About
About Designs on Silk..
From teacher to student
After many years teaching abroad, I returned to the UK and North Yorkshire. However, on my return, I struggled to find a suitable teaching job so decided to look for something else.
Mixing Colours
Askham Bryan College in Bedale was running a 2-year course on silk dyeing and painting and although I failed art at school, I quickly got into mixing the colours on silk and the pattern created by different techniques.
At the end of the course the examiner bought one of my silk paintings and a local gallery, in Thirsk, offered to stock my scarves. My first show selling face to face was the Masham Sheep Fair.
Silk Accessories
Looking at colour combinations in nature and people watching, I use different techniques to blend and mix various colour combinations. Customers started asking me for other silk accessories, so my range of accessories has grown.
How I create my products...
How the 4 stage design process works...
The product is painted or sprayed with the different colour steam fix dyes.
Salt is then added and heat applied. The salt pulls the dye into a unique pattern.
After steaming in a pressure cooker, the item is washed, conditioned and ironed.
Depending on the product, I then make up or sew in my label.