Hippy/happy dress

 

I love the beginning of a new series of work, with a blank canvas and complete freedom to do.......anything!

E.A.S.T. textile group starts each new exhibition series with a workshop by a textile artist and tutor. In 2026 we were lucky to spend the weekend with Hannah Lamb.

Hannah asked us to take along a textile item which had some meaning to us. At least 20 years old, and preferably not something we had made ourselves.

I selected a dress I had bought as a student in Nottingham in the early 80's and which had been my party dress. My hippy/happy dress.

The dress brought back memories of a wonderfully carefree and happy time. Thoughts of late nights, dancing, singing, drinking, smoking and friendship. 

The dress is light and floaty and soft and bright - symbolic of those carefree days before life got serious with the need to build a career, marriage, children, mortgages and all the rest.

The dress is made from Indian block printed cotton and bears the label 'Ziggis Boutiques' where I bought the dress in Nottingham.

Research led me to the designed Ayesha Davar who designed for Ziggis and other fashion outlets in the 1970s and 80s and this dress with the square neckline, bell sleeves and full floaty skirt is very typical of her work.

The Ziggis embroidered label was quite scratchy and I remember almost cutting it out. Thank goodness I didn't as it has been crucial for the research, and also for the authenticity. Ayesha Davar designs are now highly soughtafter and command good prices (mine is not for sale)

Research into the bold geometric designs of the fabric and the colour palette of black and madder dyed cloth suggests that the fabric is very likely to be Ajrahk block printing and resist work from the Kutch region of Gujarat.

I tried this very same technique myself when visiting India in 2025 at the workshop of Sufiyan Khatri in Ajrakhpur.

What a coincidence!

The lightweight cotton fabric goes through several processes:

1. Mordant printpaste to attract the madder dye

2. Resist printing to keep the cream areas

3. Black dye print for the dark areas

4. Indigo dip

5. Boiled in madder

The printing is done on both sides and is highly skilled and complex.

My dress fabric is indeed printed on both sides

This is the sample piece of Ajrahk printing I did in India - not very good - but I love the personal link

I have no idea yet how this will lead to a piece of textile art. But I am enjoying the research, design work, exploration or fabrics and techniques on the way to finding my narrative.

Two textile exhibitions at Snape

 

    

Even more reasons to visit Snape Maltings. Not only can you see a joint exhibition 'Side By Side' by textile artists and friends Mary McIntosh and Mellymade Designs at the Quay Gallery but at the same time you can visit the Pond Gallery and view the work of the Fibrefusion group.

Colour, colour, colour

 

Rainbow Squares (framed 12") 

Following the great success of the Out of the Fold exhibition in Norwich with almost a thousand visitors it is on the the next........

For the 'Side By Side' exhibition at Snape Maltings I will be sharing space in the Quay Gallery with the very lovely Melanie Missen

Summer Flurries (detail) 

Inspired by Mellymade who designs and creates such colourful, bright and vibrant work I too will be using COLOUR as the guiding pronciple for this selection of textile work.

The exhibition opens on Friday 23rd October and runs until Wed 28th. Either myself or Melanie will be stewarding each day.

Free entry. Open 10am - 4pm

Autumn's Glory (framed)

The colours of Autumn will also feature as the virginia creeper on the walls of the Quay Gallery blaze gloroiusly in the Autumn sunshine every year and bring me joy

Snape Maltings is a great place to visit with lots of galleries, shops and cafes to enjoy. Walking around the site to see the outdoor sculpture or along the river into the reed beds lifts the soul. 

Image taken at Snape in 2025

The light changes througout the day as the river water levels rise and fall with the tide. Maybe take a boat trip as part of your day out?

And do not forget to visit the magnificant concert hall with the beamed roof resembling an upturned ship. 

We would love to see lots of friends at the exhibition as well as local visitors and holidaymakers. All welcome. 

Natural Light update

 

It is always satifying when a plan comes together!

"Natural Light" was created in response to the stained glass window in St Margaret's Gallery in Norwich and here it is hanging near the window with the morning light streaming through.

The stained glass inspired hangings are made from a variety of materials - each one absorbing or reflecting light according to their level of opacity or translucency - and includes pieces of eco dyed silk using fresh leaves. 

The colours are in part also influenced by the stained glass work of the wonderful John Piper

On sale at the exhibition are some eco printed 100% silk scarves using the same technique as the silk in the hangings

The scarves are 114cm x 30cm and have a handstitched rolled edge

£25 each.

Range of colours. 

Lovely gifts.

"Let there be Light"

Carrying on the theme of 'Light' I also have a display of glass lanterns/candle holders for sale in the exhibition

Varying sizes and colours. Each one includes a battery candle.

