Meghan Macdonald @ Hard Twist 2014

Meghan Macdonald What Remains in the Drawer, 2012-2014;
Photo credit: Karen Thiessen, 2014

Meghan Macdonald's free-motion embroidered ephemera was a major discovery at Hard Twist 2014. Since her eponymous website is now defunct, I had to do some online sleuthing. I learned that Macdonald is now involved with Calica art and design studio and writes the Milk and Bread Vintage blog. Through her blog I discovered that she is a graduate of both the Sheridan College (2010) and NSCAD (2012) Textiles programs and had residencies at Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design in 2011 and at Elsewhere in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2012

Based on her blog I surmise that What Remains in the Drawer is an ongoing development of her NSCAD graduation exhibition What Remains in 2012. According to her blog, What Remains is "based on the life of a mysterious recluse. Rumoured to be a multi-millionaire freemason with a mean streak and boasting three ex-wives and three estranged daughters, these objects piece together his intimate world left behind after his passing."

Meghan Macdonald What Remains in the Drawer detail, 2012-2014;
Photo credit: Karen Thiessen, 2014

I'm a sucker for the stitched tags.

Meghan Macdonald What Remains in the Drawer detail, 2012-2014;
Photo credit: Karen Thiessen, 2014

Her ability to stitch the fine details is impressive. Free-motion embroidery requires a great deal of practice, skill, and thread. It is accomplished using a sewing machine with the feed dogs dropped and a special foot, lots of thread, and dissolvable stabilizer. Amanda McCavour is another practitioner of the electric needle arts.

Meghan Macdonald What Remains in the Drawer detail, 2012-2014;
Photo credit: Karen Thiessen, 2014

What Remains in the Drawer: Free-motion embroidery on dissolvable stabilizer, gouache, watercolour, ink and pencil on paper. Various dimensions. Meghan Macdonald.