March with Ann Sutton OBE
03/03/2025
Prepping for gallery visit. I placed all experiments out on the table. It’s quite nice to see everything stacking up. There’s still so much to do though! I also tried getting the knitting machine to work however, it wasn’t happy! Really want more time to work on it.
February with Ann Sutton OBE
03/02/2025
Today was productive. I was working on taking the knitting completed before Christmas, and also worked through weave patterns. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with what Ann was asking of me. I wanted to act knowledgeable, but wasn’t completely sure. I think Ann was a little shocked I hadn’t ever worked out a pattern before. She’s determined for me to learn, and is throwing me in at the deep end. It’s probably a good thing, however, I feel pressured to work it out quickly and correctly.
05/02/2025
We continued sorting through art works at Westergate. She produces so many quick drawings it’s easy to build up. I think Ann is feeling satisfied with the jobs we are getting done. She gives me little notes from newspapers that might be of interest, around weaving etc.
10/02/2025
Today was a lot of discussion around instagram. We are going to sort it on Wednesday. I started drawing up different designs for a secret project. I found it quite difficult to design with the number constraints we had calculated. This will mean when something does work it will click and be very satisfying. I just need to bare with and keep experimenting.
12/02/2025
We set up the instagram! Yay! It was a faff trying to work out what email was linked and then trying to get in, however, it was worth it. Ann is now back on instagram. We are going to use the instagram that has nearly 1000 followers as it already looks quite established. I am very excited about the direction we can take this. She is equally as excited. I think it will be great to learn how to make a professional instagram. I will be able to work out what works and what doesn’t. This is extremely important for the future. I am very perfectionist so want the instagram to be a professional and cohesive space. We also continued organising. She has so many scarfs, I always find it so interesting hearing about all the stories attached to them!
17/02/2025
Tried working out some patterns for upcoming pieces, the issue is we only have 12×12. It’s hard to find a pattern that works for those exact numbers. I have learnt to simplify over complicating it. It can more often than not look better with a simpler idea. The only issue is its a lot easier to copy if you can work it out.
19/02/2025
Organising! Ann was very sweet, she said I was her favourite person she has ever worked with. I was shocked! Shes definately not the kind of person that randomly says these things! She has discuessed me working with her and Rebecca again next year. We need to work out the logistics however, I am quite excited by this idea as I think we will be both be beneficial towards each other. She could be extreamly useful with my projects, and visa versa. She has such amazing knowledge on the weaving world and also the carehome. Shes the perfect person to have to help me with any advice etc.
24/02/2025
Continued experimenting with materials. Some pieces clicked today! I love it when something clicks and then its continues to spiral into new ideas that all work together.
27/02/2025
Last day of organising. It’s so nice to think everything is done and Ann now has a space where she can be productive. She is so happy with the space now. Can definately be more productive in the space.
January with Ann Sutton OBE
13/01/2025
Ann hasn’t been too well over Christmas, and didn’t feel well enough to go into the studio today. I still went with Rebecca, completing material research. I visited Hobby Craft also to potential source some materials for upcoming projects.
20/01/2025
Oh it’s so nice to be back at Ann’s studio. Today I learnt how to weave in a metal frame. I have nearly perfected everything, apart from the corners. I am going to continue practicing in my own time.
Rebecca also suggested making Ann an instagram. I have thought about this in the past, however, assumed Ann had dismissed this idea. It’s really exciting that Rebecca and I will be able to work together to create a space where people can keep more up to date with Ann.
On the way back, Ann said that she was forever grateful that she had Rebecca and me. It was so sweet of her. We discussed how we still couldn’t believe how we met and that we were so thankful that we had. I really really enjoy my time with Ann and Rebecca. We all get on so well and all bring something different to the table. Ann, obviously with her amazing ideas. Rebecca, being lovely and organised. They say I am very sensible and have a good head on me!
We will be working together on Wednesday mornings as well as Mondays from now on. We have decided there is so much to do that one morning isn’t enough.
22/01/2025
Today I continued working from home, with experiments for potential projects. I feel proud of myself that Ann trusts me to work on things away from her. I have a good understanding on what Ann wants to achieve so can now work independently.
27/01/2025
More discussion on instagram. Developing weaving using metal frame. I could tell Ann wasn’t feeling 100% today, Rebecca and I ensured Ann didn’t complete too much and took a step back. She appreciated that we had picked up she wasn’t her full self. I have always been a very empathetic person, however, feel as though working at the care home the past four years has enables me to pick up if someone isn’t quite right even quicker than before. I am going to continue working on projects this afternoon.
