My name is Ann Rippin and I run the Pomegranate Studio in Bristol in the South West of England.
Pomegranate Studio exists to encourage people to explore and develop their own creativity through a variety of making workshops. The workshops cover a range of textile and stitching techniques, as well as working with journals and notebooks as a way of thinking about yourself and your life.
I have researched textiles and the people who make them professionally for about twenty years and I have worked with adult students as an academic at the University of Bristol and the West of England for just as long. I have an unshakable belief in everyone’s innate creativity and the therapeutic value of making.
Annjrippin's Blog 
This sounds fascinating – I look forward to seeing your findings. I used to work for LA and now act as a sort of mgt consultant for large corporates while stitching in my ‘spare’ time so it will be interesting on a number of levels ato see what you come to.
Thanks for this comment. What did you do for LA? Did you get to the head office in Carno? It looked beautiful even in its derelict state when I went in September. What do you consult on? Are you a quilter or an embroiderer or a bit of everything like me? Do you have photos?
Hi Ann….my daughter ..Jacqui Corderoy gave me your details ..Wow how much I have enjoyed looking at your most impressive work…All through my life I have been connected with all aspects of embroidery …even when my children were growing up…now at my grand old age I can indulge in them even more….again …congratulations….Terry Dick.
Thanks so much for this comment. Jacqui was a wonderful student, the sort of person who made it a delight to go into work, and something of an inspiration to us. Academics are paid to be critical and miserable a lot of the time, and Jacqui’s zest for life and learning really were a tonic to us. And she was someone who could do the academic work, hold down a great job, bring up the kids and look fantastic too! She told me about you on a number of occasions so thanks for getting in touch.
I am glad that you are finding more time to do your own work. I would love to see photos.
Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
Hi Anna,please forgive the delay in replying…I`m not of the computer age…Jacqui told me last night she had seen you …I would love to send you photos of my work…I have joined a group that meets in a newly opened shop…BeeCrafty..an Aladdins cave..I am brushing up on my quilting and patchwork …especially machine…at Art School …all these years ago..I concentrated on mainly on hand sewing. Terry Dick…
Thanks for this – I’m glad you got to see my reply. I would love to see some of your work. You could send me photos via my University of Bristol email address – I can’t put it up here because of spam, but it is easy to find. Or perhaps we could arrange something via Jacqui.
Every best wish, Ann
Thanks for your reply …will send photos soon …all the best …Terry.
Love the concept of expressing your research visually in textile form! I look forward to following your blog and seeing what you do next … =D
Thanks for this. And thanks for taking time to comment.
What an interesting idea. I’m intrigued, although I confess I can’t sew a stitch and know less than zero about quilting. Thank you so much for your kind comment on my blog 🙂
Spashionista (Alicia)
It’s a great blog. Plus you don’t do that irritating pigeon-toed stance that so many fashion bloggers adopt. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
I have just come upon your blog after seeing that you are going to speak about Laura Ashley at Builth Wells in October. There may be many people interested in LA but I have been unaware of them until now. Thank goodness for that, because I have been so worried that so much material (excuse the pun) is being lost as time passes. She is part of British textile history and I get so frustrated that no one seems very interested. One good thing is that lots of fabric ends up in my stash, as when someone has a clearance, they think of me!
I have worked with her fabric since the late 70s and am still doing so and still buying an occasional piece on eBay and still being surprised at discovering a completely new pattern and yet another colourway!
I have recently completed a quilt – a Charles and Diana Wedding Quilt – which is going into the next exhibition at the Quilt Museum in York this September. It has been 31 years in the making and I have used a high proportion of LA fabric with a small amount of Liberty to reflect the early 80s patchwork scene here in the UK.
Sincerely,
Mary J.
Thanks so much for this comment and for taking the time to leave it. I am about to do some writing about Laura Ashley and so there will be a fair amount of stuff on the blog as I am committed to making my academic work available to everyone and not just the handful that read scholarly journals.
I thoroughly recommend the exhibition which is on at the costume museum in Bath – although not for much longer, but it is going on to the Bowes Museum I think. If you love the fabric it is a real treat and is mainly the 70s dresses.
I would absolutely love to see your Charles and Diana quilt if you happen to have a photo, and I look forward to seeing you at the area day if you are going. Come and say hello and we can compare notes!
Thanks again,
Ann