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Another year has passed between blog posts and it’s sad to reflect back on my last post about our Wessex Weavers workshop in Bridport. Sad, because we had to close at the beginning of November. We were just beginning to feel at home and generate interest in weaving and wool workshops, then for reasons beyond our control we had to move. But we just couldn’t find a space big enough at the right price, which I think is a common story among weaving groups – we have a lot of kit! So the dream of a Home for Handweavers hasn’t died; I have my eyes open to opportunities, while the looms are in storage. I am still teaching at Coldharbour Mill, and who knows what is around the corner!

Coming up very soon is The Contemporary Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey, from the 5th to the 7th June. Predictably I have been weaving furiously to create a new range for the show, so let me give you a sneak peek of the first few ‘Changing Seasons’ throws!

This has been a long warp in the weaving! The colours relate to my drives over the Blackdown Hills on my way to and from Coldharbour Mill. There are lovely forested areas and at the end of one summer I stopped to sketch the colours, noticing the different shades of green and brown, but also that the pink rosebay-willow-herb and yellow ragwort was still providing a splash of something bright. So I’ve spent many happy hours over a steaming dyepot trying to capture the colours of the end of summer.

I wound it onto Andrea’s compu- dobby while we were still in Bridport, so the poor warp has been in storage for several months, but wonderfully, it is a joy to weave. The compu-dobby is so easy to use (it’s my first time) – the shed is great and it’s so nice to be able to change the structure comparatively easily. This makes each throw unique. The collection will make a nice colourful splash on my stand – 40 in marquee C – so do come and say hello. It’s a fantastic show and very easy to spend the day wandering around excellent craft.