Working with words using needle and thread
A new year means new projects, and we had the pleasure of developing an embroidery workshop for the Musée de la Marine, aimed at women learning French. After a visit to the museum, which has recently reopened and highlights maritime tableware, we worked on French expressions involving culinary terms: “the icing on the cake,” “telling tall tales,” “being seasoned”… What do these expressions mean, and are there similar expressions in the cultures of the women attending the workshop? Then, each participant traced a pattern and a word on a napkin, following the same theme. Embroidering then allows them to better internalize these words and exchange ideas with others on related topics.
A few anchor-shaped biscuits rounded off this social gathering. In the end, there were as many napkins as participants—a way to work on the language without even realizing it, and above all, a moment of collective sharing. When the thread helps to open up dialogue… Our thanks to the Réséda center in Vernouillet for their warm welcome.
