Aunty Shirley on the left, me in the middle and Mum on the right. Is it nature or nurture that makes us different? As the oldest of 2 sisters, I was encouraged to be the noisy, happy little performer and my sister Lynda, was always described as the quiet, thoughtful one. And that is what we became . .  I remember being very young, having to stand on a box in my Nana's garden singing "Senor Don Gato was a cat . " for the family and all the neighbours, I hated it. I was creative and colourful and not very academic, whereas Lynda always did well in school and quietly got on with life.  Basically I took up all the room!! It wasn't until I left home to go to art college at 17, that Lynda really started to blossom. Lynda, my sister on the left and me on the right Apart from the usual early sibling rivalry, my sister and I have always got on, now more than ever. Lynda is the best thing in my life. We are both very lucky to have been able to work on our relationship through

A selection of beautiful beaded bowls by Sue Redhead, Jane Wolfe & Gina Dean I find it amusing that a workshop I created based on bowls and bangles I have been making all my life - has become very popular in the The Experimental Textiles Video Library & Membership. I have never taught this workshop as it is something I have always just - done. Making strange and unusual pieces with random beads has always given me great pleasure - I hadn't realised that it might intrigue others too.  I decided to film the workshop and see if any of the membership wanted to play with the techniques. My goodness they have been having fun. It just goes to show - you never know!   One of Gina's larger vessels Students on the video library go through waves of working, there will be a flurry of work and samples on one workshop, then others will start on another. As the member is for 12 months, you can create your work when it suits you. What I love is how they all chat to each other, showing

One of the memorials in the Maharani Gardens in Jaipur that is featured in my Textile Travels online lecture.   How are you all doing? Are you coping with and all the rain we are having? I know some of you will be enjoying warmer temperatures on the other side of the world. Wherever you are, I hope all is well. As I now live in Ireland, I am delivering less lectures, it is a bit far to travel now!! However I do deliver 3 or 4 during the year - online. Guilds and textile groups are much more experienced with Zoom now, so it is easy to talk to groups in real time, if not the same place. I can talk about anything - but I do offer a choice of 3 when I am approached. And I can write a new lecture if that is requested, I certainly have enough images to choose from after all these years.   I was booked by a lovely group from Ayelsbury, U.K on Saturday to talk about my textiles travels. Having traveled and taught in Australia, New Zealand, India and a few places in Europe as well as the UK,

  I look as though I mean business . . brandishing my iron . . It's been a busy time since I last wrote the blog. I am now in full time filming and editing mode. Whilst I can't make up the time I lost when I had the TIA, I can make sure I don't dilly dally about recording the remaining 5 online workshops for The Experimental Textiles Video Library & Membership. Whilst it is hard work, it will be worth it to get them all up on the website by the end of the month. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to be able to talk to students online when they ask questions or post their work in the private group attached to each of the workshops. I do a little happy dance when a member posts their work. After years of trying different online teaching platforms, the best one is my own website. Technology has changed so much, it is amazing how much we can now host on our websites. And with the help of David Kelly , my website works well and looks fabulous. I am sitting here, grinn

Fizz helping me change the beds . . Well it has stopped raining for a few days, and now it is down to freezing. Brrr!!! My readers in Australia and New Zealand will be enjoying gorgeous sunshine. I hope it isn't too hot for you - I know the temperatures are rising. Meanwhile in the northern hemisphere, it is very chilly indeed - though warm in the sun. There is surprising heat in the sun, out of the wind! We rarely get frost this close to the sea, but we have had a few very frosty days. It is very pretty and I am grateful that I can pick and choose when I venture out of my cosy, warm home. Like many folk that live by the sea, my yard is decorated with various 'ornaments' that I have found on beach walks. They are very pretty in the frost. I enjoy arranging them. It is very rare to see the frost on the walls and on the grass in my field The girls are enjoying the bright, dry days. Walking them is so much more fun when it is dry I have been busy filming my next online worksho

Nicola and the girls  Happy New Year!! How are you all? Have you survived the Festive Season? I hope that you have great things to look forward to, something simple like starting to knit a new jumper or maybe a larger project? New Year saw me and the girls (my dogs) staying at Clasheen with my dear friend Nicola Brown for a few days. We go there every year. It's a great chance for us to catch up properly, talk about things that have gone well, and some things that have not gone so well. When you work for yourself you are always learning . .  It rained almost continuously, so we didn't get any long walks in, but it was very good to sit in Nicola's cosy lounge or kitchen and just chat about anything and everything. Plus my dogs generally get on well with Pip, Nicola's dog. A very different view from Nicola's house Those of you that have been following me for a while, will know my house has views along the west Clare coast. Pretty amazing. Nicola has a wonderful view

Gur-e Mir (Tomb of the Emir) Samarkand It's happening!! Hurrah!!   The Textile & Architecture Journey of Uzbekistan 2025 with Kim Thittichai is now up on AAhilya Holidays website - here is the link - https://www.aahilyaholidays.com/tour/6c2e/-a-textile-&-architecture-journey-of-uzbekistan-2025-with-kim-thittichai#Tours_Name As you can probably imagine, I am so very excited about this trip . I have always been fascinated by The Silk Road. The colours, the designs. The wonderful structure of the buildings. The huge rounded forms against the stunning blue skies. Bibi Khanum Mosque, (dome over the north iwan) Samarkand Bibi Khanum Mosque, Samarkand Bibi Khanum Mosque (courtyard), Samarkand We will have opportunities to work in sketchbooks as we travel around these amazing cities. Do these images make you feel energised and wanting to explore? Do you fancy joining me? Madrasah and minaret of Islam Khodja and Soviet school, Khiva Kalyan Minar, Bukhara Chor Minar, Bukhara Registan