This began with looking at museum collections of ‘Forget Me Not’ embroideries and memorial samplers. On reflection, I consider that there are some things that are better to forget than to remember, some things must be let go. Each tiny hand stitch in this time-consuming piece is an act of consciously letting go of the bad memories, the unhappy stories and the things which weigh us down. I am also referring to that fact that we can’t keep hold of memories, we forget things, however hard we try to keep them. Things fade and change and our memories can’t be trusted.
Vintage handkerchief with rose embroidery as found, my hand embroidery in silk thread. 2017-18