Precious Pojagi results

 

Thank you to Belinda Perkins who sent me an image of her 'Precious Pojagi' piece created on a wokshop with Cambridge Quilters.

The delicate lace collar and whitework embroidery is shown off to great effect hanging in the window.

Thank you also to Julie Welch who completed her 'Precious Pojagi' after a workshop with Lincolnshire Textiles

If you would like to try the 'Precious Pojagi' technique there are some workshops coming up to book.

Wed 28th May 2025 at Sew and So's in Bungay

sewsos.co.uk/workshops 

You can book through the website or telephone 01986 896147

Wed 30th July 2025 at Festival of Quilts, NEC, Birmingham

https://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/

You can book through the website

Or why not book me for your textile group? £225 per day. Maximum of 12. maryelmcintosh@gmail.com

Burn your bra! in Lincolnshire

 

It gives me a real thrill when I receive images of pieces started on a workshop with me and then completed afterwards.

Recently I taught the 'Burn Your Bra!' technique to a lovely group in Louth, Lincolnshire. We used nasty old net curtains, nylon lace, and even bits of old underwear to stitch, burn, and colour.

This is the end result by Helen Dickinson who made her piece up into a textured vessel

Helen has added a button/ribbon closing which really enhances the end result. Great colour, texture and form

If you would like to have a go at this fun technique please contact me by email maryelmcintosh@gmail.com to book for your group

Workshop cost for 2025  £225 per day. Maximum of 12.

Workshop cost for 2026 onwards £240 per day

Filling the Gap for Bridging the Gap

 

I was not expecting to exhibit with E.A.S.T. as part of their 'Bridging the Gap' exhibition as the work was already completed when I joined the group in 2024.

'Bridging the Gap' was shown at the Grundisburgh Gallery in April 2024 and at the Babylon Gallery in the autumn of 2024.

However when E.A.S.T. member Kay Mullenger moved away and left the group that created a 'gap' for the third planned exhibition at The Minories in Colchester.

I am delighted to have been able to fill the gap with my "A coat for Elizabeth" inspired by early women herbalists and in particular Elizabeth Blackwell.

The ballroom at The Minories www.theminories.org

is a fantastic space, full of light with high ceilings. 

'Bridging the Gap' looks great in this space.

I would lilke to thank Libby Smith for proposing the use of leaves collected from the Minories garden to add the the display.  It really does suggest an early women herbalist striding through the woods in search of healing herbs and plants.

The placement next to Susan Canfield's fantastic collection of work - inspired by women authors and her use of the oak leaf motif - flows so well. 

In fact there is a nature theme running throughout the show.

I am proud to be part of E.A.S.T. and to see my work shown along with this group of talented artists.

'Bridging the Gap' continues until 4th May (closed Mon and Tues)

10am - 4pm each day

First floor ballroom

Free entry

You can read all about the inspiration and research carried out by each member of E.A.S.T. for the exhibition here easttextile.co.uk/bridging-the-gap/

India Holiday - a change of plan

 

Aahilya Holidays have asked me to lead a different trip to India. 

'A Craft and Cultural Journey of the Golden Triangle' from 30th November until 10th December 2025

Delhi - Agra - Jaipur

Cost* is £2390 when sharing a twin room or £3090 for a single room. 

For more information and to book please look at the Aahilya website www.aahilyaholidays.com/tour/fd0f/a-craft-&-cultural-journey-of-the-golden-triangle-with-mary-mcintosh

*cost excludes flights but these will be arranged by Aahilya

Itinerary:

Day 1. Fly to Delhi. Stay at the Park Inn by Radisson in a deluxe room.

Day 2. Visit to the Craft Museum in Delhi

Day 3. Tour of Old Delhi including the Jama Masjid mosque, the Chandi Chowk market and the Red Fort. 

Day 4. Drive to Agra and visit Agra Fort. Stay at the Radisson Inn.

Day 5. Sunrise tour of the Taj Mahal. Drive to Jaipur via Abhaneri stepwells. Say at the Megh Niwas hotel.

Day 6. Visit Amber Fort and Anokhi Museum. See Hawa Mahal and visit local bazaar.

Day 7. Trip to Sanganer and wood bock carving. Block printing workshop. Paper making. Biria Temple.

Day 8. Trip to Bagru for Dabu block printing workshop. Indigo dyeing. Indian dinner

Day 9. Aari-Tari workshop in Jaipur. Puppet making workshop. 

Day 10. Miniature painting workshop in Jaipur. 

Day 11. Drive to Delhi. Stay at the Rhythm hotel.

Day 12. Flight home to UK

Juxtaposition

 

I am delighted that Heather Evans and Penny Evans will be joining me to exhibit at Snape Maltings this autumn.

The Quay Gallery is a great place to exhibit and as a previous exhibitor I get first refusal on the same week in October each year. 

I had to wait five years to obtain a slot at this popular venue and I plan my year so as to make sure I keep this week free to exhibit.

23rd - 29th October 2025 coincides with the half term school holiday so we can expect lots of visitors

In 2022 I held my first solo show with the 'Wool - Cotton - Silk' exhibition

This included the 'To have and to hold' series using dress pattern tissue

In 2023 my second solo show was 'Playing with Pojagi' with a whole series of work using the contemporary version of a traitional Korean piecing technique

Both solo shows were a success and taught me a lot. They were however very hard work to do alone with all the planning, marketing, hanging and stewarding. Not to mention the making!

Sharing the space, the costs, and the work three ways will be great. The space is perfect for three artists. 

Last year in 2024 my textile group Out of the Fold needed an exhibition venue so all twelve artists exhibited with a lovely exhibition 'A Splash of Colour' 

Heather and Penny are both former students who completed the Advanced Stitched Textiles course in 2022 and joined Out of the Fold in 2023. Both have developed their own styles, quite different from mine, and are creating original and innovative new work.

As our styles are all very different we have chosen the title 'Juxta position' 

Juxta position is defined as "placing two or more things side by side to compare and contrast with an interesting effect"

(Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

You can find out more about Penny on her website pennyevansfibreart.co.uk/ and on instagram @pennye.fibreart

Heather shows her work on instagram @heatherevanstextileart