Tag: History

  • Criminal Quilts Case Study – Fanny and Ada Riddle

    Criminal Quilts Case Study – Fanny and Ada Riddle

    Criminal Quilts is my an exhibition, research project and book.  The textiles I have created are inspired by the stories of women who were photographed on release from Stafford Prison between 1877 and 1916. I was fascinated when I first saw the photographs from the 1870s where the women have their hands on their chests.…

  • Trapunto Quilting Research

    Trapunto Quilting Research

    My love of corded and stuffed quilting runs very deep. I first taught myself the technique about 15 years ago after seeing it used in 1930s couture garments at the V&A when I worked there. I later discovered the Tristan Quilt, a 14th century trapunto quilt, which is in the V&A but it wasn’t on…

  • Selvedge blog post

    Selvedge blog post

    Selvedge have included my museum sales news in their blog this month. It was a lovely surprise to read this in their newsletter while I was on holiday last week! Read the full post here.  

  • Museum Purchase

    Museum Purchase

    Two of my recent artworks have been purchased by museums this year. I started my professional career working in museums, after doing a Masters Degree in Museum Studies. Museums are still my favourite places to spend time, particularly in textile and social history collections. I left my museum career aged 30 in 2005 to pursue…

  • Criminal Quilts new exhibition

    Criminal Quilts new exhibition

    Criminal Quilts exhibition returns to Staffordshire from 25th May – 7th July at The Brampton Museum and Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme. The museum is free entry and is open Monday to Saturday – 10am to 5.30pm, Sunday – 2pm to 5.30pm, Bank Holidays 2pm – 5.30pm. I will be giving a talk and tour at the museum on Wednesday…

  • Criminal Quilts talk at Staffordshire History Day

    Criminal Quilts talk at Staffordshire History Day

    I’m delighted to be one of the Keynote speakers at this years’ Staffordshire History Day on Saturday 11th May. I’ll be talking about the research behind my Criminal Quilts project in detail and sharing some of the many intriguing and troubling stories we unearthed during the research.

  • Thread: Contemporary Textiles Exhibition At Rheged Art Centre

    Thread: Contemporary Textiles Exhibition At Rheged Art Centre

    Thread: Contemporary Textiles Exhibition At Rheged Art Centre This exciting group exhibition of innovative and unusual textile work includes a group of my Precious Object tools. The exhibition opens on Friday 3rd May and continues until Sunday 30th June. 10am – 5pm and free admission. There is a preview event on Thursday 2nd May, please…

  • New Autumn Workshops

    New Autumn Workshops

    I have drastically cut down the amount of public workshops I run since last year and now only run workshops with galleries and museums alongside my exhibitions. This has given me more time to spend on my own work and the chance to write a new book and so much more. My car is feeling…

  • Criminal Quilts film

    Criminal Quilts film

    Roll out the red carpet for the premiere of my new Criminal Quilts film! This will also be shown at Festival of Quilts and most other exhibitions, technology-permitting. Made by the lovely R & A Collaborations, filmed at Staffordshire Record Office and University of Wolverhampton, with thanks to Jan, Jan, Jan and Ann. Yes, I…

  • Criminal Herstories

    Criminal Herstories

    Criminal Herstories is a local history display for Staffordshire libraries related to Criminal Quilts. The display contains a large book based on a prison photo album, of images and information about the prison photo albums and our research about the women appearing in them. It also includes a patchwork made by project volunteers and a…