Tender Whispers from the Heart Exhibitions 2026

There’s a healing that happens when we read, write and embroider. In the quiet moments of embroidering poetry and prose, we listen to whispers from the tender, hidden parts of our hearts and we connect with ourselves. Words, meanings and memories become stitched into our souls and we understand their significance, why they resonate with us, why they have stayed with us for days, years and decades. 

Tender Whispers from the Heart is a collaboration between Rebecca Devaney, founder of Textile Tours of Paris and Sura Qadiri, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone literature at, St Catherine’s College, University of Cambridge. In her Textile Art practice Rebecca responds to poetry and prose and the intention of Tender Whispers from the Heart was to share her enriching creative process.

In this online embroidery course, we shared our love of poetry and prose, embroidery, textiles, art, community, connection and bien sûr, France. Each session explored a different theme such as; longing, love, healing, beauty, connection, nature, with a poem in English and a poem in French. We reflected on the themes together and admired historical and contemporary textile artists to inspire our creativity.

In the days, weeks and months that followed, students from all over the world listened to the tender whispers from their hearts. They slowly, lovingly embroidered poetry using pure silk threads from Au Ver à Soie, the last silk manufacturer in France and vintage French domestic linens from the oldest Flea Market in Paris.

The Tender Whispers from the Heart exhibition reveals intimate, quiet moments in time; as the poet carefully crafts their letters, words and lines on the page, the embroiderer patiently crafts their stitches, images and embellishments on the linen. The joy of reading has inspired each tiny, beautiful, silken stitch; richly embroidered with creativity, memories and traditions. Listen carefully and you can hear the whispered stories from the hearts and hands of weavers, silk spinners, embroiderers, poets and writers.

Exhibition Details

Tender Whispers from the Heart will be exhibited internationally in several locations over the coming months, featuring an exciting programme of talks, embroidery workshops and exhibitions that celebrate craft, community, literature and creativity.

The exhibitions include the Research Library, University of London in Paris, Paris (September - November 2026), Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH), Cambridge, England (September - October 2026), Shakespeare and Company bookshop, La Nuit de la Broderie, Au Ver à Soie showroom, Ultramod haberdashery, Paris (September - October 2026), Lexicon Library, Dublin (November - December 2026).

Exhibiting Artists

Alexandra Woern, Amanda Lavery, Amber Ritchie, Anne Nelson, Becky Husak, Bernadette Bone, Blathnaidh Colhoun, Claire McDonald, Dawn Lighthall, Elizabeth Liu, Evelyne Apfler, Fiona Maccoll, Holly Brackmann, Jacqueline Gillespie, Jan Kepher, Jandee Abraham, Jane Whelan, Janell Cleveland, Janice Macleod, Julie Wood, Lauren McGowan, Leah Petro, Leslie McSorley, Linda Czopek, Liz McRae, Michelle Lubash, Nadine Roger, Racquel Sanderson, Sandra Markus, Sharon Peoples, Sue Hill, Sue North, Susan Meer, Jill Gillett, Kylie Fowler, Elaine Doyle.

Exhibition Programme