All new all the time!

Okay, actually not, but the way I’ve been working on this site in the last couple of weeks, it feels like it. The Steward has been a busy, busy bee.

And now she’s handing over to the Herald to tell you about it.

Tarantaraaaaa! Tarantaraaaa! (that’s a trumpet, btw, just in case it wasn’t obvious)

The Shop

Detail of Mermaids Singing II in the Shop

My Shop has been reorganised and restocked with 20 (yes!) new items in it, many of them one-of-a-kind or limited stock. I’ve been working hard on expanding my range in both size and price and now prices for an original, framed piece of my mixed-media textile art start from just £30. Take a look at both the new sections Smaller Works and Original Gifts to see what’s available.

I’m also offering, for the first time here, some of my Major Works for sale. These are absolutely exclusive and will never be repeated. In fact, I’m not even sure what, or when, my next major work will be, so if you’re ready for this kind of investment, now is the time.

Also added to the Shop are new cards in the Stationery section. You’ve been asking for cards from Pearls of Wisdom for ages, and yes, they’re here at last! They’re affordable (£12.50 for 5) and showcase the detail I love to include in all my work. Of course, the cards from Elemental, We Must Not Look at Goblin Men, and Hamadryad: Oak are all still available too.

I’ve also added a new page about Commissions and clarified the Shop Terms and Conditions.

The Portfolio

Detail of Vine Man I in the Portfolio

My Portfolio has been extensively updated with more than 100 new photos. Lots and lots of new images, including many macro close-ups that let you see the kind of texture and detail that is so characteristic of my work with textiles.

I made a conscious decision here to go beyond the traditional artist portfolio that has just one image of each work in full and maybe one detail image. I know that many of you won’t have the chance to see my work in person, but this way I hope you can experience something like it. So many people tell me that what they love about my art is the way that they see a striking image from a distance but as they come closer they find more and more layers and depth and detail. So including lots of images is the only way I can share that with you online.

About Page

It’s hard to believe that it’s coming up for three years since I started this website, because so much has changed since then. Back then, I was really hesitant about even including the word ‘artist’ in my description!

Despite that, my About page had remained the same, and when I looked at it recently, I realised it didn’t reflect me any more. So I wrote a new one. I hope you’ll like it.

(Also, the Two Bad Dogs now have their own page. They insisted.)

Questing Notes Newsletter List

I’ve had my newsletter sign-up in my sidebar for a while, but I’ve never promoted it, so unsurprisingly, it’s still a pretty exclusive club of people. But I’m planning to use the newsletter a lot more in the future (monthly, that is) to let subscribers know in advance when I have new work available and give them first refusal on it. 

Please consider signing up to receive Questing Notes, and as a thank you for trusting me with your email, I’ll send you a coupon for 10% off your first order from the Shop.*

(Obviously, I would never pass on your details without your prior permission.)

*Valid against all items except Major Works

New Facebook Page

Cover image for Facebook page

I know there are people who spend most of their time on Facebook, and never venture out into the wilds of the internet (they don’t know what they’re missing!) so for those gentle types, I’ve created a Facebook page to mirror this website. My portfolio is available there as well and, of course, people can like, comment and share with their friends easily.

If you’re on Facebook, you can find it here.

More new stuff coming soon

  • Book wraps, lavender pincushions, and covered journals – new items in the range of Original Gifts
  • Prints! I’ll be offering prints of images from my Portfolio
  • Coloodles! A new thing: doodles I’ve drawn for you to colour in!

And finally…

A request, beloved readers: I would be excited, thrilled and eternally grateful if you were willing to share this post, or any of the pages mentioned in it, with your friends, contacts and followers. There are handy buttons below to make it easy to spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest and email, as well as a host of other websites.

The continuance of the Quest is now dependent on me building not just an audience but also selling my work, and I have so much more I want to be able to bring you!

Much love to you, best beloveds, as always,

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Once upon a time, there was a steward, a herald and a pirate…

7 March 2012

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) I may not be what you’d call a Christian, but I take my wisdom where I find it. And it seems, that for me at least, this is more than just an aphorism. For me, it seems [...]

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AEDM, doodles and introducing Patsy

30 November 2011

I cannot tell a lie, beloveds, it has been a crappy month. When I last wrote, I was just recovering from illness, and was ready to tackle Art Every Day Month with gusto. Alas! the best laid plans, etc, etc. Instead, I injured my back, and have spent the last three weeks pretty much incapacitated [...]

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Catching up and moving forward

9 November 2011

I’m sorry, beloveds. I’ve been ill. Again. Alas, this is a bit of a pattern, which I have not yet solved. I work like a manic Jack Russell terrier so as to make a deadline, get something finished, get it out there, make an impact. And I do – make the deadline, get it finished, [...]

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In which I am interviewed

16 October 2011

A quick weekend post, beloveds, because I am excited to share an interview I did recently with Liz Massey of Creative Liberty blog. Liz’s tagline is Celebrating and exploring the creative process! which, as you know, is pretty much a lot of what I do right here, and the questions she asked me tied right [...]

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Market Days: Towcester Craft & Design Show

13 October 2011

I know, I know. You’ve been thinking I was run over by the herd of rampaging unicorns again, weren’t you, beloveds? Or was it the one-eyed troubadour this time? Truth to tell, I’ve been very, very busy a-Questing for the last few weeks as I prepare for my very first, official Real-Artist-in-Public here-and-now Market Day. I will [...]

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The power of a new story, or why questing knocks building a business into a cocked hat

5 September 2011

O best beloveds, there is power in stories. I’ve always believed this. (Which is why, despite having a degree that focused on the great literature of four languages*, I still prefer to read a genre novel with a rollocking good plotline and colourful characters over a contemporary exploration of virtuoso prose and modern angst.) But [...]

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September is the finest month for Questing

1 September 2011

The air is clearer, the sky bluer and a hint of the turning of the wheel of the year is in the air. It is time. I am going on a Quest. And you, my best beloveds, will be coming with me, I hope. Because, like all the best heros in the mythic structure of the [...]

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Work in progress: still with the mermaids

11 July 2011

You know, my best beloveds, I realio trulio thought I was done with mermaids for a bit. After–finally–finishing off some nagging details on Pearls of Wisdom this week, I was so pleased and I’m really ready to see the back of the thing. To be honest, I’m a bit sick of the sight of it. [...]

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