Finishing Works
I haven’t posted for a while because life has been quite challenging. But I’ve just sorted a few difficult issues like funding and buying a new wheelchair and in celebration … Continue reading
French inspirations 1
Holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to look anew at aspects of the decorative arts. Suddenly you have access to a completely different horizon with every reason to allow yourself to … Continue reading
French inspirations 2
It is time to say good bye to Holidays and France which already seem a while past. Pity! Once again, my holiday was spent in La Drôme Provençal. I’m growing … Continue reading
Japan meets Africa
Whilst I am trying to cope with the heat, I’m still being inspired by african fabrics and taking a holiday from my beloved felt. And for those of you who … Continue reading
deep purple November
This beautiful photo of the Thames, taken by my daughter from Waterloo Bridge speaks to me of November. We all have to be a bit heroic in November. Out of … Continue reading
shape mania
I have always loved mosaic effects. The other thing I love is the effect of silk fibre in wool. The colours can be reminiscent of stained glass. Recently I took … Continue reading
learning to live
I am discovering that learning to live is something you can think about always. Even when your choices are restricted or becoming more limited you can bring thought to the … Continue reading
my garden
A pigeon nearly walked through the door yesterday….. A new family of blue tits have appeared in the garden…. Jonathan rescued a baby frog from the watering can…… The fox … Continue reading
working cross-culturally
It has been hard becoming seriously disabled over a long time but one of the greatest pleasures has been learning to work really well and democratically with my helpers. My … Continue reading
small experiment in alchemy
It is always fun to experiment with new crafts. I treated myself to an experimental pack of art clay silver clay recently. However when I opened the box I found … Continue reading
greeting the Spring with Lakeside knitting
One way and another, since Christmas I’ve had some months of hiccups. First I needed to make some changes to my support arrangements. I battled through that doing a complete … Continue reading
experiment in green texture
Whilst working up to a big project I am concentrating on the finishing of a few small pieces I’ve had around for a while. Following my gauzy ribbon … Continue reading
Taulignan and the French silk industry
Here we are battling with rain with summer holidays long gone. But I’ve only just retrieved some of my photographs and some are worth sharing. In memory of a lovely … Continue reading
out in the sun
Lavender, historic villages, vines, olive trees and pretty winding lanes worth a gentle meander in the sun. I haven’t been posting much about textiles lately because I’ve been on holiday … Continue reading
via the marshes and the sublime..
Last weekend we spent a lovely weekend in Norfolk. Not only did I have the pleasure (thanks to good friends who actually know their birds) of seeing my first spoonbill, … Continue reading
ribbon and scrim 2
This is my second experiment with gauzy ribbon and scrim. Possibly one that I won’t repeat. Scrim in this context is a very light gauzy material made usually of cotton … Continue reading
Dieppe, duffels and sailor stripes
Well to be honest the two things Dieppe and duffel bags are, as far as I know, not connected at all, except in my recent activities and, perhaps, by sailors. … Continue reading
ribbon and scrim 1
I decided yesterday to experiment with two additions: gauzy ribbon and scrim. Gauzy ribbon, the subject of today’s post, breaks one of the rules of felting. This is that synthetic … Continue reading
leaf piece in purple
I’m in a lull. Perhaps working up to some more significant creative activity. Perhaps because there has been a lot of stress. Thank goodness for my friends. This interim piece … Continue reading
parma violets
This small piece of felt made with snips from a silk hanky reminds me of those crystallised violets used for cake decoration and those soapy tubes of sweets!
small pieces
During a week when Margaret Thatcher dominated the scene, I would like to pay tribute to the writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala who also died recently. I read her novels about … Continue reading
resist and transform
I like to make pretty, characterful personal spaces. Here is my favourite Ikea chest of drawers with a pretty ivy mirror made and decorated by a friend in decoupage and … Continue reading
wrap up winter
Ice structures in Edgbaston In one of the early spells of deep mid winter I started to work on a large piece of chiffon silk. Inspired by ice and snow … Continue reading
for the love of Birmingham and pineapples
Birmingham can be very beautiful. Here are some of the things I love about it. Music Canals The light In the meantime I am a bit frustrated. The weather isn’t … Continue reading
spring flowers and pictorial felt
Inspired by pots of spring flowers I decided to make a small piece of pictorial felt. Sometimes when you have some very special materials it is hard to open the … Continue reading
on the upswing
I think one of the hardest things I am learning about is how to deal with phases of inertia or illness and then to move towards recovery and regain energy. … Continue reading
natural fibre pouch
I have started my exploration of natural fibres by experimenting with the felting properties of Icelandic wool tops. The fibre is courser than merino and the felt produced has a … Continue reading
silk on silk stole
Well yes I am quite pleased with this. It needs a bit more work on the back but this is more like it. a stole made with silk backed with … Continue reading
working cross-culturally
It has been hard becoming seriously disabled over a long time but one of the greatest pleasures has been learning to work really well and democratically with my helpers. My … Continue reading
small experiment in alchemy
It is always fun to experiment with new crafts. I treated myself to an experimental pack of art clay silver clay recently. However when I opened the box I found … Continue reading
greeting the Spring with Lakeside knitting
One way and another, since Christmas I’ve had some months of hiccups. First I needed to make some changes to my support arrangements. I battled through that doing a complete … Continue reading
experiment in green texture
Whilst working up to a big project I am concentrating on the finishing of a few small pieces I’ve had around for a while. Following my gauzy ribbon … Continue reading
Taulignan and the French silk industry
Here we are battling with rain with summer holidays long gone. But I’ve only just retrieved some of my photographs and some are worth sharing. In memory of a lovely … Continue reading
out in the sun
Lavender, historic villages, vines, olive trees and pretty winding lanes worth a gentle meander in the sun. I haven’t been posting much about textiles lately because I’ve been on holiday … Continue reading
Principally felt 