Textile songbirds wing their way to South Africa

A group of talented textile artists from Glossop have created a collection of handmade artworks to bring colour, comfort and hope to young women living at a South African charity. 

Textile Connections, based in Glossop, has donated 11 decorative wall hangings featuring beautifully hand-stitched songbirds to the Winnie Mabaso Foundation, which supports orphaned and vulnerable children. 

The project was inspired by member Sheila Conchie, who volunteered with the charity in 2024 after hearing about its work through a talk by the Foundation's Chief Executive CEO Lisa Aston at the Glossop Rotary Club. Chair Nikki Parmenter then designed the 'Songbird Project', with every member of the group contributing by stitching birds, creating flowers and leaves and assembling the finished pieces. 

Sheila explained: "At our February meeting the project really took off. Each participant was given a drawing of a songbird which was traced onto fabric, then hand stitched and padded. The addition of an eye added a note of realism to each bird. 

"Everyone put their own personality into their bird, using different stitches and embellishments, resulting in a magnificent flock of songbirds. The members were delighted with the outcomes. It created a real sense of purpose and community within the group." 

In total, the group completed 23 individually stitched birds, which were assembled into 11 striking wall pieces destined for the charity's 'Tropic House'. Described by Lisa as a "forever home" the accommodation provides a safe and supportive environment for young women who are not yet ready to live independently. Residents can stay for as long as they need while studying or completing training. 

The artwork was officially presented to Lisa during an event held at Glossopdale School on Wednesday 29th July. Members were able to speak live to the team in South Africa during a video link, which included a virtual tour of the charity's facilities. 

The Winnie Mabaso Foundation was established after Lisa met Winnie Mabaso while working for the BBC in South Africa in 2004. Winnie had devoted herself to finding and caring for children who had lost their families, many through HIV-related illnesses. 

Although Lisa returned to the UK, the pair remained in contact, with Winnie sharing her dream of creating a permanent home for the children. Lisa began fundraising to help make that dream a reality, but tragically Winnie died just months after the home was established. 

Determined to continue her friend's vision, Lisa made the life-changing decision to take on the responsibility of leading the charity. Now, more than two decades later, the foundation provides a home for 22 girls while also delivering a wide range of community projects, including a pre-school, feeding stations, an organic gardening programme and a sewing school that teaches unemployed women skills to help them start their own businesses. 

Lisa said: "We really value this connection that we have formed with Textile Connections through the Songbird Project. We are so grateful to them for making such beautiful artwork that will be hung in the orphanage." 

The event also saw Textile Connections announce that it will sponsor one of the girls living at the foundation. The seven-year-old has lived at the orphanage for two years and already has a passion for sewing, making the sponsorship especially meaningful for the group. 

Textile Connections was founded in 2004 as the Glossop branch of the Embroiderers' Guild and quickly became known for its exhibitions and creative challenges at venues including Chatsworth House, Macclesfield Silk Museum and Fairfield Mill. 

Following the Covid pandemic, the national Embroiderers' Guild were unable to continue to finance local branches, and so the group reformed independently under the name Textile Connections. It has since rebuilt its membership and now runs a varied programme of guest speakers, practical workshops, exhibitions and community projects, continuing to share textile skills while supporting charities both locally and internationally.