Our guest this week is whitework designer Barbara Kershaw. The show is sponsored by The Attic Needlework shop. Whitework techniques are some of the most beautiful forms of thread manipulation that we have, all with very old-world origins. Barbara is one of the truly talented people we have today who are not just keeping those techniques alive but advancing the designs and teaching new generations about how to create beautiful art with nothing more than white cloth and thread. We’re confident you’ll enjoy the conversation. Since Barbara doesn’t have a website, below is a slideshow of her work.–Gary and Vonna
Listen to the podcast:
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Slideshow of Barbara Kershaw’s work.
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I hope you enjoy this week’s conversation with Barbara Kershaw. I’m always looking for guests, so let me know if there is someone you’d like me to have on the show.–Gary
Other sources for whitework designs are Elizabeth Almond, and Terri Bay Needlework Designs. It was good to hear that Hardanger is not too intimidating as I am just beginning to learn it.
Vickie,
Thanks for listening and the suggestions. I interviewed Terri Bay some time ago. You can hear that show here: https://wetalkfiber.com/2018/02/11/fiber-talk-with-terri-bay/
I’ve made several attempts to do a show with Elizabeth Almond and received no response.
Thanks,
Gary
Saving this for my journey to Hampton Court Palace to start the RSN certificate in hand embroidery on Saturday. I am ridiculously excited!
Thanks for listening. Exciting that you’re going through the certificate program. I’m sure it will be a rewarding experience.
Gary
Thank you Barbara for such a lovely podcast. I really enjoyed it, and I particularly loved this line: “”It’s the nature of the linen … you can’t get rid of that fat thread. (…)
It doesn’t need to be, what we think of as perfect. You have to go with the linen. And if the linen’s not perfect, then the embroidery won’t be perfect”
It’s so true – it’s what really makes embroidery on linen so beautiful. When you look at antique examples, there’s so many uneven bits and awkward things, but they add to the grace and beauty.
I’m really inspired by it, and am now tempted to dig up some of my old books on whitework. One that I really love is a Dutch book called “Handicrafts on the island of Marken” (De handwerken op het eiland Marken) by Maria van Hemert – a large section of this informative book covers the traditional whitework and cutwork on the (former) island of Marken in the Netherlands. As if I need more projects to keep me occupied! :’D