A Crafter

Everyone's a crafter: making is good for you and you can learn just by doing it. A little bit of yarn Knitting and crochet workshops

31/08/2026

The story of St Rowd, in Stroud’s Horns Road with the and Only in Stroud ♥️♥️ 🎺 everyone loves a good story

16/08/2026

Someone asked me recently if I had always wanted to be a writer. I had a think and said no. Having a clear out today I found a stash of books , about seven, I must have made at primary school I’d forgotten about, including a magazine, Samantha and Alan (only 2p every Tuesday) and a History of Colothes (sic). All written by me in appalling handwriting and spelling.
So, no, I didn’t want to be a writer, but I did want to make books. 📚 😉
Quickthorn - Independent Publisher

15/08/2026

Re Opening of Stroud lido today. Much missed and much needed

02/08/2026

The Pattern of Life
Enid Marx Compton Verney such a delight to see decorative design being taken seriously. I learned that Marx was apprenticed to Barron and Larcher, and herself went on to make her own work. She was inspired by Paul Nash, who taught at the RCA. Although they look modern, these are mostly block printed from 1930s using natural dyes and some of the patterns come from looking at ethnographic collections at the British Museum
British Museum London

30/07/2026

Unknown maker from 1950s created this great strip quilt. I makes me want to cut up every piece of striped and checked fabric I can lay my hands on. So don’t sit still for too long 😎

19/07/2026

The Thornbury Quilt was made in the late 1800s as a crowdfunder to help buy the local vicarage. Each trade and business in the town made , and paid for, a square to represent themselves. Some have signatures or initials. It was found lying around with hay bales in a farmer’s barn and was treated by a textile conservator. Some of the threads have perished but most looks immaculate. It’s not really quilted but is a patchwork coverlet.
I didn’t know about signature quilts until reading Lynn Setterington’s Connecting Threads. 🧵
It’s reminiscent of lots of community projects such as our own Red Dress response in Stroud and of course The Red Dress itself, which started as a crowdfunded project.
As seen in Thornbury Town Hall as part of Saturday’s Heritage Craft Fair

10/07/2026

The coolest place in our house is the sewing room, so I have started making clothes again. Can’t tell you how much I enjoy having a podcast on in the background and sewing away, hours go by.
New shirt in indigo khadi ❤️✂️

18/06/2026

Vanessa Bell painted Mrs St John Hutchinson in 1915
The sitter is Mary Hutchinson, writer of a collection of short stories Fugitive Pieces. She was also the mistress of the artist’s husband, Clive Bell, which may explain why she looks like she is sucking on lemons 🍋
Vanessa Bell said about the painting, ‘It’s perfectly hideous...and yet quite recognisable’.
I just like the use of colour, teal, aubergine and lime green.
As seen at Tate St Ives

24/05/2026

Finally got out to the Eastern seaboard to Second Hand at Nose Naze in Walton, including work by Jane Stewart, Shane Waltener, Celia Pym and Tilly Shiner. What a great space and super to meet the proprietor, Eleanor. Slow stitching was happening, there’s a cafe too and a fab selection of quirky books from independent publishers like Quickthorn.
I was restrained in the shop and only bought 1 book and 2 zines. Then we had fish and chips, natch.

* Images: Celia Pym, Judy’s Gloves, 2026, newspaper, wool with Connie’s hand.
* Celia Pym, Mended Brown Cardigan, 2023, wool
* Tilly Shiner, ‘Couples’ series Handbag, 2025, Moving blanket, old painting, second hand clothes, found glove, plastic bag (with Edith)
* Wonderful flooring in the shop.

22/05/2026

Delighted to meet Gemma in Colchester yesterday. Their archive of straw work is inspiring. I want to know more about this work done with straw cordage. Yum.

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Chalford
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http://www.thecrafter.me/

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