Discover the beautiful art of applying embroidery techniques to photographs to create a meaningful, tactile memory. Guided by artist Ashley, learn three simple embroidery techniques to embroider a photo with meaning for you.
This workshop is inspired by the Foundling Museum’s permanent collection of tokens, including samplers and embroidery work, and how these symbols represent memories visually.
You will be invited to consider your chosen photograph and think of a related icon, symbol or object to add to your embroidery design to communicate a memory, creating your own ‘photograph trinket’.
No need to stress about coming solo, there will be plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow attendees through making. This is your opportunity to take some time to craft, connect and self-express. What are you waiting for?
Photo guidance:
Please bring 1-2 printed photographs to work with during the workshop.
Your photograph could be of a person, place, object, pet, holiday, family gathering, childhood memory – or anything else that holds a memory or meaning for you.
A few tips:
- Around 10 × 15 cm (6 × 4 inches) is ideal.
- Matte or standard photo paper works well.
- Older, faded or imperfect photographs are very welcome.
- If your photograph is particularly precious or irreplaceable, please bring a copy or reprint rather than the original, as we will be piercing the photograph with a needle.
- Photographs with some areas of clear space can be easier to stitch into, but don’t worry if your image is busy.
- You don’t need to decide what you want to stitch beforehand – we’ll explore ideas and templates together during the workshop.
You can also bring a spare photograph in case you want to experiment with more than one.
Spaces are limited, so make sure to book a ticket to secure your spot. This workshop is open to anyone aged 18–30 and no previous experience is required. This event will last around 3 hours.
Ashley is an award-winning London-based upcycler, textile designer and weaver who creates colourful and sustainable textiles and garments using dead stock and recycled materials.
Alongside making Joyful upcycled Jackets & accessories with her own textiles and dead stock materials, she runs upcycling and embroidery workshops for organisations, brands, and community groups such as Fashion Revolution, Lonely Girls club, New Designers and Crisis. Her workshops focus on creativity, skill-sharing, and waste reduction while providing space for community building.
Assemblage Collective is an art collective based in London specialising in hands-on creative workshops with an emphasis on experimentation and collaboration. Assemblage is currently in residence at the Foundling Museum in London where they host 10 workshops a year for young people aged 18-30, as well as offering a range of other events open to all at different venues across London.
To find out more about access at the Foundling Museum, including how to book a wheelchair, visit our Accessibility page here.
To find out how to get here, including where to eat and drink, view our visitor information page here.