Meet a Member: Najlaa Khalil

Get to know The Guild by meeting our talented members! We have interesting and inspiring members all over the country and further afield, and we want you to be able to share their work.

Can you tell us about your Piece for Peace project?

After the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent worsening situation I decided to create a wall hanging to portray the truth and culture of Iraq. I bought fabric and cut it into squares but I was too emotionally distraught to work on it. I abandoned the idea. Then one day I mentioned to friends that I wanted to produce a hanging for Peace and they welcomed the idea. I began to give people a square piece of fabric so that they could decorate it any way they want to represent peace.

Then I bought more fabric that I cut into rectangles and began to stitch my theme, based on news and poems about Iraq, and pictures, and historical facts about Iraq.

I will continue to work on these hangings until the situation in Iraq improves. Anyone is welcome to contribute to it. If you are interested please get in touch.

What are you working on now?

I am working on the Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) Journal Quilt Challenge. This is the first time I have taken part. In addition to that, I have many unfinished projects from traditional quilts and creative pieces. I really enjoy creating all kinds of quilts.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from visiting galleries and museum around the year. I like to take lots of photos and develop them to keep the memories. I have lots of ideas for future work and I wish I had more time to work on all my creative ideas.

What do you love about The Guild and your membership of the Contemporary Textiles (was Contemporary Quilt) special interest group?

The Guild is great. The magazines have inspiration and creative news in each issue. I like meeting new people and seeing what projects they are working on.

Follow Najlaa on Instagram