Proud mentor moment

 

I offer a mentoring service to textile artists.

Sometimes this follows on from completing the Advanced Stitched Textiles course when students wish to have some continued guidance to establish their textile art practice.

We have an initial 2 hour session to establish what is required and to set some short term, medium term and long term goals. 

This is followed up by as many sessions are required to check progress, amend goals, and offer constructive feedback on work in progress. 

Sometimes only one session is needed. 

Meetings can be face-to-face or via zoom. 

I mentored Nicola Whayman in 2024. 

One of her goals were to change her practice to work only with sustainable materials. 

Nicola now uses natural dyeing to create all the fabrics she uses in her work.

In addition she uses gathered natural materials to weave, make cordage, and print. 

The result is a wonderfully muted and soft colour palette which reflects the natural world but full of texture and depth. 

One of the other goals we agreed upon was to create a series of work for exhibition.

With the power of a deadline in mind I proposed that Nicola book a venue! She chose The CraftHouse in Woodbridge for June 2025.

Eighteen months later the exhibition is here and looking brilliant.

Nicola has worked incredibly hard and has produced several series of work including her reflective 'Stitch Journals' and the 'Calm' work.

I am incredibly proud of what she has acheived. Nicola has now 'found her thing' and is making work with meaning and emotion which connects with the viewer.

The exhibition runs until Tuesday 24th June 2025 at The Craft House, The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1AA

You can also see her work as part of the exhibiting group Out of the Fold in Bury St Edmunds in September 2025

Nicola is on instagram as @quiltingthreads and can be contacted by email on quiltingthreads@outlook.com

If you feel that may benefit from a mentoring session - maybe you just need some new impetus or a change of direction - then please contact me on maryelmcintosh@gmail.co. Cost is £75 for a two session. 

Group mentoring is also available.