Tina Francis Tapestry

Tina Francis Tapestry Tapestry kits with a design-led edge. Bespoke and exhibition stitching. Currently

Todays prompt from seam collective is memory.It’s a funny thing isn’t it? I went to British Brass Band Open Championsh...
14/09/2026

Todays prompt from seam collective is memory.

It’s a funny thing isn’t it? I went to British Brass Band Open Championship this weekend and listened to the same piece of music played by 19 bands. When I left and the following day I could not remember the music at all, but this morning it was the first thing in my head. Safely there now!

As a stitcher (much like anyone who completes repetitive tasks) I have muscle memory, once in the glow I can stitch pretty quickly, almost second nature.

There’s a lot of textile memories throughout a life, a scratchy blanket, soft sheets, a noisy kagool. Bit I think over time these memories become more of a feeling, a feeling of safety, a feeling of adventure.

So whatever textile you are creating or wearing today try to remember how they feel because in the end that may be the best memory you can have.

I think of a needle as the true global citizen, everyone recognised a needle across the world. It is a great communicato...
11/09/2026

I think of a needle as the true global citizen, everyone recognised a needle across the world. It is a great communicator and has its own language.

The words of welcome, place and peace stitched by a group of women from Afghanistan are stitched in two languages, Dari and Pashto. We worked together for 5 weeks sharing stories, hopes and dreams.

Language is a comfort, it can also be a barrier. You can be fluent in your home language but fall when asked questions in another. We all want to be understood.

Alongside a needle for me the best piece of shared language is a smile. It’s the biggest word of welcome and like a skill you can travel the world with it.

Whatever you do today take your skill and your smile with you.

Thanks to seam collective for this prompt

I know a silk dyer who always gives me the edges of her dyed fabrics. I’ve used them for many a workshop where colour an...
10/09/2026

I know a silk dyer who always gives me the edges of her dyed fabrics. I’ve used them for many a workshop where colour and the need to finish within a short time frame is required.

Todays prompt from seam collective is low impact. By using these scraps I’ve saved fabric from going to landfill or languishing in someone’s scrap drawer.

Whilst the workshop is low impact on resources it is high impact on those that take part. Leaving with something completely unique.

Todays prompt by seam collective is the age old trope “Craft or Art”. It’s all words really and words bring ownership ...
09/09/2026

Todays prompt by seam collective is the age old trope “Craft or Art”.

It’s all words really and words bring ownership and with ownership comes gatekeeping.

As a maker I create work with stitch, as an artist I create work with stitch, as a craftsperson I use my hand to create work with stitch.

We are all creative whether we think so or not. We decide what wear, we take a different route to work, we fix a problem with gaffer tape, use a nail when it should be a screw.

A few years ago after the end of covid I was working with a group of people, one of them came to me so excited. They’d gone to a gallery and met an artist. I said “wow that’s brilliant so you know at least three artists now, yourself, me and the person whose work you saw”. They replied “oh no they were a real artist not like you.”

I wasn’t offended, art is still seen as something to be adored put on a pedestal, craft is seen something anyone can do with practice.

So is the work I create art or craft? Depends where the funding is coming from!!

I’ve been to many exhibitions but none has inspired me quite so much as the permanent collection of work by Hannah Rygge...
08/09/2026

I’ve been to many exhibitions but none has inspired me quite so much as the permanent collection of work by Hannah Ryggen Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum in Trondheim, Norway.

I visited many years ago and haven’t really stopped thinking about her and her work since. She can live rent free in my head forever.

Todays prompt from seam collective is “inspirational exhibition” and when I first visited the museum I was stopped in my tracks. Firstly because this is a whole museum responsible for collecting and preserving craft and design and secondly because of Hannah Ryggen.

These hand woven tapestry’s are huge, they depict conflict, political unrest. They are her commentary on the world. They are protest and reportage. All hand woven, all hand dyed. Fine art.

