Members

Hilary Belchak
I am a latecomer to textile arts. After retiring from a career in law, I took a course in Felt-making at the City Lit Institute in London in 2011. I loved it and followed up the introductory course by enrolling on the City and Guilds Felt-making textile course in mid 2012 online with Artybird. This has been a most enjoyable challenge and I am looking forward to starting the second year.

Lesley Buckwell
I have sewn since I was a child, but like many others did not have the time whilst working in education to pursue my own interests. Since retiring I have been able to develop my creative side, in painting, drawing, printmaking and textile art. Increasingly I find myself combining these disciplines since I completed a Diploma in Machine Embroidery. I have a particular interest in printing and enjoy building up layers and surface texture. Recently I have been drawn to collage. Most of all I love experimenting. Much of my wor relates to my surroundings; a deep love of the Suffolk countryside, and to my wider interest in the natural world.
I am a member of Chain Reaction, Feed Dogs Down and Contemporary Quilt Iceni Textile groups and the Eye Arts Guild.

Sally Mills
I have complete City & Guilds in Patchwork and Quilting at both Certificate and Diploma level.
Much of my work has been connected with indigo dyeing, in particular using Shibori techniques. This is the Japanese technique where binding, clamping or gathering the cloth is used to prevent dye reaching parts of the fabric. I mainly use Nui Shibori where tightly pulled stitching is used to create the design. I have use a combintion of stitching, beads and natural objects to enhance my work, but lately I have been concentrating on emphasising my work embroidery.

Carol Sutherland
I learned to embroider at the age of ten, when I was given a tray cloth by my Grandmother who believed I spent too much time with my nose in a book. I haven't stopped since, slowly working my way from transfers and kits to creating my own work. I have a City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Creative Embroidery taken with Isabel Clover at Suffolk College and I am a member of The Embroiderers Guild and
Chain Reaction.

Liz Chester
I originally learned to weave tapestry as a teenager with the Lyth Tapestry Weavers of Caithness in Scotland ( now defunct). I then pursued a career in IT and weaving became a passionate hobby. In 2008 I opted for redundancy and took the plunge to become a professional tapestry weaver. Since then I have joined the Suffolk Craft Society, Textile Art Group Suffolk (TAGS) and more recently, Chain Reaction. I exhibit my work locally, nationally and occasionally internationally. Presently I work mostly for exhibition submission, but I am slowly building up commissioned work and welcome any requests.

Alison Couchman
I trained as an Art teacher and also spent some time working in industry. This gave me the courage to start my own business which includes running an online shop, building websites & being Clerk to the Governors at a local school. Most of my work is wholecloth painted and quilted pieces.My work is primarily wall-hung although I also have a love of working in 3D, particularly making large vessel forms. I belong to Textile Art Group Suffolk (TAGS), Diss Embroidery Group and Chain Reaction.

Katie Walker
Having studied Art & Design at Colchester Institute, in recent years I have concentrated on
developing interest and skills in felted textiles.
I use a range of techniques to form structural shapes and images using merino wool in a wide, bright colour range. My inspiration has evolved from the 60's era and I enjoy experimenting with designs, styles and techniques in all aspects of feltmaking.
I am a member of Suffolk Craft Society and Textile Art Group Suffolk (TAGS), and my work is exhibited widely in East Anglia.

Jane Laya
Jane Laya comes from a background of dyeing cloth and feels connected to the silk mills in Sudbury and textiles in Lavenham. She has developed an interest in interpreting Japanese Boro techniques in an English way. Boro is a way of sewing cloth, often using running stitch to make larger pieces. Using free stencilling and a variety of print techniques Jane works to produce intriguing surfaces on cloth and combines them to make unusual images. Final stitching becomes important mark making as well as acting to integrate fabrics.