I will have a stand at the show - TG18. The stand will on your left as you walk into the Textile Gallery opposite the Alice Kettle exhibit. Do come and say hello and tell me what you are up to. The preparation for the show is going well. I shall be launching 2 new Playpacks. A new transfer print pack which includes 1/2 metre Evolon, 1/2 metre white polyester organza, 4 A3 sheets of transfer print and instructions. The second pack will consist of 2 pre cut boxes, 1 heart shape, 1 square. These boxes have been cut from heavy pelmet vilene plus which has a heat fusible glue on one side so you can decorate the boxes by ironing on glitter, sequins, feathers, fabric, threads - whatever you fancy. I will be running a competition for customers who buy the box packs, details are in the packs and the 1st prize is a Hot Textiles Playpack.  the pack contains a square and a heart shaped box the two heart shapes decorated with a variety of threads ironed onto the glue side and machine ru...

 a tandem hang glider at Devils Dyke I took a long weekend to get to know a new friend!! He came over to Brighton and we made an effort to get out and see a few sights. We started with Devils Dyke. The views are amazing. On a clear day you can see all the way over to the Isle of Wight and over to Guildford. It's a great place to go if you need a little perspective in your life. A hang gliding school were putting students through their paces on the side of the hill. It was wonderful just spending time watching these beautiful and very graceful structures glide through the air. There is a great pub with plenty of parking (free if you are a N.T member). An open log fire, great food and fresh coffee, what more could you ask? views over to Ditchling and learner hang glider - such a brave boy! On Friday we went to Wakehurst Place, I haven't been for a while and being a member of Kew gardens I get free tickets to take friends to either Kew or Wakehurst Place . Wakehurst is a great ...

 Kevin and Viv at the front of the shop and studios We had a FAB 4 days at Art Van Go . It's a terrible place to teach - Coffee and tea are served regularly, lunch is arranged and chocolates are served in the afternoon just in case your blood sugar levels are falling!!! One of the great things for me is that there are always gorgeous paints and materials to play with that I haven't had a chance to discover before. The shop really is an Aladins cave. I also had a chance to see  a preview copy Gwen Hedley's new book Drawn to Stitch - it is fabulous - it will be out soon and I would recommend you get a copy as soon as you can.     I was amazed that in the short space of time since I last taught with Viv and Kevin that they have created a great garden down the side of the studio. I was thinking we could have great parties and barbeques there - Yeeha! there is plenty of room for students to sit out and enjoy the sunshine and there is excellent wheel chair access. ...

  The students on the course are -  Sharon Osborne, Anne Rowland, Pamla Tasker, Jennifer Sandler, Sue Dunkerley, Joan Hayes, Sandy Goff, Christine Hingley, Lynne Haywood, Bette Tasker, Lana Young. The girls hard at work in the studio Sticking down the 'flipping out' exercises Here I am on the second day of a 4 day summer school Art Van Go and we are alll having a great time. The students are working hard and developing some excellent designs. We are working from my book Experimental Textiles specifically pages 20 - 27. Yesterday we worked on the journey exercise and the flipping out exercise.The students then took sections of their designs and we have started to manipulate them.  The 'journeys' spread on the floor A few examples of the 'flipping out' exercises Jenny 1 Jenny 2 Lynnne Sandy 1 Sandy 2 Time for lunch now - on with the transferring of designs into sketchbooks and the colouring in . . .   Will keep you up to date as we go...

Hello to my new followers! I t's a gorgeous (but chilly) morning in Brighton and I think I will attack the garden. All the hedges have gone berserk with the recent rain we have had. There isn't much colour in the garden at the moment all the annuals are looking a bit sad and my favourites, the Agapanthus are just starting to droop.  This sculpture is by Ptolemy and is made from recycled hubcaps. It is 4' long and resides on top of one of the many telegraph poles in my garden. I love this transition into Autumn, it's my favourite time of year. You can smell the change in the air and I start to feel my energy flooding back - and not before time. Having had a quiet August I have found it hard to get motivated. I have got lots of pre planning done for 2012. The Australia/New Zealand trip is on in April which is very exciting. I do have a confession to make though - those of you who have been following this will know - I have been very distracted by my 'boy shopping...

I dashed up to the NEC today to catch up with loads of friends ( Hello Jill and Tallulah) and to see what was happening with the show. As usual it is a very exciting show - not just for quilters. All kinds of textile art is featured there and if you are remotely tempted to go in the next three days I urge you to go. I had a chance to see my good mate Angie Hughes before the show got too busy - she is producing some fascinating work (as usual). Her stand no is Demo E at the back by the food and coffee shops. Angie before the rush started Some of Angies latest projects  Angie will be demonstrating on her stand for the whole show, lots of printing, foiling and painted Bondaweb. FABULOUS!!! If you do get there in the next three days - have great time!

  The ruins and the house at Nymans I have been mooning around this week, I just cant seem to get my act together. I think it is because it is August and nothing much is happening. I need to be busy to be busy  - does that make sense? I'm not very good at motivating myself.  Case in point is this blog. My sister and I took my parents to Nymans Gardens on Sunday and I had meant to post this on Monday!!!! Nymans has the most stunning gardens and grounds with added benefit of beautiful ruins. It is just off the A23 in East Sussex and is run by the National Trust. There is a great cafe there where you can buy meals and cakes and there is also a fantastic garden centre where you can buy the plants you see in the gardens and lots of other wonderful things like very reasonable garden furniture. It really is an excellent day out. Nymans Garden   The red border The planting, topiary and colour combinations are truly inspirational, even if you aren't into gardening, you...