Some of you may be familiar with the work of Brenda Killigrew and her students at Inkberrow Design Centre in Holberrow Green, Redditch, Worcestershire . The courses run both privately and by the college are textile based - Fashion Illustration, Millinery, Theatre, Corsetry, Tailoring, Textiles and Interior Design and Soft Furnishings. Brenda puts on the amazing fashion shows at ICHF shows. If you have been to Sewing for Pleasure/Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch you can't help but be aware of the sensation they cause. In these increasingly troubled times in further education we all need to be grateful to people like Brenda who have the energy, foresight and downright dogged determination to carry on delivering top level courses. It is a thankless task sometimes and we seem to be heading for some dark days ahead!!!! Great samples from just playing with the products to see what they could do So - less of the doom and gloom and on with the fun and joy of teaching and torturing students....

Well - Ally Pally has come and gone . The show is always one of the highlights of the year and this year we were not disappointed . It was wonderful to see the retrospective of Juila Caprara's work, what an incredible artist and teacher she was. I also particularly enjoyed the work of Gizella K Warburton, her muted tones and layered textures were a feast for the eyes . It was great to see so many of my friends and customers at the show, thank you all for dropping by. I know it can be difficult to get to me sometimes when I am surrounded by hoards of lovely ladies but thanks to those who made the effort. I was assisted on the stand by Brenda and Lou from Inkberrow Design Centre and Castanea . Having a disgusting cold I was in ever more need of their tender care and energy. They were absolute superstars - supplying me with hot chocolate on demand and mopping my fevered brow when necessary. Having been so inspired by the show I have just been going through some of my photos - I a...

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...