My piece embodies what spring means to me. It is the time of year when I yearn to try new things and when I most enjoy printing at my bench, in my studio, with the doors open to my garden. It is the time of year when hope springs.

And this spring I am trying something very new. I am starting to teach in my studio. It’s exciting and daunting at the same time. And I really, really hope it will be a success. So I decided to practice one of the techniques that I will teach – using a temporary resist on a screen to print a background. In this case I printed the word ‘HOPE’ over and over again in three values (light, medium and dark) of one colour. I then pulled out a selection of hand dyed fabrics and attempted some improvised curved piecing. Maria Shell set this prompt and she is the QUEEN of improvised piecing! I quickly improvised myself into a corner but rescued the piece by adding a stylised tree using fused applique. After adding lots of quilting I’m now happy with the finished piece.

Title: Hope Springs

Size: 30inch x 20inch

Materials: Artists owned printed and dyed fabrics

Techniques: Piecing, fused applique, machine quilting