Buddying Heather Shields . . .

I've been kindly asked by the Crafts Council to act as a 'buddy' again this year and have been paired up with Glasgow based weaver Heather Shields.  I'd met Heather briefly last year when she attended the 'LOOM' seminar I curated for Stroud International Textiles, so it has been lovely getting to know Heather and her work better.  Combining playful colour palettes and bold patterns, Heather creates vibrate contemporary fabrics and homewares.

Heather's strong affinity with weaving began at art school where she immediately became fascinated with the physical practice and endless possibilities for experimentation and innovation.The meticulous nature of weaving challenges and satisfies her drive for technical perfection and quality.  She currently works on a George Wood peg loom but is just putting through an order for a new loom which will help her to take her business to the next level.

Heather started on the Hothouse program just over a month ago and has already been busily traveling around the UK to attend events.  She is part of the fifth run of the program which provides selected emerging makers with targeted creative and business support.

I caught up with Heather a couple of weeks ago in Glasgow where she showed me around the city and Glasgow School of Art (where she also works as the weave technician).  I had such a lovely day 'geeking' out with Heather in a constant chatter about all things loom, weaving and beyond and look forward to spending more time working with her over the coming months.  Her fabrics are truly stunning and she is definitely a talent to keep your eye on.  You can follow Heather's development on twitter, facebook and pinterest.

Buddying Annabel Williams . . .

I was incredibly lucky last year whilst on the Crafts Councils Hothouse scheme to have the amazing weaver Laura Thomas act as my 'Buddy'.  The role involved being a general go-to person for advice and pep talks, spurring me on to push my business forward every step of the way.

This year the boot is on the other foot.  I was asked by the Crafts Council if I would act as a 'Buddy' to one of this years Hothouse intake and I'm extremely pleased to have been paired up with Annabel Williams.  A fellow weaver, Annabel designs and makes textiles for interior and commercial spaces.

Working on a 16 shaft computerised George Wood loom (which she purchased from Ptolemy Mann) she creates cloths using monofilament, light reflective yarn, lurex and silk.  Annabel tells me her work is inspired by light:

The energy of the city creates a treasure trove of light, shapes and pattern from which I draw on as inspiration. From the buzz of the morning traffic to the fading evenings and dim lit streets, these traits instil a passion for my urban environment.

Light box

A recent graduate from Bath Spa University, where she studied under the watchful eye of Stroud based weaver Tim Parry-Williams, Annabel is now based in Bristol.  Having already successfully shown her work at Tent London, she is now planning for more shows later this year.  She will have a stand at The Contemporary Craft Fair in Bovey Tracey in June (which I will also be exhibiting at) and from my prodding is currently developing a dynamic list of potential stockists to approach in the coming months.

Handwoven cushions

Since I 1st met Annabel in February she has already been making fantastic progress.  I caught up with her on the phone last week and it was great to hear her making positive evaluations for the direction of new work and she's even moved her studio (which I hope to visit in a couple of weeks time).  

So keep you eyes peeled for the work of this new emerging talent . . . 

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair . . .

I can't believe its been over a week since the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair up in Manchester.  Since I got back from the show I've been back and forth between Hereford College of Arts for teaching and the studio.  I'm weaving my socks off at the moment to make up for lost time when the loom was out of action this summer. But I can't complain because its great to be back at the loom, I've missed it so much. I'm also really pleased to be sending work out to new stockists and I still have two fairs before Christmas, the first being Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair in November.

I had an absolute blast up in Manchester at the GNCCF though.  It was great to be part of the Hothouse Alumni area and have a jolly good catch up with my pals, especially as it had been six months since I had seen most of them.  I also got to do some lovely swaps as well, so I'm now the proud owner of one of Zoe Lloyd's fabulous plates and a beautiful bangle from Jane Dzisiewski.

The Hothouse alumni area included (from top left to right):

Eleanor Bolton, Emma Bradbury, Zoe Lloyd, Claire Baker, Aimee Betts, Ros Millar, Hannah Felicity Dunne, Amy Bear, myself, Jane Dzisiewski, Carly Petitt-Taylor, Anna Collette Hunt and Rose Sharp Jones.

Aimee Betts & Anna Collette Hunt merging their work on a shared wall.

I was also joined at the show by Kirsty Slater who interned with me over the summer.  She was an absolute star helping me out on the weekend and sticking around for all the packing away at the end.  Here she is with me modelling new Festival colourway 'Newcastle' . . .

I also have to give my thanks to my big brother Richard who came up with me to set up and take down, as well as take lots of lovely pictures.  All in all GNCCF was a really great show and I hope I will be back up there again at it next year . . .

Hotstuff . . .

I am delighted to officially be able to announce that I am part of the Crafts Council UKs Hothouse 2011.  Hothouse provides emerging makers (those defined as being within two years of setting up a practice) with a programme of focussed, intensive business skills and creative development, complimented with 1:1 support over a six month period.  I met everyone last week at the Design Council in London.  It looks like its going to be an exciting few months ahead.  We now have a facebook page so please 'like' us to see what we are up to. Check out the rest of the makers: Amy Bear, Aimee Betts, Eleanor Bolton, Emma Bradbury, Kevin Brook, Hannah Felicity Dennis, Jane Dzisiewski, Amelia Fever, Lucy Jane Foakes, Helen Foot, Jasmin Giles, Anna Glasbrook, Mahtab Hanna, Zehava Hashai-Spellman, Tortie Hoare, Anna Collette Hunt, Zoe Lloyd, Hanna Nielsen, Elizabeth Peers, Carly Petit-Taylor, Helen Smith, Rhian Solomon, Thorody, Ellen Thomas, Victoria Walker, Sarah Warsop andJanice Zethraeus.