Spotlight on Jo Hill Textile artist member of Staffordshire Artists Cooperative

After studying for a foundation in Art Joanne Hill completed a 4 yr degree course in Textiles. Jo is self employed running a soft furnishing business for the last 15 years. Jo has expanded on her skills by spending many an evening studying “City and Guilds” courses in Soft furnishings, Interior Design, Paper craft, Textile techniques, machine embroidery and felt making, mostly at Stafford College.

After gaining a “City & Guilds” in “Further and Adult Education Teachers certificate” in 2000, Jo has taught Soft furnishings and textile crafts to adults part-time, for Stafford College, Staffordshire county council and independently and wil be running workshops in felt making soon.

Jo's work

Jo works from a studio in her garden, and has always had a passion for colour and textiles and has been creating ‘things’ since a very early age.

Her current work incorporates a wide variety of textile techniques including: - dyeing, stencilling, printing, appliqué, handmade papers and silk papers, felt and hand and free machine embroidery. She makes a wide variety of items, jewellery, cards, cushions, accessories and wall hangings. A large proportion of her work is up-cycled, using recycled fabrics from pattern books or left over’s from soft furnishings, these are collaged in with hand dyed fabrics. Influenced by nature, especially birds and flowers but also keeping up to date in current trends in interiors and fashion.
These are examples of Jo's work currently in Gallery at 12, Eccleshall

Joanne Hill tel:- 01785 816394 e-mail johill-textiles@ntlworld .com www.johilltextiles.co.uk

Macmillan Coffee Morning

September 24th saw local schools, organisations, individuals host coffee mornings for Macmillan Cancer support.

I have attended our local one for the last 4 or 5 years now and I am always so pleased to be invited back as it is such a worthwhile charity to support.
Our local one is held every year in the Grovesnor Centre, in the centre of Gnosall, and is hosted by the Phoenix club.

This was my stall, I had made up some new items of jewellery to take along to it which I included on the previous post. I am pleased to say one of the necklaces sold along with several other items of jewellery.

It is always a popular event in the village, a great time to catch up with friends!

And the Phoenix group are always so welcoming,
Along with my jewellery there was a Phoenix trading card stall, lovely cakes, plants, books, raffle and refreshments.
All in all a very successful morning for Macmillan!
I hope you had an opportunity to attend one near you!

Freshwater Pearls and crystals

Yesterday was spent making a few more items of jewellery  ready to take out to the various events I have coming up in the next few weeks. I hope you like!

necklace and bracelet set made using freshwater pearls

earrings made using freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals



Necklace made using freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals

Necklace and earrings made using freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal pearls

necklace, bracelet and earring set made using freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals

bracelet made using  freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals

Preview time

I am planning to start selling on line and some of these will be in my first shop selection, I still have to make up a few more items but I thought I'd give you a sneek preview!

Silks, buttons and beads

Today I enjoyed a much needed break before I concentrate on Gallery at 12 at the Eccleshall Show for a couple of days.
I was taken to the Threshing Barn by Sheila, one of my jewellery making workshop ladies. If you have never visited it is well worth a trip, set in the beautiful Staffordshire moorlands it is absolutely full of colour inside, with a variety of yarns in every shade imaginable!
Well I knew I would end up spending money, and it didn't disappoint, I did expect to buy some yarns and I no doubt will be returning to do just that, but having dabbled with making jewellery with buttons in the summer, these caught my eye so they were a must have.

But then what would I do with them, my initial thought was to crochet them onto wire as I did with my previous designs but then I spotted these sari silks which go so well with the brown and green buttons so may be I will incorporate them into the designs somehow,

But I do like colour and this collection also caught my eye, so I came home with these too.

After enjoying a lovely pot of tea and chocolate brownie at Denstone Hall Farm shop, I arrived back home to discover that my bead delivery to top up my bead selection for the Eccleshall show had also arrived, here is a selection of my order

So roll on Eccleshall Show!