TREASURED MEMORIES Linda Check

 Linda Check

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This is a photo of the back porch of the house taken during my last visit there – after my dad had passed away in 2010 and we had cleared everything out to put it on the market.

To anyone else, it is just one in a row of typical suburban Chicago bungalows. To me, it is a place that was filled with books, learning, plants, animals, good food and love.

Early memories of time spent playing “dolls” on a blanket in the side yard, or making “pemmican” in the sandbox alongside my brother’s battlefields, or seeing who could swing the highest, or just taking some time to “go sit on the back porch”.

 

September, 2020

 

TREASURED MEMORIES - Kris Dohm

 Kris Dohm

Quiet Nights

 

I first went tent camping on my honeymoon (we were college students and it was cheap!) and I fell in love with it. We camped for the next 30 years or so taking our babies and as they grew into teens we often included their friends on our trips.  It was an ideal vacation.  Hiking, fishing, boating and swimming kept us all busy.  Everyone helped with dinner prep and cleanup - cheerfully even - and nights were spent around a campfire.  It was almost always quiet in the evening.  Away from the city we could see the stars.  On rainy nights we could listen to the downpour in the dry comfort of our tent playing games by the light of a lantern.

 

Though we no longer go up north to the woods, we often pitch our faithful tent in our backyard and camp with our granddaughters.  For some reason breakfast never tastes as good as the ones made on the campstove.  The kids call it "Camp Ama".

 

TREASURED MEMORIES Catherine Njau

Catherine Njau 

WARIDI PADS

Catherine Njau WARIDI PADS

Girls with Waridi bags.

Catherine stitching Waridi Bags

Catherine teaching about menstrual health and Waridi pads.

Catherine teaching hundreds of girls and boys, male and female teachers.

 

 “Waridi Pads is the product which help girls to stay in schools the same days as boys, I wrote this memory with Riah Werner the Peace Corps Volunteer who worked with me here in Tanzania. You make changes to girls, now they can; Make their own decision, Know their bodies changes, Know my bodies my choice, You keep them flying. Many thanks to the founder Riah Werner and Catherine Njau.”

 

Catherine Njau has joined Memory Cloth Circle on zoom this year from Tanzania.  She is a teacher and was concerned that girls missed school when they had their periods. She and Riah started a project for local women to sew washable menstrual pads, panties and bags to carry them.  They even included soap with the bags.  Catherine goes to schools to teach about menstrual health to boys, girls, male & female teachers.  To make menstruation normal and to discuss the importance of education and delaying marriage and pregnancy.  Last week she spoke to over 700 students and teachers.

We help support this project.  Your contributions are welcome.  Contact us.

Leslee Nelson

 On Sunday, February 26, 2017 the New York Times ran its first-ever television advertisement during the Academy Awards – the subject matter was truth – what it is, what it isn’t. The next day, the Times ran a full-page advertisement with a series of statements concerning the nature of truth. These two ads launched a branding effort by the Times to demonstrate their commitment to truth and journalistic excellence.

The Memory Cloth Circle, a group of women in the Madison, WI area, were meetIng weekly to create needlework and fiber art. Strongly committed to the pursuit of truth as an essential element in the preservation and growth of our democracy, the Memory Cloth Circle members were inspired by the truth campaign to make a collaborative work, “Truth.” Each participating stitcher created an individual response on a vintage linen doily with hand crocheted lace borders. The vintage linen doilies of various sizes became the canvases upon which each stitcher worked.

One member noted, “When those who are currently living through this time see the word, ‘truth’, and the date, 2017, together, they will associate them with the political chaos and instability we are now experiencing.”

The Memory Cloth Circle’s members feel strongly committed to the pursuit of truth as an essential element in the preservation and growth of our democracy.

The collaborative artwork “Truth” can be seen in the Jones Gallery at the Dwight Foster Public Library, Fort Atkinson, WI, during the month of September, 2020 during Library hours. Please wear a mask and practice personal distancing.

