Create Sewing

Mrs Bertimus Is My Next Guest On The Back Story Series!

The Back Story this month features a lady I am in awe of. I have even had the honour of spending a joyful day with her, a couple of years ago. She taught me some canny methods for transferring images onto fabric.Therefore without further ado, may I introduce to you to the delightful Letitia aka Mrs Bertimus …

Mrs Bertimus uses stitches and fabric to literally ‘paint’ a picture; the details, the shade, the light and the colours, all are inspirational.

Why I love Mrs Bertimus

Mrs Bertimus uses stitches and fabric to literally ‘paint’ a picture; the details, the shade, the light and the colours, all are inspirational. There is so much to look at in her work that even if you cropped a picture and gazed at the details that were left, your eyes would still be kept busy!

Images:

Her images make me feel and remember things that are just out of sight, like a word that is on the tip of your tongue but you just can’t quite remember what it is. A ‘will of the wisp’ style, an emotional moment, maybe even a tear or two, all this and more you will find in Mrs B’s art!

Letitia agreed to answer some questions…

Where did the name Mrs Bertimus come from?

Mrs Bertimus came about because my neighbour in the village is visited by a blackbird she calls Mrs Bertimus. Sometimes he even hops into the kitchen for crumbs and in the Spring he brings his family along!

When did you start creating?

One of my earliest memories is of my Mum as a hippy, painting along to Bob Dylan. She also used to make all my hippy-child clothes and costumes when I danced in shows and pantomimes. (I think noddy was my stage debut!)
I have always stitched and painted since I was a child and have felt torn between the two. Mrs Bertimus allows me to combine my two skills, I feel very lucky.

Who or what inspires you?

This is a tough question! I get my inspiration from everywhere, but I think the main things in my life that inspire me; are the treasures I come across in charity shops, the students I teach, everyday village life and taking part in workshops at wonderful places.

Oh and ‘Pretty in Pink’ when I saw the vintage styling in that film when I was a teenager, it was a revelation. (So was Andrew McCarthy, but that is another story!)

How do you balance your Art with your life?

I like the variety of having a part time job as a fine art tutor, a painter and as Mrs Bertimus. Mornings are for the school run and a quick whiz around with a duster, and then I’ll put radio on and away I go!

I do have three diaries though, one for teaching, one for Mrs Bertimus and one for everything else. I don’t know what I would do without those!

What future plans do you have for 2016?

2016 is proving to be a busy year, I am very honoured to be part of a group exhibition based on the theme of ‘Time’ at the Steel Rooms in Brigg. There will be a wide variety of work by some very good friends of mine. I shall be exhibiting some stitched pieces and some paintings. The exhibition will run from 26th March – 7th May.

The Abstraction Work Shop:

I am also very excited about the Abstraction workshop weekend I shall be teaching at hope and Elvis on 3rd 4th December, it will be a lot of creative messy fun!