Community

Sew much more to see at Milestone

By Pip Turton

Jul 10, 2025

Artists Val Callister, Dianne Hanna, Barb Gray and Gillian Schoenborn with an art piece created by Barb Gray. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A colourful and contemporary exhibition has stitched its way on to the walls of Milestone Café in Kialla.

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Stitched Stories is the work of Six Threads, a collective of six local textile artists, Val Callister, Wendy Cook, Barb Gray, Dianne Hanna, Jan Laidlaw, and Gillian Schoenborn, who have met weekly for the past five years to explore their craft and create.

The exhibition features 31 unique pieces, with six contributed by each artist.

Using a mix of media including fabric, fibre, silk paper, metal and paint, the artists experiment with eco-dyeing, felting, embroidery, soldering, heat guns and more to bring their visions to life.

“Our work is inspired by nature, the colours, textures, patterns and shapes,” Dianne said.

“We usually have two or three pieces on the go at once, and they take forever to get completed”.

“Seeing nature through an artistic lens helps spark new ideas, you'll notice we get a lot of inspiration from the environment,” she added.

The group began after workshops at Shepparton South Community Centre ceased during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four regular attendees connected with two others from a wider textiles group, forming Six Threads, a name that reflects their shared love of the craft.

While each artist’s style is unique, their pieces come together in harmony.

“The hanging of the pieces works like a puzzle, the balance of colour and size is really nice,” Barb said.

The exhibition, on display until July 31, has been well-received.

“It’s quite incredible to see something so familiar while we sit here and have a coffee,” Gillian said.

“The feedback has been fantastic,” Barb added.

With plans to exhibit again next year, the artists are proud of their work and the supportive community they’ve built.

As Val puts it, “It’s the perfect location for an exhibition, accessible, inviting and a beautiful way to share what we love.”

The group extends its gratitude to Milestone and owner Kris Howley, in particular for the opportunity to exhibit.

Head to Milestone to see the exhibition from 8am to 3pm every day until July 31.