This was a handsewing project I had on the go in December to offset ‘Christmas stress’. This padded check shirt is a very old one of my husbands, it’s in quite good condition but the top layer of fabric on the elbows had worn away exposing the wadding underneath. I really wanted to try Sashiko as part of the mend – bought Sashiko templates (Stencil Stash on Etsy) and Prym Aqua-Trickmarker white water erasable pen (jaycotts.co.uk), I already had a Gütermann Sulky colour 4007 thread which is red/blue space dyed.
The elbow hole was patched with denim (from old jeans), slip stitching the edges. The squishy padded fabric made marking the fabric a bit tricky, especially as the pen ink is invisible at first, taking a couple of minutes to appear. Following the Sashiko pattern was easy to do and enjoyable. To be honest I had hoped the space dyed thread would produce a more interesting effect, it was an experiment, but I still like it a lot …. now for the other sleeve.
Going back through 2025 photos I found this one of my ‘No24 Natural’ in the studio of my lovely friend artist printmaker Fran Farraron the Isle of Wight. She’s had a really busy year of exhibitions, two of them here in London – as we went round looking at the work she detailed all the different printing techniques. Visiting the annual Woolwich Print Fair last month (October 2025), armed with my new knowledge, it was really fascinating how it had changed my experience of looking at the work.
Although I’ve been on a long hiatus from making art I realised my experiences with materials and processes inform the way I look at work as much as subject matter; understanding and admiring the manipulation of the mediums to produce work that connects with the viewer. The aim of my creative work was to find a ‘beautiful resolution’ and actually this equally applies to In The Making Aprons and Boro Collection.
I was delighted to provide one of my aprons, the bestselling No4:5 Ochre Canvas, to one of the winners at the Annual London Potters Members Exhibition at the Morley Gallery, Private View 29th November 2025. It went toVeronica Kendall Ceramics congratulations to her! (Unfortunately I didn’t get a good photo of her work, but take a look on Instagram). The exhibition featured 120 makers celebrating the skill and imagination of London’s ceramics community, showing functional tableware to decorative objects and striking sculptural forms”. Look out for it in 2026, well worth the visit, it’s close to Waterloo and free! London Potters
No4:5 Aprons Ochre, Dusty Green, Beige. Pale Pink.
I’ve sadly neglected my blog-journal in the last couple of years, because social media seemed like such a treadmill of repeating myself. Lately though I’ve subscribed to some brilliant thoughtful blogs likeHebTroCowith their fabulous Bothering Magazine, and lucky enough to see the lovelyTom Robinsongive a talk at Brixton Hill Studios ‘Perfect Pitch’ launch a few weeks ago about valuing and connecting with your genuine audience on your mailing list, which made me re-evaluate it all. So here goes.
Today I put away summer clothes and dug out jumpers and warmer trousers, finally giving in to Autumn whilst reflecting on the Summer. My Summer had started with my biggest ever order, 37 lightweight No4:6 potters aprons for a gallery/studio in Majorca, I finished just days before my first major show, Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey 6-8 June 2025. It was HUGE over 200 exhibitors plus talks and workshops, quite a variety of different crafts on show but not surprisingly lots of jewellery and ceramics – the quality of work was extremely high. I was talking to visitors and other exhibitors all day long, which gave me some fascinating insights to their art & crafting lives – think I’ll do it all again in 2026!
Managed to see quite a few brilliant exhibitions during the Summer; Cockpit Open Studios Deptford (June) – Deptford X Festival various venues (July) – Matthew Cutts sculpture New Forest (July) – Printmakers Council 60th Anniversary Exhibition Oxo Gallery (September) – wonderfully colourful Grayson Perry ‘Delusions of Grandeur’ Wallace Collection (September) – APT Deptford 30th Anniversary Annual Show (September) – ‘Materiality’ at The Handbag Factory Jane Bottery’s, piece was absolutely beautiful (September) – Knit & Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace (October), stand outs being Jane Walkley’s extraordinary sculptural woven tapestries with cast Jesmomite artifacts, and an upcycled lab coat piece by Janel Vavrenyuk – the incredible Do Hoh Suh: ‘Walk the House’ at the Tate Modern (October) – The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Festival, at the fabulous Victoria Baths Manchester (October) –
The Do Ho Suh Exhibition ‘Walk the House’ at the Tate Modern London closes on the 26th October 2025 DON’T MISS IT! The show really connected with me as someone who has moved house a lot in my life, 31 times, 16 of those before I was 14 because my Dad was in the Army. The gauze fabric buildings, handles, light switches etc are stitched with the most incredible detail and the rubbings of his family home in Korea and other home details are so beautiful.
