Bursary Opportunity

I was recently selected to be a member of the prestigious Textile Study Group so am very happy to share information about this bursary opportunity for someone who is just starting to teach and wants to develop  a skill or opportunity.
All the information is HERE

A Book of Stars

Made this a while ago but have forgotten to blog it. I have had a tatty piece of star patchwork coverlet for a while. It was very raggy but I really liked the patterns of the fabric and the way the original maker had put the starts together so making a book seemed the most appropriate way to separate them and show them off individually. The great thing about using a blog is gives me the chance to show you every page which doesn't suit the whole Instagram/ Facebook format. Enjoy!

( Just realised my nails are filthy I had just been transplanting wallflowers and putting tulip bulbs in they are not usually so bad!)

Variations on a theme

Four collages using the same colour palette and some lovely old materials including part of the front of an Edwardian costume, little pieces unpicked from antique quilts and mixed in with old French printed linen.
I have just put these on Etsy but you will have noticed my prices have gone up a bit. This is because Etsy is charging much more than it used to for commission and then there is the listing fee, the VAT on the fees and then the  bill is in dollars and the pound is weak. I have thought about giving up selling through Etsy altogether and just continuing to sell direct to customers in my studio and at workshops but you will see that I won't be stocking my shop quite so regularly. I know lots of people sell through Instagram without any fees but it kind of spoils Instagram when it all becomes about things for sale rather than visuals and lifestyle.

Some Advice

The Cupboard

I have been clearing my parent's house and garage and am now down to the last few bits and pieces. This cupboard in the garage has now been exposed, it might have been a doll's house at one time though not mine.I would dearly love it but it is screwed into asbestos board so daren't take the risk of pulling it off. Full of lovely textures though. The dirty screwed up papers were on the front of the cupboard - my Dad's own little mood board!

The Red House

I have at last finished a major project which I have been working on all summer. It brings together my feelings about losing the family home and garden as my mother has moved into a care home and brings together my mother's favoured technique of cross stitch and my love of collage and using old bits and pieces. The cross stitch is not up to her standard but it is my way as I did not want to work on a grid.
This has been my year of exploring cross stitch and mixing it in to my work and there is more to come.

Seed heads

The seed heads in the hedgerows are so pretty now mixed in with a bit of green  till everything gets a bit limp and dead looking. Seed heads have been the inspiration for one of my most popular workshops and both dates for my Seed Heads courses have been fully booked for 6 months. Today though I heard that another user had cancelled their booking on the space where I teach so I am now able to offer a new date, Saturday 20th October. The course is £50 incl materials and will take place at The Hearth, Horsley 10-4.
Today is the first day I have advertised it so there are plenty of spaces.
Full details of the course are on my website HERE and please contact me there for information on how to pay.