One Step On was founded by Gail Cowley at the School of Stitched Textiles for graduates of City and Guilds in design and Creative Embroidery in 2001. Members wished to help and support one another as they continued with their creative work.
The Founder Members were Gail Cowley, Betty Britton, Karen Quickfall, Sue Stitchbury, Sandie Maher, Sylvia Maudsley, Val Webster, Marjory Williams and Shirley Riding.
Group Themes
The theme "Elements" was used for the first exhibitions, starting with "Water" and progressing to "Fire", "Earth" and "Air". Subsequent exhibitions were "Architecture", "The Written Word", "Handbags and Gladrags", "A Stitch in Time", "Connecting Stitches" up to the present title of "Tiffany in Stitches".
At our exhibitions, all members contribute as many pieces as they wish with the addition of a piece which contributes to the group project.
Water 2002
Each member created two sections which were stitched together to make a large wall-hanging representing flowing water.
This consisted of a tower of illuminated boxes, each having illuminated panels
with sails embroidered in fire colours on rigilene. the group was much indebted to Karen's father, Mr Quickfall for all his help in making the boxes and giving them "light". It was a mammoth task, which the group is unlikely to repeat!
Later these sections were re-asssembled to create a window-hanging to exhibit at Towneley
Architecture 2006
For our group project, we all used the same image, drawn on hand-made silk paper, but interpreted in our own way. This work was then mounted into a screen
The Written Word 2007
The group had a workshop on altered books and decided to make these the group project.
During the year a decision was also made to make cushions and sell them to raise money for Christies Hospital.
Handbags and Gladrags 2009
There were many interpretions of this theme, but for the group project each member started with a purchased black or white bag, and altered it.
This project was inspired by an antique Chinese panel. All the work produced for this exhibition was based on images on that panel.
For the group project each member made a small black bag to a traditional Chinese design, embellished with a design based on the Chinese panel.
Connecting Stitches 2011
In 2011 we worked on individual calico wall hangings.
Each group member used a single colour and produced a minimum of three six inch squares, worked in a single colour, which were then connected and hung from perspex rods.
Many other pieces were produces, with various stated connections.
Tiffany 2012
In progress