Greta was my Grandmother. The Wessex stitch on this embroidery is by her daughter Margaret. She came out to NZ from England in 1951 and landed in Wellington amidst the waterfront strike. Settling with her husband and two small children in Ashburton, she was a stickler for routine and she always called England home, although never returned. I have her button collection.

Margaret was my Mother she was a beautiful embroiderer who taught me and encouraged my love of stitching. She did the blackwork piece on this embroidery. Mum also loved the theatre and passed on to me the joy of treading the boards. Mum passed away after a 17 year fight with Breast Cancer, she was inspiring and I miss her very much.

Virginia was my friend. She was sharp, she was beautiful, elegant, strong and resourceful. Virginia loved her chickens and her cats, a brilliant wit and an infectious laugh that rewarded a room brimming with friends old and new. She was as comfortable in a paddock with her cows as she was in a closed gallery launch with her professional peers. Virgina spanned the gap between city and country, artist and developer, a rare thinker and dreamer. Virginia choose this colour thread for a sewing project she commissioned from me. I am hoping she would allow me to use it again here in this submission. I am humbled by Virginia in every way, not least her skilled hands directing a thread and needle.

Jean was widowed at a very young age, her husband was shot down over Germany, his body never recovered. She was just weeks away from giving birth to their first child. She never re-married, but she was a strong, beautiful woman who lived life to the full, despite this tragedy.

Emily had a hard life, orphaned at aged 3, fostered aged 6 to a family who treated her as an unpaid servant. It didn't make her bitter though, it made her kind. I wish I had appreciated her more, all the sacrifices she made for me. Sorry Mum, love you. xx

I first met Ann at Detroit airport where she welcomed me into her family as an au-pair for her two young daughters. That year she introduced me to American literature, art, history and politics but the most valuable teachings for me were learned by observing Ann. She was and is the embodiment of compassion, kindness, humility, love, laughter and quiet strength. I am so fortunate to have this “brilliant” woman in my life.

Born in 1938 in Western Victoria, my mum Patricia Margret McCarthy (Pat) was one of twelve children. She married Dad at age 17 and together they had seven daughters and three sons - I am the youngest child. Mum has been a remarkable caregiver, small business operator and manager of the household. She is stoic, supportive and committed to the wellbeing of her family. Mum taught me to sew – for utilitarian purposes – never embroidering for decorative effect, that would be superfluous! She is a practical, no-nonsense woman. Even so, she has never questioned my work as an artist, my full-time employment outside of the home and my complete lack of interest in homemaking. Knitting, Crochet and sewing sit at the intersection of her practicality and purposefulness and the purely aesthetic and experiential aims of my artmaking. I enjoyed thinking of Mum methodically mending as I embroidered (in a haphazard fashion) her name.

Betty was my mother-in-law. Another skilled needlewoman who worked very hard for her family and was always been to babysit and adored her grandchildren. Nothing was ever too much trouble. She nursed her husband and sister until they passed away. Betty died just on a year ago and was much loved by everyone.

Betty was an older friend and a superb embroider A very wise lady always happy to listen and advise on sewing and a treasure to our Embroidery Guild. She passed away late last year.

One of those special ladies you come across in a lifetime. She was an inspiration to me in so many ways. She loved family, friends and visitors. A very accomplished embroiderer and designer of embroidery projects. She was my first embroidery workshop teacher. We had great conversations on travel after holidays and any purchase of textiles was received with great enthusiasm. We enjoyed each other's company a great deal even though she was old enough to be my mother. She passed away just before her 90th birthday. I think of her everytime I see beautiful designs even in gum leaves.

Josephine was my mother who passed away in 2006. She first encouraged me to sew when I was 6. Later she encouraged me in dress-making. She was a perfectionist in sewing and was a good cook & great gardener. Any visitor always left with flowers or veges from the garden. She was the model of generosity but had a tough childhood.

My most special person is my wee granny Beatrice, always at the ready with a chat and a chocolate biscuit. A simple woman who's ambition and achievement was to give & receive family love. At times like this a reminder that the 'little' things are truly the major achievements. She was my shelter in the storm. Forever loved & missed.

