A Very Busy Autumn

I seem to have accidentally booked myself a rather busy autumn.

Looking at the diary, there are exhibitions, fairs and events stretching from October right through to the end of November, taking me from Cheltenham to Manchester, Nottingham and, happily, back home to Shrewsbury.

There are some old favourites, some exciting firsts, and quite a few opportunities to get my work out of the studio and into the world. After spending so much time with my head down at the loom, there is something rather lovely about having a season of showing, talking, demonstrating and meeting people ahead of me.

So, here is where you can find me and my work over the coming months.

THE Gardens Gallery, Cheltenham

9 October, 6pm–8pm
10–16 October, 10am–6pm
Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham
Free entry

First up is The Gardens Gallery, organised by the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen. It coincides with the Cheltenham Literature Festival, which feels like a particularly lovely pairing for a group of craftspeople whose work is so often connected to stories, ideas, places and people.

I'll also be demonstrating on my little loom on the first Saturday and Sunday, so if you've ever wondered what actually happens between a cone of yarn and a finished scarf, this is your chance to come and have a look.

There is something quite different about weaving in front of people rather than disappearing into the studio and getting lost in the rhythm of the loom. I always enjoy talking about the process and letting people have a go. I'm looking forward to sharing a little of my process during the exhibition.

Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Manchester

16–18 October
Victoria Baths, Manchester
Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen stand

I'm heading back to the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair this year, having returned as an exhibitor last year after a bit of a break. This time, though, there is a new element for me: I'll be exhibiting as part of a Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen group stand, organised by the fabulous Kevin Stamper.

I'll be sharing the stand with:

Kevin Stamper
Su Trindle
Emily-Kriste Wilcox
Lou Pocock
Fran Chalk
Rhian Wyman
Cate Fox

GNCCF is always a lovely show to be part of, and Victoria Baths is an incredible setting. For a few days it will be packed with fantastic contemporary craft, brilliant makers and lots of familiar craft maker friends, so I'm really looking forward to being back.

There is something particularly nice about exhibiting alongside other makers from the Guild this time and taking our collective to a new space and audience. It’s always a super sociable show so I’m looking forward to catching up with friends I've known through the craft world for years.

If you've never been to Victoria Baths, it's worth coming just for the building. Add multiple swimming pools full of beautiful handmade things and a lot of lovely makers, and you've got a pretty good weekend sorted.

Lustre, Nottingham

6–8 November
Lakeside Arts, Nottingham
Free entry

Lustre is another special one for me because I'm returning to the show after many years away.

There is something lovely about revisiting an event after a long gap. My work has changed quite a lot over the years, as has my life as a maker, so it will be interesting to return with a very different body of work and see the show again with fresh eyes.

I'm looking forward to being back at Lakeside Arts and seeing what has changed, what feels familiar and, of course, meeting lots of lovely craft lovers along the way.

Artisan Market, Shrewsbury

1 November, 10am–4pm
English Bridge Workshops, Shrewsbury
Free entry

I'm particularly excited about this one because it brings me back onto home soil.

The Artisan Market is being held at English Bridge Workshops in Shrewsbury, and I'll be there alongside some of the lovely makers I met through the Shropshire Artisan Showcase at the Darwin Shopping Centre earlier this year.

I really enjoyed getting to know this group of makers during the showcase, so the prospect of spending another day together, this time a little closer to home, is rather wonderful. And there’s a collaboration afoot with one of my fellow exhibitors (so excited about this!) so come along to check out what we’ve been working on!

It's always nice to discover just how much creative talent there is right on your doorstep, and I'm looking forward to hanging out with the ladies again, as well as meeting some new faces.

Drawn, Shrewsbury

21–22 November
Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery
Free entry

Drawn is another first for me, and one I'm particularly excited about.

It's a fantastic local show and I'm really pleased to be joining it this year. There is something especially satisfying about being able to take part in events like this in the place where I live and work. My studio is here, my loom is here, and so much of the inspiration for my work comes from the landscapes and places around me.

It's lovely to have an opportunity to share the finished work locally too.

Shrewsbury Open Studios

28 November
Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Abbey Foregate
Free entry

And finally, I'm finishing the autumn by returning to Shrewsbury Open Studios.

I've taken part before back in the days of my shared studio on Butcher Row and it's lovely to be involved again. Although I can't quite open my own studio at the moment, as my current workspace doesn't have quite enough room to welcome visitors alongside all the yarn, loom, finished scarves and general studio chaos, it will be wonderful to be part of the event again. I’m hoping to take the little loom with me for some demonstrating alongside a selection of my tools and finished pieces in order to share my process.

There's something particularly nice about finishing this busy run of shows on home turf.

New places, old favourites and a lot of weaving

Looking at the list, I think what I'm most excited about is the mixture of things.

There are new shows to discover, old favourites to return to, fellow makers to catch up with and new people to meet. There are opportunities to demonstrate, opportunities to talk about weaving, and opportunities simply to put my work in front of people and see where it finds its way.

Of course, there is also going to be a fairly substantial amount of packing, unpacking, labelling, transporting, rearranging and wondering where on earth I put that particular scarf.

But that's all part of it.

After a year of concentrating so much on making, it feels good to be heading into a season of sharing.

If you're anywhere near one of these events, do come and say hello. I'd love to see you.

And if you happen to see me looking slightly frazzled while carrying several boxes of scarves, please feel free to offer tea.

H x