Design takes shape

Rose has knitted a seagull to 'fly' from our banner!

Saturday 5th May saw the second get together in Hastings of our group of amazing, talented, creative women.  The weather was balmy and the sky was blue - clearly the stimulants needed for great ideas to flow - by the end of the session we had our design planned, drafted and pinned to the wall on huge sheets of paper.

During our first meeting, everyone had gathered and brainstormed words that they hoped the banner would represent; these included positivity, defiance, punk, community, inspiration, hope, persistence and disobedience - a fairly tall order for one sole banner to convey.  Undeterred, our girls cogitated and negotiated until they had come up with something that communicated strength and hope in equal measure, as well as considering practical concerns such as legibility, design and the practicalities associated with the making process.  I told you they were awesome!

I reflected on how organised, respectful and patient they were during the exercise; no-one talked over anyone else, and everyone's ideas were considered and respected.  There was a quiet, graceful force in the room.  Considering that many of them had uttered the week before 'I don't know why I've been picked for this project', I could see their confidence blossoming and a general air of a self assured 'we can do this'.  There was an agreement that perfectionism would be left behind at the door, and that there would be an embrace, even encouragement, of imperfect hand stitches in the work.  Considering the tag line at the bottom of the banner will read 'Hastings women rock the boat', this seems entirely fitting.