more than fabric and thread: it is a celebration of local culture, shared heritage and the deep connections between people and place. What began as a simple idea has grown into a living tapestry of the town—a collective artwork woven from hundreds of voices, memories and moments. It stands as a testament to the creativity, generosity and community spirit that define Ashbourne.

An unforgettable start for Stitching Ashbourne

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What a fantastic launch workshop! The Stitching Ashbourne launch yesterday was everything we hoped it would be and more, lively, welcoming, and full of creativity. More than fifty people joined us, with a real buzz of excitement and queues out the door! It was heart-warming to see so many people come together, chatting, stitching, and sharing ideas about what makes Ashbourne such a special place to live, visit, work and go to school.

Right from the start, everyone got stuck in, filling the space with conversation and colour. Early designs began to celebrate the town’s beautiful surroundings, the rolling countryside, trees, fields and open skies that make Ashbourne such a joy to walk, cycle and explore. The much-loved Tissington Trail came up again and again, with its mix of walkers, cyclists, dog owners, parents and grandparents enjoying time outdoors. And it’s clear Ashbourne is a town that loves its animals too, with The Ark Rescue Centre finding its place in designs alongside wildlife and much-loved pets.

As the afternoon went on, themes of friendship and community connection began to shine through. Local gathering spots like Smith’s Tavern, a familiar meeting place for many, and the Cornerstone Café at the Methodist Church featured prominently, places that hold so many shared memories. The newly refurbished church, with its bright red doors, also made an appearance, symbolising warmth and welcome. Cultural favourites such as Shrovetide Football, the Lantern Parade and the Christmas Tractor Lights brought smiles all round, reminders of the events that bring everyone together year after year.

Food made its way into the mix too! Ashbourne Gingerbread popped up in early sketches, and we’re already wondering what other local treats will find their way into stitches over the coming weeks. Plenty of people also took home packs to work on, including students from local schools, we can’t wait to see the range of ideas that come back from makers of all ages.

We were also absolutely delighted to welcome Helena, our official project photographer to the event. Originally from Ukraine, Katerina brings a wealth of experience and a wonderful creative eye. Her involvement has been made possible thanks to generous support from Ashbourne Arts, who have provided £500 in funding to help document the project. This support means we’ll have a beautiful visual record of Stitching Ashbourne as it grows, something lasting to accompany the finished textile artwork.

If everyone who came along brings back their stitched square, we’ll already be halfway to our goal of 100, what an amazing start! There are still plenty of opportunities to get involved. Upcoming workshop dates are listed on the workshop page, with 16 workshops to choose from hopefully you’ll find one that suits you. If you can’t make it to a workshop but would still like to take part, just email Laura for a postal pack. Finished squares (with feedback forms) can be returned at sessions or posted directly to Stitching Ashbourne.

Thank you so much to everyone who came along and helped make the launch so special. Your enthusiasm, creativity and warmth are at the heart of Stitching Ashbourne — this really is a project shaped by our community, for our community.

Stitching Ashbourne: Workshop Dates Announced!

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I’m super excited to announce that 17 Stitching Ashbourne workshops will be taking place over the next two months at venues all across town!

From cafés to tap rooms, community spaces to church halls, Ashbourne is opening its doors, and its heart, to this creative new project. A huge thank you to House of Beer, Sticky Fingers, Cornerstone Café, Ashbourne Methodist Church’s Craft & Chat Group, and Ashbourne Town Hall for so generously hosting and supporting us.

We’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm from businesses and groups across Ashbourne. Offers of workshop space, funding, and practical help have shown us just how much this town loves to come together.

How You Can Get Involved

There are still plenty of ways to join in and help shape this vibrant community artwork:

Shape the design
What places in Ashbourne matter most to you? Which buildings should be celebrated in our textile artwork? Share your thoughts in our short survey here: Take the survey →

Attend a workshop
Drop in to one of our free, friendly sessions and try your hand at creating an embroidered appliqué square. No sewing experience needed, just bring your ideas and creativity. Workshop details here

Support the project financially
Thanks to a generous seed grant of £564 from Ashbourne Methodist Church, we’ve made a great start, but we’re now seeking additional funding to complete the project. If you’re a local business, funder, or individual who’d like to get involved, we’d love to collaborate. You can also support us directly via our crowdfunding page →.

Donate refreshments
Help us keep the tea and creativity flowing! We’re looking for supplies of tea, coffee, biscuits, long-life milk, sugar, and paper cups for our workshops.

Donate fabric
Got fabric scraps in terracotta, stone, rust, blues, or sage greens? Every piece, big or small, will find its place in our textile story.

To donate refreshments, fabric, or to discuss funding support, please contact Laura at laura_Burrill@outlook.com.

This is more than just a project, it’s a celebration of Ashbourne’s people, places, and spirit. Whether you stitch, support, or simply share your stories, we’d love you to be part of it. Together, we’ll stitch Ashbourne’s story into something truly special.

Stitching Ashbourne: A Celebration of Place, People & Stories

everystitchastory

Last week I launched a brand-new creative adventure: Stitching Ashbourne!

