Susanna Freymark
Elizabeth James has her artwork featured in the first embroidery exhibition at Cassino Gallery, Casino.
Elizabeth lives in Casino and is part of the Lismore Group – Embroiderers’ Guild NSW that meets regularly in Lismore.
Elizabeth used old laces and doilies for her Family Memories piece.
“I’m drawn to stitching,” she said.
The group has members from Ocean Shore, Casino, Ballina, and Lismore. Many of the members attended the official opening of The Beauty of Stitch exhibition at the gallery on Saturday, April 5.
Their work was diverse and unexpected—there was fungi embroidery stitched with a 3D effect, dolls, and more traditional lace stitching.
Marie Denning is co-convenor of the Lismore embroidery group said she was four years old when she got into embroidery.
“I was sitting on our front steps with my sister teaching me running stitch to make a dress for a doll.”
Stitching was not just about creating, it is meditative, she said.
The new trend on social media was ‘slow stitching,” she said.
“Slow stitch is about mindfulness and is very popular,” Marie said.
Enid Taylor and her sister Lyndall Phelps were at the exhibition. They were born in Casino and went to school in Casino too.
“I taught here for 11 years,” Enid said.
She thanked Lyndall for co-curating the exhibition with gallery committee members Ralph and Kay Smith.
The exhibition was surprising and well worth a visit – it runs until May 3 and the gallery is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week, 10am–3pm. The exhibition will be closed on the Easter public holidays.
The Cassino Gallery is at 148 Barker Street, Casino.
More information about the gallery here.
More info on embroidery groups here.