29/01/2025
Sorted her room at the care home, Ann was feeling overwhelmed with her desk. We sorted through everything, she felt so much better after and was excited to work again. She always says how grateful she is to have me, I suppose we are both very lucky to have met each other. I have not only learnt so much about the weaving world, but have also made a very close friend. I will be forever grateful to have met Ann.
December with Ann Sutton OBE
02/12/2024
Today was a lot of experimenting. I was testing differing materials over and over again. One day one of the experiments will click, then it shall be worth all of the time spent. I finished transferring the plastic scanes. We had a lot of fun today.
09/12/2024
Continued experimenting. I am enjoying the freedom of this. I worry if I was to do this within my own work I wouldn’t make enough money to cover the hours spent experimenting. However, in Ann’s case that is exactly what people like about her work. It’s always something new and never done before. So it’s worth spending the time now, as she will reek the rewards once pierces go up for sale.
16/12/2024
Today we had a lot of fun trying to work out how to use a battery caulking gun. At first it didn’t work very well. We soon realised it was because we used an open filler tube, the contents had become very hard. Using other unopened and in date fillers it started working. It is difficult to ensure you keep a steady line, but something we will get used to. It was a lot of fun trying to problem solve.
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.
October with Ann Sutton OBE
07/10/2024
The sock machine saga continues… for a few weeks now Ann and I have been trying to get her old sock machine to work. We have tried various stitch lengths, yarns and continued using WD40.
14/10/2024
Today we completely cleaning the sock machine. Took everything apart and used a strong alcohol to clean EVERYTHING. It is still temperamental which is very frustrating but hopefully next week once the sewing machine oil has settled in we shall be more successful. After researching we realised the WD40 was one of the worst things to use as it’s a heavy oil. By also using too much it caused a mess and clogged up the parts.
21/10/2024
I really enjoyed this morning… my task with Rebecca (Ann’s assistant for 8 years) was to categorise some of her larger pieces that were rolled up. There were around 12 pieces that need to be unpacked and repackaged so the pieces were more protected. We found that a lot of the galleries hadn’t bothered to pack the pieces properly, some were stuck together, others had the hanging pole denting into it. It made me realised how important packaging pieces of work is. One piece had to be carefully pulled apart as the acrylic paint was sticking together. Unfortunately there were a few times it took the pain off which was devastating, however, nothing we could do about it.
I learnt that using the flat side of bubble wrap onto the work protected it better, and using string per scrap strips of fabric to keep the bubble wrap rolled was better than using tape. Tape can become sticky and therefore potentially ruin the work.
While Rebecca and I packed the art, Ann continued to play around with the knitting machine. However, it still wasn’t working, making a horrible noise when trying to turn the wheel.
28/10/2024
Today was a brilliant day! My first task was to get the knitting machine working… I did! Phew… I was so glad I was able to! I then kept knitting and knitting and knitting… Within a short time I had created metres of length. The more I used it the smoother and easier it became.
Ann also discussed the pieces that we would be working on. She is very ambitious and is up for a challenge. When I was asking how certain pieces would be attached, she would reply saying…
‘I don’t know… we shall just have to work it out!’
We then discussed various ways, some she hadn’t thought of. Mainly just bouncing off each other.
For the last part of the morning Rebecca and I continued unpacking and packing some art pieces.
It does amaze me how easily Ann comes up with so many amazing ideas. It really does come naturally to her.
30/09/2024
My first ‘official’ day working with Ann was a lot of fun!
I had been working for Ann every so often over the past year, so this day wasn’t daunting because of the unknown for example.
I had met Ann the during summer 2023 working at the care home, we were so excited we both shared the same interests in weaving. this blossomed into a great friendship. I have already gained so much by speaking with Ann, the stories and experiences she has are incredible.
She had asked for my help with packaging some tablet weaving pieces from Pat Holtom to be sent the Maltease museum in Malta.
Soon after Ann mentioned the possibility of working along side her during my placement year. I was over the moon.
We continued to stay in contact while I was at university, I would see her at Easter and Christmas etc help with projects we could complete from her bedroom.
Leading to present, over the summer 2024 I started working with Ann in her studio. She had recently moved locations, so we had to organise a lot! The amount of amazing pieces of work I view because of this process is amazing. I also love that I know where everything is located, making the construction of her art pieces a lot smoother as we are not searching for ages for tools.
On the 30th September we continued unpacking.