Stitching Ashbourne is a community-led textile art project that invites people of all ages across Ashbourne to come together and help create a large-scale appliqué and embroidered artwork. At its heart, it’s about more than fabric and thread – it’s about celebrating what makes Ashbourne special, together.

Thanks to the support of Ashbourne Methodist Church and a wonderful team of volunteers, the project is already brimming with energy and enthusiasm. My hope is that everyone in Ashbourne will feel able to get involved, from experienced stitchers to those who have never sewn a single button, everyone is invited to be part of this creative journey.

The vision:

Over the next few months, we’ll be working towards creating a 2-metre-square artwork featuring some of Ashbourne’s most loved landmarks – from St Oswald’s Church to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, via the Gingerbread Café and the beautifully refurbished Market Square.

Surrounding a centerpiece will be over 100 individually stitched squares, each created by local residents, schools, and community groups. Every square will tell its own story – a memory, a personal connection, or a celebration of what Ashbourne means to them.

Why Stitching Ashbourne matters:

Stitching Ashbourne is about more than the finished artwork. It’s about:

  • Celebrating our local heritage and what makes Ashbourne unique.
  • Bringing people together through creative workshops and shared stories.
  • Encouraging creativity and showing that anyone can take part, no sewing skills required.
  • Reigniting local pride in the place we call home.

The first steps:

I’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm, kindness, and creativity pouring in already. Here are some of the exciting things underway:

  • Workshops are already booking up! Year 6 students from St Oswald’s Primary School will be stitching their story with a workshop being held in October. QEGS, House of Beer, and U3A are also on board, with Ashbourne Creative Stitchers and the Craft & Chat group keen to join too. The Methodist Church will also be hosting drop-in workshops – details to follow.
  • Media buzz! I was interviewed on BBC Radio Derby last week, which aired over the weekend. The project has been warmly received on social media too, and press releases have been shared with the local papers.
  • Venues & display plans – Ashbourne Town Hall have already asked to host the artwork once it’s complete, which is so exciting!
  • Community support – Donations have started coming in through our crowdfunding page, and local business Curtains Up have kindly offered fabrics. I’m also thrilled to have a local amateur historian joining the planning team.

Word is spreading fast and the project is gathering real momentum. What began as a simple idea is quickly growing into something bigger, shaped by the enthusiasm and creativity of those already involved. It’s wonderful to see it capture people’s imagination – and I know many more will want to join as we go.

How you can join in

There are so many ways you can be part of Stitching Ashbourne:

Come along to a workshop – all materials are provided, and no experience is needed. Dates will be released soon. In the meantime, email me to have your name added to the workshop mailing list.
Schools and groups – if you’d like to host a session, I’d love to chat.
Venues – if you have a café, pub, or community space that could host a creative session, please get in touch.
Shape the design – tell us which landmarks feel special to you by filling in this short survey.
Support financially – every little helps us make this vision a reality. Donations can be made via our crowdfunding page.

Be part of the story!! This project is already inspiring people across Ashbourne and I’d love you to be part of it too. Whether you stitch, host, or support, every contribution matters. To get involved drop me a message at laura_burrill@outlook.com

Bunting for Peace: From Make Do and Mend to Street Parties

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Stitching Wartime Resilience into Peace Celebrations

I’m super excited to share that this summer, I’ll be in residence at Erewash Museum, leading an ambitious community project to create 50 meters of bunting to commemorate VE and VJ Day.

Throughout August 2025, I’ll be based at the museum, inviting local residents and visitors to join me at drop-in workshops to make bunting inspired by the spirit of wartime celebrations. Rooted in the 1940s ethos of “make do and mend,” we’ll be working with reclaimed, vintage, and recycled fabrics in red, white, and blue. As always I’m on the lookout for fabrics so please contact me if you have cotton fabrics you’d like to donate.)

During the workshops, we’ll reflect on how we mark peace, joy, and community, then and now, asking questions like:

  • What does celebration mean to you?
  • How did past generations mark the end of war?
  • How do we celebrate peace today?

Whether you’re a confident stitcher or have never picked up a needle, there’s something for everyone:

  • Rag Bunting – A no-sew activity that’s perfect for children, families, or anyone looking for a quick and creative way to contribute.
  • Embroidered Bunting – A slower, more detailed experience using hand embroidery and appliqué. These guided, drop-in sessions welcome participants of all abilities.

The completed bunting will make its debut at the War Time Variety Show on Friday, 29th August 2025, with a section featured in the upcoming “From Gas Masks to Garden Parties” exhibition opening in September.

Designed to be reused and re-shared, you can expect to see the bunting appear at various museum events for years to come — a lasting symbol of community, creativity, and sustainable making.

To get the ball rolling, I’ve stitched the very first meter of bunting — just 49 to go! I hope you’ll join me in this ambitious creative adventure. Every flag added is a piece of our shared story, stitched with memory, imagination, and hope.

Workshop dates and times will be announced soon, so watch this space!