Tuesday 23 December 2014

Please come and join in the big joining together of our quilt

It's time to create a quilt from the beautiful patchwork squares that so many creative people made for us in 2014. We'd like the sewing together to involve the community and the original makers of the patches as much as possible, so we're holding four public "Putting together" sessions. Details below. Please come - all materials, plus a nice cup of tea provided. 

Pepys Community Library, 11-1, Wednesday 18th March

Lewisham Library, 1-3 pm, Friday 20th March

Downham Library, 1-3 pm, Tuesday 24th March

Sydenham Community Library, 1.30 - 3.30 pm, Tuesday 31st March


Tuesday 15 July 2014

People's Day

Cllr Chris Best with the People's Patchwork
at People's Day 2014
We had a fantastic day at People's Day on Saturday - and it was very exciting to see most of the patches displayed together for the first time!

We were delighted to welcome old friends New Cross Learning and Eco Communities to our tent. We also had some new friends Amplified Robot with us. Their augmented reality wizardry really added to the Patchwork and drew in crowds of interested people.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to make it such an amazing day for us!

Thanks also to Katie Pekacar who gave us this lovely write-up on her blog.

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Patchwork of Selfies - submit yours and be part of our live patchwork!

This year at People's Day, we are unveiling the People's Patchwork. To accompany it we will also be displaying a "Patchwork of Selfies". In the run up to the day, you can submit your selfie taken in your favourite place in Lewisham to our blog, and on 12th July you will be able to submit your selfie at People's Day. If you don’t want to submit your face, we would also like peoples’ messages or thoughts about Lewisham. You could even write it on your hand!

You can submit your selfie by using the hashtag #ppselfie on Instagram or Twitter, or by submitting directly onto the blog: http://ppselfie.tumblr.com/submit


Get posting!

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Vote on the final design - how do you want the People's Patchwork to look?

Thank you to everyone who has sent in a patch for the People's Patchwork. We are now ready to put it together for display on People's Day at Mountsfield Park on Saturday 12th July, but there are many designs that we could use to create the finished patchwork and we would like you to choose the design. We would like you to vote on the final design and a survey is open from now until 1st July for you to place your vote. This will give us some time to create the final design for you to see on People's Day.

We want you to vote on 2 things - the layout of the patches and the background colour.

The options for the layout are -

Layout 1 - A random layout



Layout 2 - Similar colours grouped in vertical stripes



Layout 3 - All patches that mention Lewisham or feature the borough crest together in the middle  



Layout 4 - All patches with a white background together in the centre with coloured patches around the edge  


Layout 5 - All patches that have words as part of the design in the centre 



The colour choices are - 
  1. Red
  2. Yellow
  3. Blue
  4. Green
  5. Purple
  6. Brown
  7. Black
  8. White
  9. Cream
  10. Olive


Friday 30 May 2014

Layouts

 Green background - random layout of patches
 Red background - patches with words in centre
 Blue background - colours in vertical stripes
Blue background - white patches in the centre

Some of the layouts we've been trying at our sessions in libraries. Why not join us next week at New Cross or Sydenham to see the patches and try some alternatives for yourself?

St Dunstan's Church

St Dunstan's Church was built in the early 1920s, when the Bellingham estate was being built.
On the 21st November 1925, the Bishop of Southwark opened the Church with a Dedicating Service.

The organ came from the Chapel Royal at St James'. This organ was built in 1837, but in 1891 six of the stops were removed and replaced by six stops from a much older organ, built for the Chapel Royal in 1699. In 1925 the organ came to St Dunstan's from St James's when they replaced it with a new one.

The font also has a history. It was dug up by workmen when excavating the foundations for the houses on this then new estate. No one is sure of its real age but it is very old.

The organ and the font are very old, but are still in use today.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Help design the People's Patchwork

The People's Patchwork is almost complete and we are holding layout sessions to decide on the final design. Come and join us to help layout our patches for the Peoples Patchwork.

You can help us to design our quilt over tea and biscuits at the following sessions -
Wednesday 28th May 2-4pm at Deptford Lounge
Friday 30th May 2-4pm at Downham Library

Tuesday 3rd June - 2-4pm at New Cross Learning
Saturday 7th June - 10-12am at Sydenham Community Library

You can see the patches at http://www.pinterest.com/lewishamlibs/lewisham-peoples-patchwork/

Wednesday 14 May 2014

Craft Collective

This patch was created by Pinky from the Telegraph Hill Craft Collective. They've also been making their own beautiful patchwork celebrating how people feel when involved in creative activity.

New Cross Learning


This patch was created by Gill Hart - one of the volunteers who runs New Cross Learning.

Monday 12 May 2014

Leegate Knitters

These squares are from our thriving knitting group at Lee Green Community Centre run by a volunteer, Julia Gemie. Women of different backgrounds, ages and experience from across the Borough of Lewisham are brought together every Wednesday afternoon. Knitting and chatting together each week brings shared expertise, creativity, laughter, friendship and support. Women attend this group to relax, to be inspired and to be encouraged to progress by the group leader. We knit for ourselves, for friends, for family near and far and for each other.


Tuesday 6 May 2014

Community Conversations

These patches pick up on some comments made by Lewisham parents during a recent consultation with the community called "Community Conversations": Dialogue & research by the community for the community.

