Smart People

Smart People

I’m often prattling on about design or technique, but forming a business around what you do requires being smart as well – and it’s a choice we can all make as well as a skill we can all fine-tune. But this is the basic, no-nonsense, generic kind of...
The Confidence to Just Do

The Confidence to Just Do

Fear of the unknown is one of the biggest hurdles for any artist – including textile artists. Sometimes though, latching onto that fear and riding the wave of the unknown until elements begin to mesh, is really hard. You could be onto a really good thing, or...
Ideas and Connection

Ideas and Connection

Ideas and Connection, are two often-used concepts used in the world of textile art – but how do you apply them? You have to go back to the basics. What I’ve discovered is that by pushing the boundaries of not working with a preconceived pattern or design,...
Exploring Edges

Exploring Edges

Do you like the crispy, caramelised edges of cakes or pastries? They’re the parts that are full of flavour, that adds an extra zing to the taste sensation we’re all looking for. It’s the same with our textile art.  Not necessarily crispy edges...
Improv

Improv

Improvisation: ad-libbing, spontaneity, lack of pre-meditation. And it’s hit hard – Improv embroidery, that is, championed in part by the purchase of a recently published book, Improv Embroidery by Australian embroidery artist Carol Cooke.  It’s...