Smallbeans

This is where design and create things made from fabric and stitch. For your home and your coat. I have also made huge quilts with primary schools!

23/06/2026

Feeling creative?

Come and learn about the ancient ink made from Oak Galls with our Muir Trust artist in residence, Jane Charles, then use the inks to decorate and illustrate a small folded book.

Creating lightfast ink from oak galls is magical, it was used to illustrate the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Magna Carta. Working with the ink, we will be creating patterns and illustrations inspired by Jane’s residency at the museum, using iron water as a modifier to change the colour. The little sculptural book can be formed in a number of ways, notated and stitched into. Representing the layers of soil with golden treasures to be found, inspired by the Saxon burial sites themselves. All materials provided.

Workshop time: 12pm - 3pm

Discover more 👇👇
https://www.discoverbucksmuseum.org/whats-on/oak-gall-ink-workshop/

21/06/2026

A magical afternoon spent at the Midsummer festival for one day hosted by Culture MK | Arts, Heritage & Culture in Milton Keynes I was delighted to make artwork for the MK Lit Fest and Arts Central Studios House of Stories event in the structure made by Wild Rumpus My rustic banner celebrated ‘One Sun, many cultures’…..naturally dyed linen with patterns made from soy milk, iron water and Indian ink. Sparkle created with hand embroidery and chocolate coin foil. Symbols that represent the sun from many cultures since time began.

18/06/2026

Back to the studio today (and tomorrow) working on this piece for Sunday.
I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the MK Lit Fest House of Stories. Thank you for letting me join you.
My studio is in Arts Central Studios where LitFest is based, it’s been a hub of excitement and activity for the last 2 months.
A Culture MK | Arts, Heritage & Culture in Milton Keynes event on Midsummer Boulevard in Central Milton Keynes, one day only 10am-8pm
All free!
More of this piece when I’ve finished it!

12/06/2026

Ohhh it’s taken me a while to create cards from my textile work, but finally here they are.
Closeups of art quilts and embroideries I’ve made over the last 10 years, but I think they work well as greetings cards as well as for those who like to support artists with the idea. I’m very happy with the clarity and colour balance. Another one of those ‘let’s just do it’ moments 2 weeks ago, I think as some distraction from what’s going on in our real world.
Thank you ✨Pennybatch✨ for your quick service and attention to detail.
Oh and I put the stand together all by myself as well 👍

11/06/2026

Please wish this little sewing pouch and needle case luck! I’ve entered it into the Sussex Contemporary Standen House & Garden arts and crafts open call. I was planning to make something a bit larger but life and death got in the way so this is all I managed. But I can see it in a beautiful sitting room full of silk threads waiting for a slow stitching moment with the lady of the house. Eco printed vintage cotton, hand embroidery, hand made ceramic button (made by me in my friends pottery studio) . 🧵 🍓 🐌

10/06/2026

Biblical weather this morning, but now the sun is shining down on us. Appropriate as I’m sat in for whilst stitching work for my residency at working on oak gall inky pages I started last week, now adding slow stitch and textures. Looking for a glimmer of gold (and hope) 🖤

06/06/2026

I ordered these new business cards late on Thursday evening, they were printed and dispatched yesterday (Friday) and have arrived this morning (Saturday!) Blooming brilliant service, well done one happy customer 🙂

02/06/2026

When I signed up for in January I didn’t know I would be short listed for the Muir Trust residency, never mind win it! The two event should not have clashed, sadly they have. So I’m making the most of an awful situation, please bear with me……
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’ve got two days this week at : Wednesday 3d and Thursday 4th working in the beautiful, sunlit Georgian room. Inspired by the amazing Saxon hoards discovered in Buckinghamshire. Intricate golden treasures found in dark rich soils.
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Then 6 days at St.Swithun’s church, Swanbourne: 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th. Part of the Swanbourne Art trail set up by Trisha at ……here I’ll be showing very different work, but stitching my Saxon samples.
Always happy to chat about my work, please come and say hello.
But due to my family situation, I might not be there over the whole weekend.

Address

Milton Keynes
MK130

Telephone

+447941547433

Website

http://www.smallbeans.co.uk/

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