There’s also hope in her work, pride in a country and it’s people and of course beauty.

Everything is political, whether it’s taking time for yourself and your Craft. Or creating work that comments on the world. Hand craft is often seen as quiet and unassuming, a little bit bucolic but we know that could never be further from the truth.

Image of “Ja, vi elsker” by Hannah Ryggen , source Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustrimuseum image taken by Anders S Solberg

I live in a city that stretches back a bit! My scissors are kept around my neck in a pewter chatelaine made by the oldes...
07/09/2026

I live in a city that stretches back a bit!

My scissors are kept around my neck in a pewter chatelaine made by the oldest pewterers A.E Williams (est 1779) Ltd - Oldest Pewtersmiths in the world right here in (check out all their sewing accessories)

I write with a YARD-O-LED pen made you’ve guessed it on my doorstep. (A treasured gift)

Todays prompt from seam collective is and so yes whilst I live in a city with history I also think that we all make history every day. We are each part of something.

The second image shows me on tv supporting runners at the recent European championships, sneaking myself into historical events.

The third image is a little piece of someone else’s history that is now part of mine. I worked with RedArts last year and they gifted me a mug that had belonged to their family. I’m carrying on history each time I take a sip!

With stitching and stitches there are so many names for each stitch, so many similarities, so many meanings depending on where you are in the world. History at work.

Every time I show someone how to stitch I’m creating a little bit of history, I’m part of someone else’s and I’m continuing traditions with the words I have learned from others

Here’s a story in stitch for todays seam collective prompt. It may be that the prompt is fir us to our stories but as ...
04/09/2026

Here’s a story in stitch for todays seam collective prompt.

It may be that the prompt is fir us to our stories but as I work a lot with stitch, care and community I’ve got a different story.

Over the summer I have been testing my stitch tool in different spaces and places to create the foundation for an Arts Council bid.

Connect More you Ed the shared act of making to create a space for conversation, listening and calm. This piece was stitched at Neighbourhood Futures Festival in Ladywood.

As we stitched together I heard stories of change, legacy, play, travel, hopes and dreams and also quiet. The recording of these stories created this beautiful artwork. Long stitches, short stitches, huge cross canvas experiments.

Everyone has a story, maybe sometimes it’s just having the chance to be heard that builds confidence to tell it.

Colour is todays prompt from seam collective Those of you that are regular visitors to these squares will know that co...
03/09/2026

Colour is todays prompt from seam collective

Those of you that are regular visitors to these squares will know that colour is my thing! My palette is 1970s caravan and there’s a lot you can do with it!

Bargello is a great way to learn about colour combinations, I’m running a workshop Craft & Culture later this month where will create our own combinations.

Colour can also be memory, grey will always be a school uniform, bright pink a bedspread, mustard a sense of calm. What colours remind you of home?

Hi there! It’s the start of September which can only mean one thing seam collective month .Day 1 is all about introduc...
01/09/2026

Hi there!

It’s the start of September which can only mean one thing seam collective month .

Day 1 is all about introductions.

I use stitch to connect, communicate and care. For me a needle is the true global citizen, everyone recognised a needle.

Alongside working with stitch and people I create patterns and one off pieces for sale.

But mainly I believe that stitch can bring solace, to have a skill or craft to concentrate on thats brings punctuation to your day can see you through!

Looking forward to being Birmingham Museums tomorrow with Connect More. I’ll be in the Industrial Gallery with these fab...
28/08/2026

Looking forward to being Birmingham Museums tomorrow with Connect More.

I’ll be in the Industrial Gallery with these fabulous yarns I picked up from The knitting Market Birmingham this morning at the rag market right here in brumtown.
Be sure to give them a visit next time you are here.

Address

Birmingham
B94AA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 8pm
Tuesday 8am - 8pm
Wednesday 8am - 8pm
Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 8am - 8pm
Saturday 8am - 8pm
Sunday 11am - 8pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tina Francis Tapestry posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share