Maker: Jo-Louise Whitfort

Panel number: 455

Petition sheet number: Unknown

Person honouring: Catherine Redditt

Relationship to maker: Maternal great-grandmother

Catherine Watson came from County Clare in Ireland as a young woman. She married a Mr MacBean and had one boy, Charles. When Charles was three months, Mr MacBean was tragically killed in a horse accident.

Catherine then remarried – to my grandfather, Jock Redditt. They had four children together, making it a family of five children.

Panel materials: Repurposed paper, fabric, felt, thread, leather, paua shell, string, crochet doilies, old cotton sheet (for the backing). I photocopied old love letters and fused these ripped pieces with unbleached calico (from old curtains). This is the outline of the dress. I wanted to imbue Catherine’s dress with genuine parts of her heart. Additional cuts of fabric were stitched and folded to add layer, lace, and design. The sun is a crocheted doily from an op-shop find! I added embroidery thread to it to create dimension and fun. Crushed paua shell gathered from Purakanui beach served as the tiny bees flying from the hive.