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. 

Out of the Fold Collaborations

 

Out of the Fold were one of the alumni groups exhibiting as part of the Creative Stitch Graduate Show

We unveiled our 'Material Dialogues' collaborations work as a taster for the full exhibition later this year

Pairs were drawn at random and challenged to work together to produce a piece of work for the show

These images give a sense of the range of work  - each one completely different. 

You can see the collaborations as part of a much larger exhibition of work at St Margaret's Gallery, St. Benedict's Street, Norwich from 23rd Sept 2027

 

End of an era

The final Creative Stitch Graduate Show took place this   weekend. 

 I began my time with Creative Stitch in 2007 as a student signing on to do a City & Guilds in Patchwork and Quilting with tutor Annette Morgan. 

In 2011 when I completed the Diploma Annette invited me to teach alongside her. 

When Annette retired in 2018 I stepped up to become Principal Tutor and teach the Advanced Stitched Textiles course.

It was great to have Annette there to present the certificates at our Preview evening. Alongside her is the current chair of Suffolk Federation WI who have supported the courses for 20 years and made it all possible - a huge thanks to them.

Pandora's Box by Jen The Stitch

There has been some fantastic work produced by students in this time. A huge variety of themes, techniques and materials, have been used. 

The originality and creativity shown has been brilliant. 2026 has been no exception and Jen Scott's work could not be more up to date, today of all days. 

Ali Phillips

The Fantasy Costume assessment is a challenging brief for students and some amazing garments have been produced over the years.

Ali Phillip's moth inspired costume this year is a great example. 

The invented characters who might wear these costumes has been a great way to help the story telling of the work and bring them to life. 

Out of the Fold

That so many textile exibiting groups have been formed as a result of the Creative Stitch courses is a huge source of pride. Six Alumni groups exhibited this weekend as part of the Graduate Show.

My own group Out of the Fold had some work on show alongside Spotlight Textiles, Feed Dogs Down, Fibre Transformations, Textile Connections and the newest to emerge from Diane's students - The Gap.

Class of 2024

And the very best legacy of all are the friendships forged in the classroom, cemented by the mutual support to overcome the creative challenges, and the lasting relationships. 

The class of 2024 are no exception and plan to stay together and form a new group.  

A visit to NCCS summer show

 

A thoroughly enjoyable visit on the opening day to see the Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society summer show

St Margaret's Gallery, St Benedict's Street, Norwich NR2 4TU

Open daily 10am - 4pm until 28th June

My visit to the Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society summer exhibition was to see the work of three Out of the Fold members. Penny Evans is a member of the society and Nicola Whayman was her invited guest to exhibit at this show. Frances Overy was invited by NCCS member Jill Sharp. 

Nicola Whayman

Nicola Whayman works with natural materials to weave 3D structures. Nicola's stand opposite Marian Eve Williams and her display of eco-printed silk scarves was a happy pairing. 

Caroline Hyde-Brown's work, also using natural grasses and plant materials, were framed. This use of natural materials and a muted palette ran through the exhibition with the stonework of Louise Tiplady and woodwork by Jonathan Southwood

Kate Vogler

Kate Vogler's beautiful ceramic vases are made from clay but have the look of a soft felted textile, inviting the touch. 

These were some of my favourite pieces in the show.

Penny Evans felted columns also induce the urge to caress. Their placement underneath a large window and lit from within made them glow. 

Penny continues to innovate and experiment with some new wall pieces hung too. The sight lines in St Margaret's down the aisles allows work to be seen from several views

June Gentle

There was a lot of 3D work in the exhibition and imaginative ways of displaying these off to advantage. 

The show of small ceramic pots by June Gentle were displayed at different heights. 

The series of ceramic ammonites by Jackie Watson on plinths with additional ferns placed to add meaning. 

Dennis Hales

The stunning wood turned and gilded bowls by Dennis Hales were very simply hung against the plain white boards and on a plain white table.

Frances Overy

The most colourful exhibit in the show was the work of Frances Overy whose triptych Primary 1, 2, 3 had the advantage of being seen at a distance and then up close as the viewer approached to see the stitched detail. 

It was great to see textiles displayed alongside other craft disciplines and earn their space as art. It was also extremely useful to see how other groups use the space and resources available at St Margaret's gallery to help plan our own Out of the Fold exhibition there this autumn.

The Norfolk Contemporary Craft Society summer exhibition runs until Sunday 28th June. Open daily 10am - 4pm. Free entry. St Margaret's Gallery, St Benedict's Street, Norwich NR2 4TU www.norfolkcontemporarycraft.co.uk/

Highly recommended. 

 

Side by Side with Mellymade Designs

 

I am delighted to be sharing exhibition space with the lovely Melanie Missin-Keating at the Quay Gallery, Snape Maltings, Suffolk in October 2026

For several years we were 'Side by Side' in our little stands at the Festival of Quilts and so will be again at this exhibition

Expect a riot of colour from both artists at the exhibition with wallhangings, framed work, 3D structures and much more.

Thursday 23rd Oct until Wed 28th October 2026

Open 10am - 4pm each day

FREE entry

And on to the next......

 

Out of the Fold are preparing for a large exhibition of new work on the theme of 'Material Dialogues' which will be shown at the St Margaret's Gallery in Norwich from 21st Sept until 4th October 2026

As part of 'Material Dialogues' we are working in collaborative pairs, drawn at random. 

My partner is Frances Overy and we are holding a material dialogue between the traditional woolen, red madder dyed fabric of Norwich where Frances lives and the silk, blue indigo dyed fabric of  Sudbury where I live

We have both dyed a mixture of woolen and silk fabrics in madder, indigo and mustard and shared these to create pieces of work

The range of colours we have acheived is amazing - the same base fabrics have dyed in very different ways. The water of Norfolk has produced much deeper, redder colours whilst the limey Suffolk water has given me a more orange palette - but they all tone in together

I am using sections of old woolen blanket resuced from my Mother' airing cupboard as the base to embellish and kantha stitch.

The results will be displayed on wooden spools turned by Frances using chestnut wood from her garden

Out of the Fold are one of the Alumni Groups taking part in the fnal Creative Stitch Graduate Show 2026 and all six of the collaborative pairs will be showning their results

Sat 18th and Sun 19th July 2026

Needham Market Community Centre

School Street

Needham Market

Suffolk