Norma Bean addressed the 2011 July meeting with a display of individual bonnets stitched by local women. This is a small part of a huge project, Roses from the Heart, by Tasmanian artist Christina Henri which will bring to notice and commemorate the 25566 women convicts who were transported to Australia from 1788 to 1853. Each bonnet is sewn with the name of a convict and some of our IWA members hope to contribute to the project by making bonnets. Eventually they will be part of a touring art installation planned for, amongst other places, St Paul’s Cathedral.

Below are photos [suplied by Ms Bean] of the superbly sewn bonnets which were displayed at an IWA member's home for the monthly meeting.