In the spring of 2008 Fr Bruce approached Elizabeth (Lizzie) Wall to see if she would be interested in producing a new set of Church Vestments for S Giles. Fr Bruce had seen Lizzie's embrodery and quilting work at the annual Art and Crafts Fayre at Liverpool Cathedral a thought that a series of five seasonal chasubles would be a unique way of marking the 2008 City of Culture. It would also be a lasting gift and work of art for future generations to use and enjoy.

Lizzie was very pleased to take up the commisson and work began on the first (green) chasuble in early summer. This chasuble will tell the parable of the sower and the story of it's development and construction follows below.

To see more of Lizzie's work CLICK HERE to visit her web site 

Having successfully obtained a handful of wheat from an obliging field near Freshfield animal rescue I have been able to examine close up how the leaves of the plant grow at angles at junctions on the stems. Also when observing the real deal you notice the curve of the heads is more fluid and elegant. Some more observational drawing can begin to incorporate these qualities.

At present I am concentrating on the front section of the chasuble and have constructed both the hares and the thistles. They are not attatched and in the photos you will notice they look very flat. The textural effect will come with the sewing.

You can see the diiference in the back ground fabric now that it has been quilted in the pictures behind the two new hares compared with the unquilted fabric in the sample fabrics

Although I've known since I started this project that there would be birds involved, I've been suprised by the three pigeons that have started to roost on the left hand front face of the chasuble. I may shoo them away and encourage some quail. I'll let you know how I get on with them.

Well the pigeons quail merger took place without too much fluttering and cooing. The rocks for the stony ground took a bit of adapting and working on but also seem to be settling nicely on the left front.

I’ve decided to apply the gold fabric last of all. It requires less of a press and lower temperatures than the cottons, too high a temperature and you end up with a gooey mess on your iron.

When I was working on the stony ground section of the Chasuble, I was reminded of the poppies that I had taught about when teaching year Two children about Remembrance Day. Poppies that gave the only note of colour on the churned soil of the battlefield, their role in remembrance and as a symbol of hope for a better and more peaceful future. In the last week whenever I have been out and about I have seen these small field poppies at the edges of the fields and growing on embankments. I have included these poppies as symbols of hope and remembrance.

After visiting Father Bruce and discussing the impact of the figure, we thought of an interestingly different option, introducing the sower's hand and forearm, instead of the solitary figure, a stonger image is created, focussing on the act. This brings every thing into the foreground ,instead of complicating and weakening the overall composition with having to create distance to the smaller Jesus / Sower image. The arm as seen in the photo, has the nail wound at the wrist, to clearly identify the sower of the Word. The grain is not quite flowing as I would like it yet, but, as ever, I am working on it.