Well, well, well…. a woman on a mission!
If you follow my blog, you will know I love a challenge. And even better is a time-related challenge!! I've had a week when I was at home alone and I gave myself a challenge to do as much outside work on the house as possible whilst DH was away in France with 60...
How nature and jazz combine
I've been weaving several different pieces for two exhibitions over the last few weeks. And while I weave, sometimes I listen to music on my ipod, and sometimes I weave in silence, letting thoughts run through my head. One of these thoughts was about the weaving I'm...
Weaving – the design process
Today is a bitter/sweet day. This morning, I waved my son off on his next big adventure - a career in the armed forces. He's now on his way to boot camp - or Phase I training as the Army like to call it! An intensive 14 weeks to see how he shapes up. I know he...
Silk purse from sow’s ear or similar results!
I don't usually call my weaving a pig's ear (!) but sometimes, when things don't go according to plan, it can feel that way! I have been weaving a series of pieces for two exhibitions, one based on tree bark, the other on geology and erosion. The tree bark series was...
Small cogs in a Big Wheel
I spent a lovely weekend with the members of the Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers. It was a particularly well-timed visit as they were basking in the success of a mammoth Fleece to Fabric challenge called The Newbury Coat. The papers made much of...
Golden activities
It's Wimbledon time again and I'm an addict, so for two weeks in the year, I juggle my time between the studio and the TV. Not a confession I really like to make, but it's something that began in my youth, and seems to me to be a connection between my mum and me,...
New Life at 81
I don't often write about my family life because I believe my family are due their privacy, but today is an exception. You see, we have just come back from the most amazing wedding which was in Scotland yesterday. The two people tying the knot were my Dad and his...
Listening to your body!
You know some mornings (happily rare for me!) when you wake up and you know that it's really not going to be a brilliant idea to get up? Well today is one of those days for me! My eyes are so tired they want to stay closed, my thoughts are like mush, my body really...
Never say never!
Never say never. That is something I've learnt as I've grown older. Things are so black and white when you're a youngster, and as you see more of the world and experience life and injustice and unfairness, you realise that very few things remain so clear. As a...
Links to the other side of the world….
Life is full of lovely surprises! One happened just this morning. I was teaching in the studio when my husband popped his head in and informed me that two people had just turned up with connections to our house! This lovely young couple were on holiday in the area,...
Oxford – dreaming spires and museum feasts!
This week the university masters students had the opportunity to visit beautiful Oxford and visit 3 museums, and take in an exhibition by our masters leader, reknowned ceramicist, Sebastian Blackie. The three museums were The Ashmolean, the Pitt River Museum and the...
Moggie Meanderings
This week, we have added to the owner occupier number in our house. We used to have a couple of cats, but the road that runs to the front of our property can be dangerous to unwary felines, and we have lost the last three to cars. So we vowed not to have any more...