Sewing and creating have been part of my everyday life from a very early age, and I am now lucky enough to be able to follow my passion to create using fabric and stitch.

Today my work encompasses a range of techniques and materials and my main inspirations are the colours and textures that I see around me everyday.

Using recycled and reclaimed materials in my work I will layer, print, manipulate and piece fabrics, which are then embellished with free motion embroidery. But that is not to say that I don’t get tempted by the vast array of new fabrics which are available.

In recent years the focus of my work has altered. From primarily using the embroidered textiles to make handbags and home accessories, I am now developing a collection of art work combining textiles, paper, stitch and paint.

I also make simple patchwork quilts, which either stay as quilts, or have further embellishment and stitch to make them into unique wallhangings.

Through my workshops and at events I am able to share these techniques and hopefully inspire others to create using fabric and stitch. I teach a range of creative textile workshops and also run social sewing days – Coffee and Cloth – in Tiverton, South Brent and Colliton Barton. I also travel to groups and guilds in the south west and beyond.

Summer Sewing

The longer days allow for working later in the evenings on creative projects. Such a treat to get totally involved in a project that time flies by.

I have enjoyed the Tiverton Art Society Summer Sketching days. I like to work in a sketch book to collect ideas which may lead to future work. A leaf picked up at Knightshayes Court was stitched and added to my journal. Now, could that idea make an appearance in future art work?

The Tiverton and South Brent Coffee and Cloth groups continue as social sewing groups with occasional tutorials. The dates are on the workshop page, but they are usually fully booked well in advance.

Coming up soon - Tiverton Art Society Summer Exhibition at Castle Primary School, Tiverton 9th - 16th August. In September I will be at the Creative Crafts Show at Westpoint. I will be teaching a workshop each day and will have a new work exhibited. There may also be a sale of ex-workshop samples.

Keep sewing and creating.

Jan x

June 2025