In the late 1980s Bev Holt and her friend Wynsome Diprose co founded a Retreat Centre for Women at Piha. Sadly shortly afterwards Wynsome died of cancer. Since then Bev has run the Centre( later named Te Wahi Ora and become a Charitable Trust) where she has provided support and solace for hundreds of women as they grew towards healing and wholeness.

My Grandmother, Andreina, was a huge part of our lives until our parents decided to migrate to Australia, from Italy. I was ten years old. She was kind and loving and was always there for me, my sisters and our parents. I still fondly remember all the bedtime stories she used to tell us, especially the scary ones that we’d plead with her to recount. Leaving her, and to be separated from her, in coming to Australia, was painful. As a young child, I felt that a part of me was lost and left behind with my Nonna and my relatives in Italy. She passed away in 1997, ten days before her 89th birthday. I am thankful I was able to see her again before she left us.

This is my first embroidery, created in honour of my mother Pauline, who taught me to knit and sew. Mum loved all textile arts, but it was spinning and dyeing wool that was her real passion, the soft clack and whir of the wheel an embedded childhood memory. Sadly, eye disease robbed mum of her sight at just sixty years of age, which left her unable to pursue many of her creative interests.

My daughter Megan asked me to teach her how to embroidery so she could complete a piece for my mother Joan. I chose Megan, she has learnt many skills especially baking (which she excels in) from her nana. These memories of shared experiences, gifts lovingly handmade and the passing of skills from generation to generation are part of making us who we are.

My mother, Margaret, was a woman whose intelligence and creativity seeped through all aspects of her simple provincial life. She was an excellent cook and gardener, and less focused on keeping the house tidy. She completed a Science degree in Zoology and Botany but became a full-time housewife and mother. As she raised 6 children she sewed clothes initially and became a keen embroiderer. During the 1970s she became more interested in patchwork and quilting and made quilts for her 18 grandchildren and then in her 80s she made quilts for the neonatal babies in various hospitals around the country. I was her only daughter and she did not have sisters. We were quite different but we had a deep bond which was constantly nurtured by our love for the world of art and our expression of this through our stitching.

The name “Emma” my mother, I continue to marvel at her strength, resilience, faith and love xxx

Joan was my maternal Nana and like my mother Denise very patient and willing in sharing her skills. When my eldest son Edward was born the three of us stitched his Christmas stocking with this same thread.

My Oma, Gerritje Mira, inspired me to start cross-stitching in my late teens. She is represented on this quilt thanks to her daughter, my aunt, Lis Mertens.
I have backstitched the names of my mother, Merle Ellen, and my mother-in-law, Loraine Evelyn, who are both quilters.
I hope they will pass on their skills to my daughter, their namesake, Evie Rose Ellen

My Oma, Gerritje Mira, inspired me to start cross-stitching in my late teens. She is represented on this quilt thanks to her daughter, my aunt, Lis Mertens.
I have backstitched the names of my mother, Merle Ellen, and my mother-in-law, Loraine Evelyn, who are both quilters.
I hope they will pass on their skills to my daughter, their namesake, Evie Rose Ellen

Moira was my godmother. She never married or had children of her own, but she always referred to herself as my third parent. She loved history and travelling, and she valued higher education. She inspired, encouraged and supported me in all these. She was a prolific embroiderer, so this project is a very appropriate way to honour her memory.

Maria gave the best hugs. She was the loveliest of aunties. She was always there for me, and I will always be grateful for that. Maria was kind, generous, funny, and fun, creative, and a fabulous gardener. Maria towered over people, she was a tall woman with a mop of blonde hair. Affectionately known as Big Bird, she was loved by everyone. It is an honour to have known you Maria. Thank you for everything. Love always and forever, your niece.

Rina (born Caterina Basso) is my mum. She was an exquisite dressmaker who also excelled at knitting, crochet, embroidery, etc – basically all forms of needlecraft. When making this patch of honour, I used one of her old embroidery needles. This connection to mum brought back many happy memories of time spent together sewing.

Winifred Martin was my maternal grandmother. My mother was seriously mentally ill, and we stayed with Nana for several months at a time. She was generous but not warm or supportive. As a young adult, I ‘dropped’ her, and now regret that deeply. This panel honours her as a strong woman who took control of her own life and did her admirable best. The missing dates refer to how little I knew her and knew of her.