Tag: derbyshire

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.

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)

Quilt of Connection – Derby: Our Stories Now in the Museum

everystitchastory

After more than a year-long wait, the Quilt of Connection – Derby is now on display at The Museum of Making, and it feels like a truly special moment.

The project began with a simple but powerful question: What is your story, and how would you like it to be told? And, if you could be represented in your local museum, how would you choose to be celebrated? These questions invited people across Derby and Derbyshire to reflect on their lives, their journeys and their connections to this place. What followed was a series of gentle conversations, shared making and moments of connection that slowly grew into a large, collaborative artwork, one made not by a single artist, but by a whole community.

The Quilt of Connection is a slow-stitched textile collage created by the people of Derby and Derbyshire. Each stitched piece carries a personal story, of belonging, migration, memory, resilience, love and community. Together, these fragments form a shared portrait of a living, diverse city. The project was developed in response to History Makers: Unfolded by Derby Museums, which asked visitors to reflect on whose stories are told in museums and whose are still missing. This quilt is a collective response to that question, placing lived experience and community voices at the heart of the museum.

Cloth became a form of memory within the project. Participants repurposed cherished, unwanted, and discarded textiles, stitching their narratives into reclaimed fabrics associated with everyday life and human connection, bed sheets, tablecloths and cloth carrying the traces of use, care and shared history. These materials became vessels for storytelling. Piece by piece, layer by layer, the quilt grew into a tactile collage that holds stories of love, friendship, family, loss, loneliness, migration and belonging.

The process of making was not separate from the artwork; it was the artwork. In my practice, the space created through shared making is always as important as what is eventually produced. This is where the real magic happens: where conversations unfold, relationships form, communities connect and individuals begin to see themselves reflected as part of something bigger. The Quilt grew not only through fabric and thread, but through time spent together, listening, sharing and being present with one another.

Workshops took place across Derby and Derbyshire, including sessions with Maison Foo, Derby Multi-Faith Centre, Women’s Work Derbyshire, and Craft & Chat Ashbourne, alongside open drop-in workshops at Derby Museum & Art Gallery and the Museum of Making. These sessions were supported by the museums’ wonderful volunteers and welcomed people of all ages and abilities. Each person who took part brought something unique, a memory, a piece of cloth, a story, a feeling, and together those contributions now sit side by side, creating something bigger than any one of us.

Seeing the Quilt of Connection displayed at the Museum of Making is deeply moving. It represents a shift, placing community voices, lived experience, and personal histories at the centre of a cultural space. This quilt belongs to everyone who contributed to it, it is their story, now held in the museum. Alongside the quilt, a book of participants’ reflections will soon be displayed, sharing the words and reasons behind each stitched piece.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared their stories, time and creativity. This work would not exist without you. And special thanks to Sally Hawley, Hope Slater, and Eilish Clohessy-Dennis for supporting this project and helping bring it into the museum.

If you were part of the project, I hope you’ll come and see your piece in person. And if you’re visiting Derby, I warmly invite you to experience the Quilt of Connection, a work made from real lives, real stories, and real connection.

Stitch by Stitch, Ashbourne’s Story is Taking Shape

everystitchastory

It’s hard to believe it’s only been a few weeks since Stitching Ashbourne began, and already more than 100 people have taken part! I don’t think any of us quite expected the level of excitement, creativity, and care that’s filled the first four workshops. Every session has had its own character, full of conversation, laughter, and those quiet moments of concentration that come when everyone’s lost in the rhythm of sewing.

And now, finished squares are starting to arrive. Each one is different, bright, delicate, bold, playful, but every stitch has meaning. Together, they’re starting to form something truly beautiful: a picture of Ashbourne told through thread and texture.

Certain themes are emerging, lots of countryside scenes, walking and cycling the Tissington Trail, food, flowers, hobbies, favourite views. It’s wonderful to see how much people treasure the open spaces around town and the simple joys of everyday life.

But it’s also made me wonder… what’s missing from Ashbourne’s stitched story so far? What places, people, or moments haven’t yet been represented? Are there stories of the high street, our schools, the Shrovetide ball game, music, or even those little acts of kindness that make our community special?

If you’re still planning your square, maybe this is your moment to tell one of those untold stories. Think about what Ashbourne means to you, not just the places we walk through, but the memories, traditions, and connections that make this town home. And don’t forget to include a few words or a note with your square, I love hearing the inspiration behind each design!

We’re well on track to exceed our original hopes for participation, and I can already see the final piece starting to take shape in my mind, full of colour, texture, and community spirit. I can’t wait to see what arrives next.

Stitching Ashbourne: Workshop Dates Announced!

everystitchastory

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.