Currently I’m designing my stand for The Selvedge Winter Fair on 23rd November at RHS Hall in London, along with prepping stock for the busy Christmas period.
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Completly forgot to add this new apron project to my journal!
No14:2 pleated apron has been so popular in the 3 years since I introduced it to the range, but I was also getting lots of requests for a version with cross back straps. It proved trickier than anticipated to a design an apron with all the functions and features required but which also felt comfortable and flattering. The breakthrough really came when I identified new canvas fabrics that were softer, had more drape but still had the hardwearing qualities my clients need.
Introducing the No25: a pleated split leg skirt and adjustable crossback straps that knot through loops at the back to get the perfect fit for you, whether that’s a looser easy-fit or more snug fit or adjusting to allow for winter layers in a chilly studio. The pleats and split leg feature give lots of extra coverage and comfort, especially when the wearer is seated at a potters wheel or work bench. I really love this spectacular sapphire blue colour canvas teamed with royal blue tie straps made from ‘cotton feel’ acrylic tapewhich is both soft and hardwearing (much more so than cotton webbing).
I’ve been working on this one for quite a while now, over a year in fact, trying to produce a work apron that is simple and easy to wear, has well thought out functional details, has a lower price point, and of course looks great too!
The pocket sizes I’ve chosen to fit a variety of tools, notebooks, phone and devices, and the little square one is also handy for a little snack! I particularly love the arrangement of colour combinations, the soft natural unbleached canvas with it’s tiny dark flecks, the big bright yellow pocket and stark black pockets and straps.
I donated one of my No14:2 pleated canvas aprons to help raise money for Children in Need – it was part of the “Potters Bundle” prize (see photo). It was a real pick-me-up being involved in something with a lovely group of potters and discovering lots of beautiful work! Overall, very nearly £3000 was raised.
This pleated split leg apron has proved popular since I launched it 18 months ago, so I’m trying out some new colours and fabrics – this is the first of 3 new ones coming before the summer. This is a lovely colour, sort of ‘dusty-red-terracotta-dark pinky’ in the same tough medium-weight 100% cotton canvas as the original ochre version.
A very distinctive unusual potters/artists apron but with all the essential features needed for serious workwear. The pleated skirt and front split give excellent coverage and movement, well suited to craft activities that involve being seated at a work bench or potters wheel.
The No4:5 crossback split leg apron now comes in a glorious dusty terracotta/red colour canvas – first of a set of new aprons coming to the shop over the next couple of months. Designed for potters, artists and makers, the split skirt allows plenty of movement, whilst ensuring each leg is perfectly covered when sitting at the wheel or work bench. The easy-fit cross strap design means no ties around the neck, or dangly ties coming undone when your hands are covered in ‘muckiness’, and there are two good size pockets for tools, bits and bobs.
I also added a bit of new info to each listing, explaining the value of “a good work apron lasts many years longer than normal clothes. They retain their designed purpose and functionality, and also represent a special creative connection for the wearer”.
The newest addition to my ‘Boro Collection’ The Kit Bag 002, it’s not an apron!!
I’m very economic with apron layouts trying really hard not to waste fabric, only throwing away the smallest slivers of fabric, the rest I keep… piles of it! Some can be sewn together in a patchwork to make individual one-of-a-kind aprons for the ‘Boro Collection’; but some fabrics don’t lend themselves to that, the canvas for example becomes too stiff to drape. As canvas is a traditional fabric for bags I’ve begun to experiment. To understand the size and shapes involved, my first bags are made with larger remnants of fabric, before I move on to making pieced patchwork bags.
The 002 Kit Bag is made from two pieces of ochre canvas leftover from cutting out two No14:2 pleated split leg aprons (see photo – one rectangle is next to me partly under the ringbinder etc). It’s a large bag (56cm x 43cm) easily accommodating an A3 sketchpad, has a drawstring top with orange cord and black cord lock, and dark grey soft herringbone tape straps which are sewn securely with 12 bars of orange stitching.
I’m delighted to have a ‘decorative mending’ tutorial published at From Britain With Love here is a link to it frombritainwithlove.com/easy-visible-mending-with-sequins . From Britain With Love is a blog and directory of ethical UK makers, growers and creatives.
This year two of my favourite cardigans emerged from Winter storage full of moth holes. In years gone by one of them would have been binned but now I see the damage as a creative challenge, thinking of ways to give them a new lease of life.
I disguised the damage with clusters of sequins, and in the process gave them a really unique and personal touch. I was really keen to share this decorative mending idea, because it needs so little sewing knowledge but looks amazing!