Release the Peace - 10,000 Hands

This patch showing Margaret Mizen's handprint was finished as the following report appeared in the Newshopper paper:

PM gets hands-on with campaign

Youngsters from every Lewisham secondary school have taken their peace campaign to the very top - 10 Downing Street.

The trip was part of the 10,000 Hands project - an anti-violence campaign backed by the Jimmy Mizen Foundation that has been supported by children, police and politicians.

It was launched in January last year by Prendergast Ladywell Fields College pupil Camilla Yahaya, 17, who came up with the idea of asking people to add their handprints to a giant "peace cloth" - a symbol of working together for positive change.

And on April 24 she was joined by representatives from all the borough's senior schools in a pilgrimage through central London, via Trafalgar Square, to meet Prime Minister David Cameron.

She said: "This is not about 'young people', this is just about people. It is about us, the very vast majority - good, kind and hopeful people who all want the same thing - safe streets, strong communities and opportunities for all. Our cloth is just a simple way for us all to publicly claim this for ourselves."

Mr Cameron, who gave them an award for the project and added his own handprint to the cloth, told them "Camilla and her team are doing phenomenal work to make the changes they want to see in Lewisham. I am proud to add my hand print to the campaign's peace cloth today. This Big Society Award is for all the inspirational young people across Lewisham who are making a difference with the 10,000 Hands campaign."

Margaret Mizen, whose teenage son Jimmy was murdered at a Lee bakery in 2008, said "Today was a real celebration of all that is good in our young people, we are so proud of them and how all the young people of Lewisham are making a stand for peace led by Camilla."

Camilla and her team have now set a target to reach 100,000 prints by the end of the year and 1,000,000 virtual handprints worldwide.


Lewisham 10,000 Hands project

Lewisham Market - Fruit and Veg

I was inspired to make this patch because it symbolises to me how Lewisham has changed over the years. Lewisham Market now sells exotic fruits and vegetables that they did not sell some twenty or thirty years back when I was younger.

The variety of fruits and vegetables being sold side by side with more traditional items represents to me how people in Lewisham from different cultures and backgrounds live side by side.

Horniman Gardens

It's a place of pleasure for all the family. The flower garden is full of colour and a joy to behold. There is an animal farm for the children to enjoy and handle the animals if they so wish.
I have enjoyed walking around the gardens for some years - in all weathers and seasons, and a cup of tea in the cafe is always nice to look forward to.

A parachute floating through the air

I worked in Lewisham for six years and witnessed much devastation of the main streets and the market place.

On one occasion, the air raid sirens sounded and as usual we evacuated the store.

Our immediate attention was centered on the sky over Blackheath where a dog fight was occurring between two planes. One was disabled and a parachute was seen to be floating through the air.

We had to get over the road to the brick built overground shelter. On one occasion, the shelter wall shook badly enough to injure a member of our staff.

Holy Trinity School


This patch is by Lynne who goes to the Over 55's Group at Forest Hill Library (Lively Minds). Lynne used to help children with reading at Holy Trinity School. The ability to give to the society that you live in is why Lynne loves Lewisham.

Monday 5 May 2014

A lovely patch from Forest Hill Library


Another great patch from Forest Hill's Chatterbooks

Created by a member of Forest Hill Library's Chatterbooks group

Parks Patch

Created by a member of Forest Hill Library's Chatterbooks group.

Kelvin Grove Patch

Created by a talented pupil who is also a member of Forest Hill Library's Chatterbooks group.

The Lewisham Crown in glorious technicolor


Forest Hill Library



74 and 98

74 represents the year we moved to Bellingham in the Lewisham borough.

98 is the year my mum passed away from cancer. Cross represents she gave her life to Christ.

White represents the light, Black represents the sadness. Large branch of tree is Mum's life - where she had four children. Each apple on the tree represents the number of children born to each of her children.

A Jamaican living in Lewisham

My name is Nerisoe Black. I am a Jamaican living in Lewisham. The red background is all about me and my experiences in London.

Wednesday 23 April 2014

Some lovely patches from Torridon Road Library

 

Mountsfield Park

I chose Mountsfield Park because it is my favourite place to go when I am sad. When I play, all the sadness goes away.

Rangefield Primary School patch

This patchwork was designed and made with love by the parents and carers of Rangefield Primary School.  It shows their appreciation to everyone in the school community, past and present, for the positive change to the lives and prospects of the children and families in Lewisham.

The Lewisham Crown and a Snake

One of the patches created at the Catford drop-in

Variety is the spice of life

I grew up in suburbia. I have lived in the Borough of Lewisham for the past 43 years.

I love Lewisham because of it's diversity and that is why I chose to state that "VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE". Suburbia is dull in my opinion.

PS I am English and have ben married to my Turkish husband for 45 years.

Made at "Meet Me at the Albany"

More about Meet Me at the Albany

Playing with my friend on a sunny day

This is me and my friend playing on a sunny day!

(One of the patches made at Limelight Children's Centre)

Ralph's colourful patch

One of the patches made at Limelight Children's Centre

Things I like

I have [made] a patch about things I like

A rainy day on One Tree Hill


The Algerian Flag

This is the Algerian flag. My family is from there. It's in North Africa.

The Lithuanian Flag

I made the Lithuanian flag because I love my Country and I miss it.

I came to Lewisham two years ago.

T-Rex patch

Another great patch made at the Catford Library drop-in.

Some of the beautiful patches made at the Catford Library drop-in workshop

Patches made at Catford Library on Saturday 22 March at the drop in session