News

2010 is proving to be another exciting year.
I exhibited at The British Craft Trade Fair, Harrogate in April and was delighted with the response to my work. As a result I returned to Jersey with lots to do, working to fulfill orders taken and replace stock. There was a lot of interest in my textile jewellery kits and I shall be working on new designs shortly which will feature in future events.

The Jersey Textile Showcase took place in March and it was great to see so many old friends and to make lots of new ones.
My workshops were well attended and it was a pleasure to see the students making such lovely things. They worked very hard, but I think they enjoyed the sessions.
This year I was delighted to be awarded The Art in the Frame's Award for Technical Excellence as this will make it possible for me to attend The ICHF Creative Stitch and Hobbycrafts Event, Westpoint, Exeter in September.

In July I ran a two day textile jewellery workshop for Sylvia McCann at Beads for Beauty in Torquay. It was a busy and productive session and a pleasure to work with such creative people. I have since heard that one of the students has won a competition prize for her garland necklace.

I have been invited to demonstrate at Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts, Westpoint, Exeter, 23-26 September again this year and I am really looking forward to the show.
The time is passing so quickly now and there is a lot to do. I am hoping to have new kits and space-dyed felt for sale as well as a good selection of my jewellery.

From November 22nd- 24th I will be teaching a residential course in Textile Jewellery – Innovative Techniques at Denman College.
I am very excited at the prospect of teaching in the UK, meeting lots of new people and introducing them to the techniques I have developed to create my jewellery. It is very rewarding to be appreciated for the quality of my craftsmanship and to see that people understand the time taken and the skill involved in my work.

Meanwhile a selection of my jewellery is currently on display at The Harbour Gallery, St Aubin, Jersey and at The Jersey Potteries.
There is a selection from my Garland Series at Margo Selby, Bloomsbury, London and at Furleys, Oakham, Rutland.


2009 was a very busy year.
David Gainsborough Roberts wore the new 'Marilyn Coat' to the preview of The Marilyn Exhibition at The Jersey Museum in March and both coat and exhibition were well received. David is obviously delighted with my work if the number of publicity shots of him wearing it are anything to go by.

Workbox Magazine featured the series of embroidered jackets commissioned by David Gainsborough Roberts in their June/July edition and Craft and Design Magazine included an article on this aspect of my work in the September/October edition.

I was awarded The Judge's Choice Award by Diane Bates at The Jersey Textile Showcase in March for a necklace in the Organics Series. My workshops were very well attended and students were delighted with their creations. I would like to do more teaching but there are limited opportunities on a small island and travel costs are high.

In September I exhibited and demonstrated some of the techniques I use to make my textile jewellery at The Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Show, Westpoint, Exeter. My work was very well received and I met lots of enthusiastic people and made useful contacts.

2008 was another busy year.
During February I was interviewed by Channel TV for a short film in their Creative Islanders series. Sadly I missed the programme but it provoked much interest locally and took my work to a wider audience.

I exhibited at Jersey's Textile Showcase in March, where my new range of textile jewellery was much admired. I was delighted to win The Art in the Frame Award for Design and hastily spent some of it on inspirational new materials from exhibiting suppliers. As usual my workshops were well attended and my students were delighted with their creations.

Particularly exciting, my work was spotted by Angie Boyer, editor of Craft and Design magazine and her daughter, Jennie. We enjoyed a very chatty lunch and the result was a super article In Craft and Design's May/June edition. Thank-you Angie and Jennie.

Later in the year my work, together with that of other selected Jersey artists was exhibited at Craft in the Bay, Cardiff. The exhibition was
entitled Coast2Coast and was well attended.
Visiting Cardiff for the preview I was delighted to see my work displayed so beautifully and in such a bright, modern setting.

I also accepted another David Gainsborough Roberts commission - another Marilyn coat, which kept me busy during the run up to Christmas.