Janet Bolton workshop

I have been away at West Dean on a residential workshop with Janet Bolton (www. janetbolton.com). I knew the applique techniques already but it was good to share laughs and fabrics with the other women on the course and to hear Janet's funny stories. I didn't really want to make a narrative picture so just played around with my fabrics and remembered how much I like doing small abstract compositions.

Quilts at the V and A

The quilts I saw at the V and A weren't all patchwork and quilting. I was particularly taken with the many fine examples of applique and the embroidered sections of the patchworked "Pomegranate Coverlet ( 1700-20). I have been having a go at embroidering directly on to sections of an old log cabin top. My own designs.

Thrift and Thread

Not long till my exhibition opens! Click on the image in order to read the text closely.

Tie skirt

This is a wrap round skirt which fixes anywhere with the corsage pin and therefore fits any size.

Recycled men's ties.

Pegswood Surestart

We have been making brooches to pin on to our sock creatures.

Manchester Antique Textiles Fair

Here are some of the bits that I picked up last Sunday in Manchester. I am always looking out for examples of thriftiness combined with beauty and think the mosaic and crazy patchwork in these pieces demonstrate how you can combine tiny scraps of material and make something special.

Harris Tweed combo

Combining 2 Harris Tweed jackets