About
The repetitive action of a needle in and needle out of a piece of hand embroidery is a form of meditation through which I express how we interact with the world. My work is to help people engage with the art, craft and history of textiles.
I have always made things from a young age, and enjoy the challenge of working with materials to create something, I use this within my work as a community artist, working with groups to empower themselves to make things. I work with a wide variety of groups and projects supporting community arts in Gloucestershire. I teach sewing machine and craft classes and work with a variety of Arts, Education and Heritage organisations.
I run a wide variety of needlework classes in the local community with both public and private funding. These are important to help empower people to build crafts and creative skills. When a group first meets, the conversation can be around self doubt in their own skills and , with a thoughtful and listening approach I then encourage individuals and groups to try new skills and push gently out of their comfort zone to try creative skills and express themselves in arts and crafts. This leads to an improvement in well being and happiness. Most people come to try a new skill but leave with a sense a better sense of how to express themselves through creative activities. I teach Sewing and Dressmaking classes at Gloucestershire College as part of their Adult leisure learning programme.