Prices from £15 - £50

And using the tissue paper - a by product from the eco dyeing - to make handmade books

A5 size £15

A4 size £25

Every one is unique. Good quality paper. 

Ideal gifts

The 'Material Dialogues' exhibition continues until Sunday 4th October 2026

10.30am to 4pm each day

Free Entry

Lots of brilliant work by all twelve members of Out of the Fold plus invited alumni members

Material Dialogues exhibition

 

We are very close now to the Out of the Fold exhibition opening on 23rd Sept 2026 at St. Margaret's Gallery in Norwich

This will be a large exhibition of work by all twelve members of the group plus some work by past members to celebrate 20 years since Out of the Fold was formed in 2006

The new series for 2026 is inspired by the theme 'Material Dialogues' with a range of original, dynamic, thought-provoking work being produced. The theme has proved to be a rich source of inspiration with members exploring very different fabrics - metals, wood, paper, wool, natural and synthetic materials.

St. Margaret's Gallery, St. Benedict's Street, Norwich NR2 4TU is a wonderful space to show this work. 

It is a BIG space so we will have lots of work on show.

As part of 'Material Dialogues' group members worked in collaborative pairs (drawn at random) to create pieces for the exhibition. 

We will have a video at the exhibition explaining this process with some insights behind the work from the makers.

These were first shown at the Creative Stitch Graduate Show in July 2026 but will be shown off much better in the gallery against the white wooden boards, tables and plinths

Here is a glimpse of one of the collaborations made by myself and Frances Overy

Our series 'Reflections' which was first shown in Bury St Edmunds Guildhall in Sept 2025 will form part of the Norwich exhibition too.

So lots of exciting textile art will be on show. The largest exhibition ever staged by this talented group.

Members will be stewarding the event each day.

Open 10.30 - 4.00 each day

FREE entry

Natural Light

Natural Light (detail)

The theme for the Out of the Fold exhibition this autumn is 'Material Dialogues'

I am making a new series of work for the exhibition, inspired of course by the theme, but also by the venue which will be St. Margaret's Gallery in Norwich - a former church with a high ceiling, white walls, and a single glorious stained glass window.

Thinking about 'dialogues' I can imagine Christian worshippers of the past using this window as a way of opening up a conversation with God. 

There are lots of biblical quotes which refer to light and they are universally seen as positive.

Psalm 27.1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation"

That the light is reflected back through the window, casting a wonderful colourful array of light on the floor (and the viewer), is part of the two-way dialogue too.

Stained glass windows also tell stories, a way of communicating to the congregation before many could read. 

How can I tell a story, open up a dialogue, in my own response?

Textile materials come in a variety of weights, opacity and translucency. Some absorb light, some reflect, others shine and shimmer.

I want to try and capture these different reflective effects to create work filled with light, colour and JOY

Whilst sorting through my stash of materials I found some eco-printed silk. It shone and picked up the light so beautifully. 

Now in our more secular society people often cite a love of nature as a way of finding joy and a deeper meaning to life. Nature, and also art, are almost considered to be the new religion, to some.

So the series title 'Natural Light' is born.

Combining eco-printed silks with other materials designed to shine, reflect, absorb and gather light - to create contemporary stained-glass inspired hangings.

To be hung in St Margaret's Gallery so that the light from the windows can shine through

To see the final results, and the work of all twelve members of Out of the Fold, please visit the exhibition

Venue: St Margaret's Gallery, St Benedict's Street, Norwich

Dates: 23rd Sept - 4th Oct 2026

FREE entry  10.30 - 4.30 each day

 

 

Festival of Quilts 2026

 

It will be another busy Festival of Quilts this year which is on at the NEC Birmingham from 31st July until 2nd August 2026.www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/exhibitors/mary-mcintosh/

My stand is QIA15 in the 'Meet the Teacher' zone in the link between halls 8 and 9 - the usual spot.

On Friday afternoon I will be giving a brand new talk "Textile Art - how to tell a story" in the main theatre. There are tickets still available to book ahead of the show or on the day. £16

thefestivalofquilts.seetickets.com/content/workshop-options?day=&type=general

I will be demonstrating in the Creative Textiles Studio on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Using Lutradur to stitch, colour, and burn.

There is no charge for the Creative Textiles Studio - just turn up and watch textile artist demonstrating their skills for free. 

There is a great line up of demonstrators every day throughout the show.

www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/creative-textiles-studio/

And, finally, if you missed seeing my "Wearer Unknown" installation as part of the EAST exhibition it will be on show in the Quilt Creations category. Hopefully on a plinth the size requested (fingers crossed)

So if you are coming to the show please come along and say hello.