Exhibitions

THE TENTMAKERS OF CAIRO EXHIBITION 31st MARCH – 8th APRIL

The tradition of ‘tentmaking’ in Egypt goes back at least a thousand years to the time when the Sultans used vast and elaborately decorated tents as moveable palaces to project their power when travelling throughout their realm to meet their subjects or to go to war.  Indeed, the connection between the leader’s power and his tent was so great that one of the campaign objectives in battle was to capture and topple the opposing commander’s tent. The history of appliqué as a technique goes back even further to the time of the Pharoah’s with, for example, appliqué embellishment found on some of Tutankhamun’s vestments, and the discovery of appliquéd leather goods, including a ‘tent’ covering the sarcophagus of a royal princess. There will be a collection of antique, vintage and contemporary tentmaker pieces (“khayamiya”).

 

CURTAINS TO COUTURE EXHIBITION – 31st March – 10th April

Curtains to Couture began in 2023 with a group of likeminded friends who love to use reclaimed and preloved fabrics to create beautiful garments.  In 2024 we opened an Instagram account with the aim of gently encouraging others to get involved by becoming more sustainable in the way they sew and live.    In just over a year we  have managed to attract a following of over 10,000 followers and this number grows daily.
We are thrilled to bring to Cowslip two of our  projects “The Lost Jackets” and “Small Beginnings, Great Expectations”.    Both these projects started with clothing donated to Refugee Aid from Taunton.  A bag containing 11 beautifully made tailored school jackets and another containing old baby clothes,  most of which were old, worn, damaged, unwanted, some dirty and all unsuitable for sending abroad so destined for rags or landfill.   But we saw the possibility of reinventing these beautiful garments, and the exhibition showcases the wonderful results created by 11 textile artists (jackets) and over 60 of our followers (baby clothes).
Some of us will be at Cowslip Tuesday 7th – Friday 10th to meet and chat to our visitors. The exhibition is free entry but we will be making a collection for Sands – a charity that supports those affected by baby loss.    Friday 12th June we are excited to have an evening with Kaffe Fassett – Colour Inspiration Lecture

The Kaffe Fassett lecture is designed to inspire and motivate. Kaffe’s presentation highlights work

from his latest projects and collaborations, including his patchwork, fabric, needlepoint, mosaics,

painting and knitting designs. Kaffe’s inspiration comes from his travels throughout the world. His

lecture is designed not so much to instruct but to empower and inspire the audience to create and

develop their “mind’s eye.” Audiences leave invigorated, entranced by Kaffe’s sense and use of

colour, they are ready to try it themselves and are encouraged to do so.

The slide show lasts approximately one hour followed by a Question & Answer session and book

signing.

Summer Brocante & Makers Fair – Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th July 2026

Christmas Fair – Friday 20th & Saturday 21st November 2026