TRUTH

 

We hold these truths to be self-evident. (Lisa Bikley, 

Ann Engelman, Leslee Nelson, Sherri Shokler)

The truth is hard. (Brenna Hopkins)

 

The truth is hidden. (Kris Dohm)

 

The truth must be pursued. (Peggy Thornton)

The truth is hard to hear. (Jane Pearlmutter)

 

The truth is rarely simple. (Lisa Binkley)

 

The truth isn’t so obvious. (Candy Flynn)

 

The truth is necessary. (Leslee Nelson)

 

The truth can’t be glossed over. (Evelyn Kain)

 

The truth has no agenda. (Bobbie Malone)

 

The truth doesn’t take sides. (Maureen Griffin)

 

The truth isn’t red or blue. (Cynde Quinn)

 

The truth is hard to accept. (Marinela Manistrili)

 

The truth pulls no punches. (Pam Phillips Olson)

 

The truth is powerful. (Marilyn Wedberg)

 

The truth is under attack. (Ellen Nordsieck)

 

The truth is worth defending. (Madge Klais)

 

The truth requires taking a stand. (Sherri Shokler)

 

The truth is more important now than ever. (Marilee Wertlake)

 

Marge & Friends: Stitched Whimsies

Marge & Friends: Stitched Whimsies

Capitol Lakes Galleries

July 2 - August 29, 2019

Reception Friday July 12, 7 pm

333 W Main St

Madison, WI

Come stitch with Memory Cloth Circle

Tuesdays 11 :30 am

July 16, July 30 & August 13

WORDS!

Memory Cloth Circle

January 8 – February 20

Reception January 16, 2019 

4:30 – 6:30 pm

Lakeside Street Coffee House

402 W. Lakeside Street

Madison, Wisconsin

Join us for a reception of the exhibit, WORDS, embroidered on vintage textiles on January 16, 4:30-6:30.  This exhibit focuses on words, unusual words, meaningful phrases, and poems.  

The Memory Cloth Circle began at the Lakeside Street Coffee House as part of the 2013 MMOCA Triennial.  Each week people signed up to tell stories and embroider their memories.  We’ve been continuing it ever since then.

Memory Cloth Circle will hold a free stitching workshop at Alicia Ashman library on February 12, 1-3 pm.

Memory Cloth Circle: Recent Work

Reception Friday June 2, 7-10 pm

Madison Public Library first and second floors

Exhibit  June 1 – July 27 2017

201 W Mifflin St, Madison, WI 

Mon-Thurs: 9-9, Fri: 9-6, Sat: 9-5

by Jane Pearlmutter

by Brenna Hopkins

 TRUTH                                           Memory Cloth Circle

On February 27, 2017  the New York Times ran a full-page list of statements concerning the nature of truth. This page inspired the Memory Cloth Circle to make this piece.  Each stitcher created an individual response on a vintage linen doily with hand crocheted lace borders.

We feel strongly committed to the pursuit of truth as an essential element in the preservation and growth of our democracy.

The truth is hard. (Brenna Hopkins)

The truth is hidden. (Kris Dohm)

The truth must be pursued. (Peggy Thornton)

The truth is hard to hear. (Jane Pearlmutter)

The truth is rarely simple. (Lisa Binkley)

The truth isn’t so obvious. (Candy Flynn)

The truth is necessary. (Leslee Nelson)

The truth can’t be glossed over. (Evelyn Kain)

The truth has no agenda. (Bobbie Malone)

The truth can’t be manufactured. (Joan Zieger)

The truth doesn’t take sides. (Maureen Griffin)

The truth isn’t red or blue. (Cynde Quinn)

The truth is hard to accept. (Marinela Manistrili)

The truth pulls no punches. (Pam Phillips Olson)

The truth is powerful. (Marilyn Wedberg)

The truth is under attack. (Ellen Nordsieck)

The truth is worth defending. (Madge Klais)

The truth requires taking a stand. (Sherri Shokler)

The truth is more important now than ever. (Marilee Wertlake)