From 9th to 13th October I participated in the Japanese Textiles and Craft Festival, part of the official Japan-UK Season of Culture 2019-2020, featuring 21 artists from Japan and Europe working in a range of Japanese textile and other media including Saori weaving, sakiori, shibori, boro and katazome. This was a wonderful way to show work, to share enthusiasms with other textile makers, and to share practice with visitors to the studio. Thanks to Emilie Sandy (www.emiliesa

From 15th to 25th November I enjoyed a work retreat paradise as artist in residence at Ventnor Botanic Garden on the coast of the Isle of Wight. Pleasures included glorious plantscapes in the UK's hottest garden, a wonderful studio in the midst of it all, lovely staff and visitors to the studio, creative exchange with Carol Ann Eades (also artist in residence), proximity to the rugged coastal path, and numerous walks to Ventnor to enjoy scones, chips and shakshuka. I will b