November with Ann Sutton OBE
04/11/2024
Today we finally started working on some art! I have enjoyed the build up to this moment, but am so glad it’s here! We were experimenting with various materials and seeing how the paints worked with them.
I have realised that one of Anns work doesn’t take ages to make, it just has a lot of thought behind it. She was saying today how she now wants her pieces to be simple and effective. This means she is sourcing alternative materials, instead of weaving everything in the studio. It’s funny because now we are seeing that makers are finally getting that understanding from others that work can take a long time. We all laughed about how Ann is doing the opposite and wanting pieces out quickly. She also explained that she has so many ideas, if they drag on for too long they often get forgotten about and are never completed.
We always have lovely conversations about her past etc. Today she mentioned when she cut and painted on her woven samples, a tutor spat on her because it was so against the grain and not something that was done. Funny how times have changed. Now we are all pushed to think of things no one has done before.
11/11/2024
Today Ann mentioned about me working an extra morning with her in the week as work is now on a roll. I was very excited to hear this, I knew there was potential for her to ask so it’s nice to confirm this.
We continued experimenting with the piece from last week. The acrylic paint was slightly tacky and chipping when you touched from when we had painted on the material, so wouldn’t last long term. We added some acrylic varnish so shall see how that looks next time.
Ann has also decided she wants to look back at her old ways of working. So is going to start using a frame loom again. This is super exciting to me.
We often have many chats, one of which today she explained that the care home doesn’t provide enough art sessions. I have already been toying with the idea of asking to complete sessions teaching weaving there, so this has come in good time.
By everyone weaving a small square I shall be able to piece them all together to create a beautiful piece of art showcasing how creative, integrated and collaborative we are as a home! I am really excited. By running these sessions I shall be able to learn how I teach and gain confidence in an environment that I am familiar with.
18/11/2024
This week was less productive than normal. My initial task was to transfer scowls of plastic yarn into cones. I am quite familiar with this task from working with Rebecca at Dobby and Rose so thought I would complete it quite quickly. However, a lot of the scowls were tangled and kept sliding off each other when being wound. This meant the remainder of the session was spend trying to untangle and wind the yarn. It was very frustrating as we had planned to complete many other tasks. I have taken some of the yarn home to continue untangling so that next week can be more productive.
Despite the annoyance, we all had such a laugh today. Chatting about Christmas meat, teaching and the general care home chit chat. ..‘Chicken bullets’. Ann was very complimentary about me. It was very sweet. She said I had done so well speaking in front of everyone last minute. She said wouldn’t say she was impressed unless she meant it. She also mentioned how I had a good understanding on the world. I really appreciate it when she says things like this. I know Ann genuinely means it which is what makes it so special.
25/11/2025
Today was very productive. I had felt a bit flustered starting the day as there was a lot of traffic on the way. I never like being late but it was going to be close with the extra 20 mins it was adding to the journey, so I felt all over the place today.
However, despite this it was very productive. I completed a lot of experiments for upcoming projects. Tried a new yarn on the knitting machine… it didn’t work as the yarn was far too thick. Ann also kindly gave me one of her books. There is also going to be someone coming into the studio in the New Year to film some content for a secret project which is exciting.