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This is me...

I’m a bit like a traditional fair isle jumper, complicated, colourful, multi stranded, intricately woven, warm, fun and often quite practical!  These are my best qualities – I’m also massively untidy, like things done my way, hog the bed clothes and I rarely put the milk back in the fridge – I believe these traits to be the sign of a creative mind, but above all I’m adventurous and curious and like new challenges and meeting new people.


fairisle knit


I share my life with my partner Fred and my children, grandchildren and many friends.  Every day is a day off and I read, garden, cook, wander aimlessly, look at the stars and of course, draw, paint, sew and make lots of different things for myself and friends.  The most important bit of kit in my house is my sewing machine - although since starting my course I have rediscovered the joys of hand sewing, weaving and knitting.

continuous line drawing - my sewing machine


I love to travel – while the UK has much to offer I am drawn to other cultures other sights and most often sunshine…. I am lucky I have been to many places on this amazing planet which have been an inspiration to my creative nature.

city of rocks new mexico


I spent 30 years having a very enjoyable career but always doing, making designing things out of fabric and bits and bobs and have always harboured a keen desire to be an art student and become a designer and an artist.  So the when opportunity for early retirement from the rat race presented itself I took it and now I’m a full time art student studying textiles in Newcastle…

hard at work...

I’m very lucky to live in the second most beautiful part of the planet being from Yorkshire originally I know where is best - but here in Northumberland I can see and hear the sea and most days get to walk on the beach.  I live in a small cottage which gets smaller by the week – it is bursting at the seams with all the things we consider essential in life, books, music, art, fabric, telescopes, colour, and much more.  My car is the outhouse where the wellies and coats live, and our beloved campervan is an extension – a home from home – one we often sleep in when guest come to stay.


I wish this was all ours but only the end bit is - and the campervan is away for a refurb....


I’m kind of keen on recycling… but really I like to re purpose things, I like quirky one off objects, hand made and reinventing and transforming everyday things into something else useful or beautiful (nod to Oscar Wilde).

reading lamp

Returning to learn as a mature student is quite challenging, its harder than I thought it would be but more enjoyable than I could have imagined.  So much to discover and learn and hopefully this blog will document some of that experience and fun.

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