Loving Earth Project

 The Loving Earth project encourages us all to think about the environment and to do one small thing which will help improve the state of the planet. If lots of people do one small thing  this will add up to produce a greater impact.

We were asked to make a panel to represent what we were going to do, or to represent something we have lost and will be greatly missed by subsequent generations.

My Loving Earth panel was about clothes and particularly fast fashion and its effect on the planet and what small thing I could do to help.

Having looked at my wardrobes I decided I had too many clothes. I made a pledge to only buy new basics and wear older items more times and modify other items to update them.

By buying fewer items and extending the life of others hopefully I would be reducing the use of pesticides, cutting water consumption and reducing carbon dioxide in transportation and production.

Close up of a basic skirt and jacket.

The panels will be displayed in exhibitions, all around the country, to heighten awareness that we are all capable of making small changes in our lives to benefit the planet.

Chicken Scratch Embroidery

 I was introduced to Chicken Scratch Embroidery and I have to admit I had never heard of it let alone tried it.

It is worked on gingham and uses quite simple stitches building up patterns.

Pattern on gingham

Close-up of stitches

After I had embroidered the square I thought what am I going to do with it!

I realised I needed a pincushion so set about making a back by joining scraps and cutting to size. I joined the back and front together leaving a gap. I made a small stuffed square cushion to go inside and then closed the gap. A completed pin cushion!

Front of pincushion

Back of pincushion made with scraps

Here is the pin cushion in use!