Open Studios at Model House, Llantrisant, 8/9 Dec

Do come and visit Model House Craft and Design Centre on the 8/9 Dec for our Christmas Open Studios event (although you can visit any time!)  I'll be weaving away in the studio that weekend, and will have some festive nibbles for you to sample as well!  Lots of the other tenants will be there too AND its also the Llantrisant Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival that same weekend.

(Please note that unfortunately we don't have a cash machine in Old Llantrisant - the nearest is in Talbot Green. Most of the individual artists and makers resident in Model House don't have card payment facilities  so please bring cash or cheques to finish your Christmas shopping.)

Look forward to helping you 'shop local' and support independent makers and retailers this Christmas :-)

Made By Hand, Tredegar House, Newport. 30 Nov - 2 Dec

Tis that time again...... for the third consecutive year, I'm delighted to be exhibiting at Made by Hand in Tredegar House, Newport. I'll have lots of new works to share with you which I'm finishing making as we speak.... some photos to follow very soon!

As an extra incentive to visit, you might be interested to know that I'll be giving a talk about my work on Saturday at 1pm.

Very much hope to see you there :-)

Smiths Row at Christmas, Bury St Edmunds

Elan Valley, 2011. Jacquard woven silk and cotton.

Pembrokeshire Grasses, 2011. Jacquard woven silk and cotton.

Opening this Friday 11th Nov is the Christmas exhibition at Smiths Row in Bury St Edmunds. Its quite a roll call of makers and artists who have been invited to show work, and I'm delighted to have a number of my jacquard woven works included.

'Cwtch' The Christmas Exhibition at Craft in the Bay, opening on the 11th November.

'Lattice' blankets & cushions

'Lattice' blankets & cushions

'Dot to Dot' blankets & cushions

'Dot to Dot' blankets & cushions

Beaded xmas garland made with 100% lambswool blanket offcuts

Xmas garland made with 100% lambswool blanket offcuts

Am busily getting ready for the forthcoming Christmas Exhibition at Craft in the Bay. Whilst you will be able to see pieces from my Resonate and Jacquard Sketch collections in the retail area, in the Gallery will be some new blankets and cushions woven in 100% lambswool. They are part of my new venture 'Made With Colour' a brand of exclusive 'Made in Wales' gifts and homewares. There will also be some of the ever popular Xmas garlands made from my blanket off cuts.

Craft in the Bay is the gallery owned and run by The Makers Guild in Wales, an organisation very close to my heart. I've been a member for around 7 years, and a Trustee for for about 18months. I also coordinate the CPD programme. It may surprise you to know that we get very little in the way of public funding, and so in the current economic climate our income from sales is ever more critical. As we approach the festive season can I urge you all to support your local galleries, makers and artists. Buy thoughtfully: please try and buy handmade as far as possible :-)  Thank you.

'Best Maker in Wales' award at Made by Hand

Well, Made By Hand at Tredegar House is going really well. I was awarded the Newport Council 'Best Maker in Wales' award yesterday.... a rather nice way to start the fair! Tomorrow is the final day, so do make sure you come and visit.

To whet the appetite, here's some pictures of my stand....