Necklace of Stars (2020-2022)

Lois has nearly completed the project ‘A Necklace of Stars’, a collaboration with isolated, housebound older people in Derbyshire. Together they made an embroidered quilt, on the theme of the night sky. Writer Philip Davenport creating a series of poems, and musician Matt Hill, a song soundtrack. The exhibition tour has started, see below for details.

The embroidered quilt was the project centerpiece, evoking childhood bedtime stories and song; safety, comfort, protection: a portal into dreaming. Lullabies bring calm and comfort, but also tell insightful stories that pass onward human experience from generation to generation.

Poet Philip Davenport led creative writing, working with singer songwriter Matt Hill, who devised melodies, arrangements and further lyrics for the new lullabies. Lullabies are deceptively simple carriers of complex messages. They pave the road to sleep and the magic carpet of dreaming, but they bring danger too. “When the bough breaks the baby will fall…” A catalogue designed by Lois for the touring exhibition is available in digital form, and shares images of the quilt, poems and lullabies.

A Necklace of Stars, is supported by Arts Council England, Arts Derbyshire, DCC Public Health and Derbyshire County Council Home Library Service.