Yvette Phillips

I’ve loved sewing since early childhood, having initially been taught by my grandmother, and it’s been a constant throughout my life. The use of specifically vintage fabrics is central to my work, not just for their aesthetics, but for how they connect with our lives and memories.  They have an inherent history, sometimes bearing the marks of previous owners or makers, that makes transforming them into something new a meaningful process.

The inspiration for my work comes from the natural environment, and primarily birds.  In my mind there are few creatures that symbolise the extraordinary beauty of nature better than they do.  I use hand embroidery to capture the intricate details of their exquisite perfection, and there are no shortcuts to this process.  It’s an extremely slow journey that requires me to be present but also allows me to go to a place of peace.  I believe that embroidery is inherently meditative because of the very slowness and the repetition involved in this medium. But stitch by stitch my birds reveal themselves – as eternal reminders of the richness and beauty of our natural surroundings.