Well..if that was winter – I am happy with that. Very different to this time last year when I spent a lot of the time a nervous wreck, scattering salt on the driveway! Lovely to see the sunshine for half term too. So… December and January have gone in a flash. I think I’ve finally got the hang of this website lark and have been busy loading new workshops for both this year and next. Thank you to you all for making the transition over to the website so smooth and for all the great feedback along the way.
Sue Stone’s, Suzette Smart Cas Holmes sold out (not surprisingly) within an hour of putting them but we have plenty more designer makers, artists and textile tutors coming in the months ahead. I want to try and champion local tutors/ artists too, so we have Elaine Archer, Dot Ronaldson, Julie Convery teaching her silver clay jewellery. Vicki Walsh of MaeKandoo is coming to share her ridiculously gorgeous mouse bookends and Liz Curtis from Create and Craft is coming in September to teach her ‘Country Tweed Cushions’ from a choice of four delicious patterns. Both makers have used velvet and tweed – my favourite combo of the moment. I want to try and encourage more painting… The studio space is more suitable to sit down as opposed to easel painting so we have Helen Rubinstein, a local lass coming to teach beginners/intermediates in watercolour next year.
This last month, I think the studio was shut just five days in total (while I slept!) Amanda’s dressmaking and corded bag is as popular as ever and there is availability on her pattern cutting and corded bags. We had Lynne Blackburn from Essex Print Studio teaching introduction to lino printing for her debut workshop earlier this month. She included a huge amount in two days – both pattern and two colour prints were covered and I am pleased she will return next year and offering these in more depth, on two seperate dates.
I had the pleasure of teaching Essex Handicrafts Group – the nicest ladies, who made teaching Soldered Book Covers from the kitchen fun – despite the squeeze – thank you for being so lovely and getting stuck in.
January also saw the introduction of StitchUP – a new session designed for everyone. I have been really chuffed with its reception as I wasn’t sure it was going to have the uptake, but it is working really well as a hub to hide for a couple of hours and just catch up on any stitchery/ongoing work with like minded people. It has been great as its introduced a few new to machine embroider April and May and I plan on publishing more dates very soon.
Carolyn Dilloway is coming regularly to the studio through out 2019 for her modern patchwork and quilting class. Her relaxed / informative teaching style means she’s going down a storm.
In the weeks ahead I am looking forward to welcoming Sylvia Paul here for the first time. She is teaching a two day painting and collage workshop and some of her works can currently be viewed at the Minories in Colchester. Ella is here with her new illustration workshop on birds – extracting the artist from everyone – and we have a ‘Mad March Hare’ or two making an entrance with Gaye Parker – coming all the way from Nottingham just for us on what I know will be a great two days.
Im really excited to be teaching my newest workshop – ‘Sumptious Soldering’ that combines the lot..gilding, foiling and a ton of machine embroidery on water-soluble in the studio this month and it was great to be back with the groups LTT, Stitchers Inc and Project Textiles after rather a long (enforced!) Christmas break.
Im continuing to teach elsewhere too … and had a great couple of days with the ladies at KIS Quilting and Franklins, Colchester this week – it was good to be back with everyone and will continue to put on structured dates with them.
So, as I’m beginning to waffle, it just remains for me to say thank you once more and I look forward to sharing more news and pictures from events in the coming months.