With a passion since childhood for weaving, dyeing, embroidery, lacemaking and patchwork (how many other 9 year olds turn up at school after a six week period having made a patchwork bedspread) it was only apt that I trained as a weaver and specialised as a rug weaver at West Surrey College of Art and Design, Farnham, Surrey. Here my training involved yarn analysis, dyeing (both chemical and natural dyes) and finally weaving, stretching and finishing rugs.
Having learnt as a western weaver that financially my work would be “challenged” by the oriental market I trained in the art of restoration and Oriental carpets through working with tribal, decorative and collectors antique goods, in the U.K. with Persian and Western restorers and in Turkey, yet always keeping a desire to make and design.
Then after five years study at Art School and six years working with the trade and private clients alike, in 2000 The Rug Studio was born.
Initially a studio with a team of 12 was established in Surrey and a shop too! But the growing overheads and the changing market demands (the invention of cheap mass produced carpets, web shopping and the drop in the Antiques market) prompted me to return to my routes, my family and the reason behind it all, a true passion for Oriental carpets or “Art at Your Feet.” After all as a craftswoman, studio policies, staff appraisals and health and safety meetings are a long way from restoring, designing or producing Oriental Carpets.
I have since married and had a beautiful baby daughter (currently expecting my second), which has of course changed me, therefore I now work by app. while continuing to juggle fairs, restoration, and family life hoping to achieve quality time with my toddling daughter prior to the next addition.
The studio also continues to maintain its presence at the popular London Alexandra Palace Antique fairs and at a selection of the Herts. Cambs. and Beds. Country, craft shows and antique fairs. please see 'Dates for the diary'.
During the last eight years I have personally trained a U.K. team and an India team in restoration and design / production. Teaching Indian restorers of new goods to be sympathetic to the requirements of restoring Antique carpets from all round the world and provided them with the added bonus of handling antique carpets which gives an envious edge for the recreation and construction for production or carpets. (Although production is not only carried out in India, but also Iran, where we use fair trade labour).
I continue to specialise in “carpet art” a true oriental masterpiece, be it tribal or decorative, antique or contemporary anything is possible. I like to ensure each client has a unique piece, something special whether personally made to order, sourced within the market place or taken from stock. I feel I am using my skills correctly and aim to ensure personal service to each brief and pass on my passion and knowledge for oriental carpets through design, duplication, sales, cleaning and repair. 2008 I returned to the lecture, workshop and demonstrations field as I always enjoy sharing my enthusiasm.
The India workshop previously trained by me continue to carry out the restoration of large scale work previously considered only fit for cushions or fragments but now economical to restore, administration import issues depending.
I specialise in the restoration i.e. a hole or reweave, sides and borders rewoven, preparing goods for hanging. I am also able to service the stain removal, mould treatment, colour run, moth removal / proofing , stretching, and rot repair as part of the cleaning services provided.
Many times I hear, “we did not realise it could be restored, ” or “we thought it would be more expensive.” But I pride myself at my skill at offering on average three different quotes, conserving, patching or full restoration to suit clients budgets, traffic levels, and of course the rugs requirements
Why not email or send a photograph to receive a preliminary quote,
The restoration repiling, reweaves, holes, patching, replacement fringes, new sides, strengthening / replacement wefts … are all just part of my skills click here for examples of my work.
Let your mind open up, drift off to a make believe place. An oriental carpet can certainly do this:- stories to tell, weavers feelings entwined, (especially the tribal pieces when one can see the weaver was tired, frustrated, in love!), producing light, life and colour to any home, they will be a friend for life, and one of the best economic purchases one can ever make, what else lasts 70 years, ages wisely and still looks good?.
now in your cart 
