Looking Forward-Looking Back as we enter 2025

Looking Forward

All too quickly the year turns and we are New Year's Eve again, however, when calling 'home' to Norfolk  family still ask what I am doing for 'Old Year's Night'. It's a time of beginnings, but also one of endings.  I remember my gran saying we need to see the Old Year out of the back door and the New Year through the front. Many of her generation on Old Year's Night clear all the rubbish out of the house, wash all dirty clothes and bed linen and generally welcome the New Year in afresh,

I am drawn to remember 5 years ago I was preparing for my fourth trip to Japan under the invitation of the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival with Art Textiles Made in Britain.

Cleaning the home ahead of New Year (Oshogatsu) usually occurs in late December in Japan. A time for beating the dust out of the tatami mats and disposing of old and broken household items. The idea is that you’re removing last year’s dust and dirt so as to not carry it into the new year.

It is symbolic as working and travelling in Japan was the last time I was really able to travel with relative ease, so perhaps, cleaning and re-organising is about preparing for, and accepting the next stage of my life and creativity.

My Japanese basket and box with a new wooden sewing box.

Like Janus, the Roman god who looked both forward and back my mind retains what I have  been doing in the last year and how I am continuing to balance caring with my creative pursuits as a means to keep art in my life. 

Collaboration remains at the heart of my practice  so I am delighted to be taking part in Textile Language at the Halpern Gallery, Chatham from 24-29 January 2025. The exhibition features works by local textile artists as well as see the return of UMO (Unidentified Meaningful Object) an international collaboration based on an idea devised by Dutch artist Liesbeth Werts

In March, as if to celebrate the Equinox and the the shift of more daylight than night I will be exhibiting in Soulful Stitch: Finding Creativity in Crisis with my co-author  Deena Beverley at B.T. Batsford Gallery. London, 20th-30th March 2025 . 

I am experimenting with new work for Art Textiles Made in Britain's next exhibition Flight

That I have been able to teach at all this year has been down to a re-think about my practice. This adaptability is a two way process which has enabled me to continue working with overseas clients on bespoke courses and talks in the virtual environment of Zoom and through pre-recorded courses and talks.

Photograph courtesy of Gary Weston and Fibre Arts Takes Two

My beautifully filmed course Making Connections with Fibre Arts Takes Two is now available on demand. The support from the team to both the students and the tutors is world class.

The beautiful West Dean College in Sussex (and their London Campus). continues to play a part in my teaching calendar with workshops scheduled in the Spring and Autumn. You can hear me talk about what makes West Dean so special for learning here on Instagram.

This year I aim to deliver a few additional in-place courses where viable. I will be returning to Harwich with the Old Bank Studios in May and will be with the lovely team at Creative Experience in Barcelona in October. I aim to do something in Europe at least once a year.

Look out for new online and in-place courses in 2025 on my website.

Looking Back

Looking back I remain thankful for all the people in my life from friends and professional colleagues, to carers and the Kent Community Health Teams for continued support. That in it itself enough to celebrate

Storytellers at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge proved to be a great way to start the year.  Curated by Nathalie Banaigs of Studio 5 it was fabulous to talk with former BBC South East News presenter Rob Smith about my work.

This was shortly followed by The Romani Cultural & Arts Company (RCAC) 10 year celebratory  exhibition of their ground-breaking Gypsy Maker project. Both exhibitions share a commonality in sharing the voices of the artists as part of the process of looking at the work.

I ran my first international teaching in 5 years in La Cascade in France with Soul Stirring Retreats in June. It was lovely just to have a week away doing what I love with an amazing group of students in such beautiful restorative surroundings. I had recently fractured my wrist and even that did not stop me. Just had to adjust to working with one hand.!!!

It was wonderful to be represented in the textile galleries at the Knitting and Stitching Show in October with my exhibition Place; The Shipping Forecast. 

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the broadcast on the BBC October also marked the publication of ‘Soulful Stitch: Finding creativity in crisis’ published by Batsford Books co--authored with artist Deena Beverley.

It was an absolute privilege to write an article for the Turner prize nominee Delaine le Bas on behalf of the Embroidery Magazine and Tate Britain (Nov/Dec 24) . The Turner Prize continues at Tate Britain until 16th February 2025

In December I was I was delighted to be invited to the Carers Poverty Coalition Parliamentary first Drop in session by the WeCare campaign to the Houses of Parliament to talk about the difficulties free-lancers face claiming Carer's Allowance as they seek to balance work and care. Find out how you can support the work of WeCare here.  

That my exhibitions, events and teaching have been able to take place is due to the generosity and support of project partners and friends. Partnership has been just that. Thankyou all for connections we continue to make. I remain thankful for the good people I have in my life, for the creativity and for the friendships working and playing together brings. Have a fabulous 2025.

Cas