People’s History Museum (PHM) has unveiled a beautiful new range of handcrafted Christmas tree decorations, featuring exclusive designs available only through the museum. The collection is a creative collaboration with Frockdolly, also known as textile artist Cas Verity Baker – and draws inspiration from traditional European folk
art.
Made in an array of vibrant felts and vivid threads, each stitch is the handiwork of Cas herself. The designs vary from timeless festive symbols to powerful icons that reflect the stories celebrated at PHM – including the Pride Progress flag and the raised fist of solidarity. Every decoration carries a message of hope and unity.
The full collection will be available to purchase online from 25 September and in PHM shop from early October. Priced at £12.50, each piece measures approximately 10-13cm high. Every purchase supports PHM’s mission to share ideas worth fighting for.
You can find out more about PHM, its latest programme of events and visiting the museum at phm.org.uk, and you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to receive PHM’s e-newsletter.
ENDS
For further information, to arrange a visit or interview please contact Fido PR:
laura.sullivan@fidopr.co.uk / clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Samples are available for photo-shoots, to find out more email clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
About People’s History Museum
People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the UK’s national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. Through an eclectic and colourful mix of historic and contemporary collections, featuring banners, badges, posters, photography and more, the museum celebrates the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for.
Offering an engaging programme of exhibitions and events, collaborating with communities to create authentic content, the museum is Family Friendly throughout – inspiring the next generation to be active citizens.
People’s History Museum encourages visitors to be empowered by the past to make a change for the future. We are all together in the fight for a fairer world.
About Frockdolly
Frockdolly, aka Cas Verity Baker, has lived a life as colourful as the creations that she now makes. You could say that her destiny was stitched into the stars.
From an early age Cas attended Embroiders’ Guild meetings with her mum and then the bright lights of the stage called, so a planned foray into studying Colour Chemistry at University instead led her to Theatre Design & Technology. A stint in Ibiza running a fancy dress shop followed with designing costumes for the Central School of Ballet and then a role at the National Theatre Hire Department, before moving on to the BBC Costume Store. Behind the scenes Cas continued to craft, knit, crochet and sew, and it was following two diagnoses of disabling illnesses that she re-discovered her love of embroidery.
Her work features a kaleidoscope of influences inspired by a childhood spent living abroad: Caribbean colours, South Korean motifs, Thai beading techniques and Saudi Arabian patterns. When not in her London studio, you’ll often find Cas in the garden with her nieces.
About Arts Council England (ACE)
PHM is an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The work of PHM is supported using public funding by ACE, the national development agency for creativity and culture. ACE have set out their strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 they want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 they will invest over £467 million of public money from government and an estimated £250 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.
Are you more independent or community focused? Experimental or measured? Prefer work or play?
Take our quick quiz to find out which radical you are!
