The Liverpool Tapestry:
People, Places and Passions
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“
I read about the plans for the Tapestry in the local paper. It seemed
like a great idea including all abilities and ages and creating a piece
of lasting history from the community. As a novice stitcher it was
inspiring to mix with people who had been stitching for many years
and sharing their knowledge skills and tales.
I was from the era that met under the statue of ‘Dickie Lewis’.
Living ‘over the water’, I would get the train to Liverpool Central
and walk up to the statue ‘exceedingly bare’ – where I would wait for
my boyfriend to arrive on the 82C from Speke. It was a night out in
itself watching couples meeting up – or not – and making up stories
about them, and praying that I wasn’t going to be the one that week
left standing under Dickie!
With the massive developments in Liverpool 08 and new
department stores being built I felt it was important to have our
flagship of the old Liverpool department stores, ‘Lewis’s’, included
in the Tapestry.”
“
It was my elder sister, Valerie Stirling who told me about the
Liverpool Tapestry and the ideas behind it. My other sister, Hazel
Davis, galvanised me into action by suggesting we go to Ullet Road
together. Having been an embroiderer and cross stitcher (no I am
not bad tempered) I knew how to do tent stitch. All three of us were
knitting and sewing as children.
My problem was what to choose for a subject. It wasn’t long before
the Steble fountain came to mind. As a child I remember it being out
of order and waterless; a forlorn and empty piece of sculpture. Even
so I loved it, despite seeing the stone basin full of litter. I always
made a beeline for it every time we visited that end of town.
What a fitting tribute to the capital of culture. Here we have a
monument which has been renovated and brought back to its
original status as has Liverpool. It has been a marvellous way to be
involved in such an historical project”.
Lewis’s Store
Designed and stitched by Maggie Bowen
Steble Fountain
Designed and stitched by Jenny Carpenter