Blog Archives

Conversations with Textiles - IV

27/7/2026

In advance of our exhibition we asked all of our members to describe their Conversations with Textiles. We are linking this with an Instagram week when that artist will share some of their process and work. @curious_threads

Amelia Leigh

My work begins with the textile itself—its colour, texture, and surface qualities—which guide the direction of each piece. I work intuitively on a design wall, allowing the composition to evolve as I respond to whether the work is “talking” to me.

Throughout this process, I photograph the piece to gain distance and clarity, helping me identify elements that feel discordant and decide whether they strengthen or challenge the overall composition. These moments of tension often become points of visual interest.

Central to my practice is an ongoing exploration of what moves me aesthetically. I am drawn to geometric forms and straight lines, influences rooted in my fascination with architecture and its balance of structure and rhythm.

Frequently, my work begins with a single piece of fabric—often one I have dyed or painted myself—from which the composition grows. Additional textiles are selected in response to this initial element, though it may ultimately be removed if the evolving conversation of the work calls for it. Each piece is shaped by intuition, reflection, and a continuous dialogue between material and form.

Amelia Leigh

Starting a project

Looking for lines

Loving colour again

Conversations with Textiles - III

20/7/2026

Liz Howlett

Sometimes it’s only by moving outside your own culture that you can see the part that textiles play in our lives. Moving to Ghana I noticed the importance of fabrics. The wealth and variety of textiles was apparent. A length of cloth could be a head wrap, a shawl, a dress or a sling to carry a baby. No stitching required! Lengths of cloth are prized, given as dowry, tribute, and passed down through the family.

This awakened my conversation with fabric, I wanted to use it and work with it. I went to visit a batik fabric maker, Esther. She designed her fabrics as a 6’ length with complementary patterns at each end to aid costume designers. Her colour palette was luscious.

Inspired by the possibilities she demonstrated, on return to UK I started my journey on a C&G patchwork and quilting course. I quickly went on to dyeing and printing my own fabrics.

I am now using old fabrics repurposing them with dye and printing of my own to start new conversations with old textiles.
Liz Howlett

Conversations with Textiles - II

13/7/2026

Sue Sherwood

My conversation with textiles was influenced at an early age whilst chatting and watching my grandmother as she worked the most exquisite crewel work on household linen. I still have some of her work today and although my work is in no way similar I feel it must be in the genes! Are my ancestors influencing my conversations with textiles?

At the beginning of my textile journey I focused on garment construction, only later appreciating the textiles within my fingers. Now as a textile artist my process involves much contemplating, questioning and cross-examining my thought processes before deciding on the final design. Even then the questions still come, sometimes in the early hours or when I notice a detail that says "what if”. Today there are so many processes that can be used to alter, enhance and embellish textiles that it can be overwhelming to know when to say “yes or no” to a process. However having these questions or conversations are vital to the textile artist and hopefully, ultimately lead to the success of an art piece.

Conversations with textiles can be both personal and collaborative within Curious Threads. I feel extremely fortunate to be part of this group where members are always happy to help, evaluate and give creative suggestions as we work alongside each other making it a successful group of textile artists.

Sue Sherwood

Classic Embroidery by my Grandmother - Ellen Frances Violet Baker

Contemporary embroidery - Sue Sherwood

Conversations with Textiles - I

6/7/2026

Liz Maddock

My conversations are heavily influenced by my travels, both home and abroad. They are influenced by peoples and landscape, by architecture, by colour, texture, sound, taste and smell. Yes, even smell – the scent of pipe smoke on a tweed jacket, or Indian spices on muslin.

The conversations are growing as I explore the world of textile art, having come from a background of dressmaking and home furnishings. I’ve always loved colour, texture and natural fabrics, relying on others to supply the fabrics. Now the conversations come from my own hand and I’m both challenged and delighted by my interactions with the textiles.

My conversations tend to start in a garbled way. Too many images, (too many travel photographs), too many ideas. I’m learning to find my way through the noise, to distil those conversations into a pleasing product. I’ve learned that I should simplify. But part of the conversation is asking ‘What if I don’t want to simplify? What’s my own conversation?’ I’m still finding out.
The conversation I always return to is a deep and profound joy found through textiles. I’m fascinated by the variations in textile manufacture and embellishment around the world. I love to feel connected to people through time as we’ve stitched through the ages and around the globe.

I hope that my conversations with my own textile art also bring a sense of joy to others.

Liz Maddock