1st Year!

A year ago this weekend I opened up my studio!

I can’t believe how fast this year has gone and even better, how well it’s gone!

The year started off with throwing everything into the studio and try and get some work made whilst trying to finish my course at Bradford College. I got there with my studies and I even achieved great marks for my final project that I’m so proud of. Being able to go to New Designers in London with Bradford College as well was a big highlight and helped to massively build my confidence.

Weft Blown Sky

Another highlight through the year has been meeting lots of new people who I have then helped turned into weavers and spinners.

34 weavers, 16 spinners, and 35 Holiday Yarn Clubbers have been in and created lots of fantastic cloth, yarn, and felted items. Also, about 30 Yarn Clubbers have attended the after school classes at West Kilbride Primary School and have developed their skills fantastically over the year.

Whilst this has been happening I’ve also been weaving away at making many scarves, cowls, wall-hangings, and recently cushions that have been selling well from my studio.

Over the past few weeks it’s been lovely to meet people who have bought my scarves over the past year and have been so happy with them.

I’ve also been attended a couple of Craft Scotland events this year. At the beginning of the year I attended two events that were tailored to linking tourism with the craft industry. Then I attended the Craft Scotland conference that got my head organised into where I wanted to take my business. In November I was lucky enough to be one of the designer makers at the Craft Scotland and National Trust Holmwood House craft fair.

It’s been a whirlwind of a year, but I am so happy that I took the scary leap to open the studio as it has been brilliant to meet everyone that has come through the door, and even better to make some lovely new friends.

Today I’m busy preparing for West Kilbride’s Yuletide Night so the studio is looking a wee bit festive.

This year I have a special offer for Yuletide Night and that’s the first 3 customers will get a free handwoven Holly decoration.

Fingers crossed I will get some more made today that will be for sale as well.

The success of this past year wouldn’t have been possible without the help from a lot of people.

First of all, I have to say a huge thanks to Craft Town Scotland and especially Maggie Broadley, who if it wasn’t for them letting me rent their studio space and then given continual support throughout the year with my business I don’t know what I would have done. Also, the fantastic support from the Craft Town Scotland makers who have become great friends.

Thanks to all my fellow students, lecturers, and support staff at Bradford College who helped me get through my HNC.

Huge thanks to all my students and customers at the studio. You really do make a huge difference and it’s been great to meet you all and hope to see you again soon.

Finally, massive thanks to my family and friends who without them I don’t know what I would do, especially my fantastically understanding husband, son, and dog.

So, that’s my first year done and I can’t wait for the second year to come.

I’ve got two very exciting projects that I’m about to work on straight after Christmas. Details of these will be in the New Year. Also, I will be attending a rather big yarny event in March in Edinburgh, again more details in a future post.

The thing I can’t wait to do is to create a new range of weather-related handwoven fabrics in the new year and the prospect of getting my sketchbook out and creating new patterns is really exciting me.

Thanks again to everyone and I can’t wait to see you again next year, and to meet new weavers, spinners and customers too.