About me

I have been fascinated by the colours and patterns on fabrics for as long as I can remember and enjoyed dress-making and embroidery as a teenager. However, creativity took a back seat for a number of years. I concentrated on my career and raising a family but still sewed, knitted clothes for my children and made toys for school fairs.

As a teacher I attended many arts-based training courses and organised Arts Weeks for schools.

Retirement and grandchildren rekindled my creative interest. I started knitting again, but there are only so many cardigans and jumpers a child can wear - and children grow!

I became interested in learning new skills and revisiting old ones. I attended a variety of workshops such as screen printing, block printing, willow weaving and batik. But finally, two that truly inspired me: free motion machine embroidery and painting on calico.

My work

Inspiration for my card designs comes from many sources: photographs; doodling; the fabric itself; colour combinations and more. The pictures are inspired by visits and photographs.

I draw out my ideas in a cartridge-paper note book, scan the design and then cut out the main elements of the picture from the original drawing to use as a template. I then decide on the background, which may involve: painting or printing; choosing to stay with plain calico; trying a coloured linen or hessian; or using furnishing fabric samples bought in charity shops. The best bit is choosing the fabrics for the applique elements - I love it!

I use the templates to draw around on Bondaweb or similar. I then cut them out and attach the fabric in the correct position on the prepared background. Next I press with a hot iron and then the piece is ready for the machine embroidery details.

The softies were originally created to accompany picture books on an animal theme sent to my grandchildren in California.