Correspondence used for the artwork ‘Many Hands: A year of exchanges and stories’

HI S, your vessels come to 11hrs and 54 mins. Are you interested in exchanging for help with graphic design logos and social media? If so, when do you think you could make the time? – B

Am chasing up all my outstanding exchanges and that includes you too my dear. Am hoping to have the project wound up end of May. Do you still need help with what to do? – B

Can you let me know if you want to still be involved in the project? I don’t want you to feel obligated or pressured to finish it or for it to be an unpleasant experience for you. No dramas if you’re no longer interested. I just need to know. Love you. – B

Working on my upcoming show today…… Can you tell me honestly, do you want to continue with this exchange? It seems to be something you’ve struggled with. Is there something that’s stopping you from completing it that I can help with? Do you want to do something else? Do you want to exchange just one basket? None? I really need to know in the next week. – B

You don’t have to finish the exchange by the start of the show but I do need to wrap this up soon –  as it’ll be nearly a year in the making which I’m sure is more than either of us anticipated! I won’t love you any less for not continuing J Look forward to hearing back. – B

I think the whole keeping track thing undid me. I kept forgetting where I’d put the notepad, then I’d start a list on my phone but not go back to it. I’ve just not been very functional on any level and thinking about it still makes me tear up.I hate not being part of your project so I’m going to try to collate what notes I have and add to them over the weekend. I’m aiming for 8 hours but can’t remember exactly what I owe you (aside from my undying love and my sanity). Thanks for being so understanding. Love you.S x

Oh god I feel terrible.  I really didn’t want this to be an added stress for you on top of everything else. And now I’m making you cry. What a crappy friend I am. What can I do? How CAN I help? Come and stay with me and let me look after you….or at least we can both not cope together. we can read books and knit in front of the telly.Let’s catch up for a sober coffee before we grow too old and wrecked.  Life’s really hard sometimes. Just tell me what I can do to make it easier for you.Love you  – B

Hey hey hey I just thought of something you can do for me intead of the social media stuff. Want to come over and write tiny white words on Kraft cards? At least it would get you out of the house. You can wear your jammies. -B

Hahhaha… it’s okay you have a clear conscience ! You are my most amazing and bestest friend. I would let you know if you were being horrible. +You’re not. I’m doing much better this week and I promised my therapist I would get out of my pyjamas everyday. Writing tiny words sounds fun too. – S

I can’t do anything much till Friday as this is H’s exam week so I’m dragging him through as best I can and working in between. See you then beautiful! xxxxx – S

This work was one of the last exchanges to be finalised and was a finalist in the Seed Stitch contemporary Textiles Award.