Today’s guest is a very inspiring woman! Jacky is an artist and weaver from a beautiful part of the U.K, surrounded by captivating landscapes and historic buildings.
I have admired her work for some time on Instagram, where she shares wonderful photos of her artist life and her dog, Boo. In fact, when selecting photos for today’s interview, it was very difficult to narrow down to just a few, I wanted to show you so many more!
I particularly wanted to chat with Jacky on the blog so that she could share her story and experience with her physical disability and how that has impacted on her creative life.
I hope that her story will encourage you all to focus on what you CAN do, regardless of your circumstances.
How long have you been weaving? What got you interested in starting?
Just before Christmas three years ago I bought a little frame loom on a whim. I designed a little snowman wall hanging and was surprised by how well it turned out and how much I enjoyed doing it, and that’s what got me started on my weaving journey. I started looking more into weaving and that’s when I first read about rigid heddle looms – I didn’t know if I would be able to use one from my wheelchair, especially doing the warping, so did lots of research on YouTube, which is when I first saw your videos, which have been a real help for me. My Birthday was coming up, so I asked my family if I could have money instead of presents. I was so excited when I opened my first ever rigid heddle loom and couldn’t wait to get started weaving on it!
What loom/s do you own?
My first loom was an Ashford 16” RHL, but after a while I wanted something I could weave wider fabric on. I knew I wouldn’t physically manage to weave on a very wide loom so finally decided on an Ashford 24” RHL and I love weaving blankets on that. Last year I decided to add a 12” Ashford Samplet loom to my little ‘loom family’, so that I could practice more complicated weaving, and I love it! It’s such a joy to use and I can easily carry it anywhere with me.
What is your favourite fibre to work with? Do you have favourite items to weave?
Wool is definitely my favourite fibre to weave with. I always used to think wool was scratchy to wear, but now of course I have learned that there are so many types of wool, each with their own qualities. Last year I wove a scarf from a handspun blend of Blue Faced Leicester and Rose fibre and that was beautifully soft. At the moment I’m in the middle of weaving a silk scarf on the Samplet, I’ve never woven with such fine silk before and I’m really enjoying it so I think that will become another favourite.
You also spend time spinning and painting. You love to paint en plein air and I find your landscapes absolutely beautiful. Do you have a favourite location/s for this?
Thank you Kelly. I’m very blessed to live in the Cotswolds which is a really lovely part of the U.K., so I’m surrounded by picturesque villages and beautiful countryside to paint in. I also love painting the sea, and my favourite coastal area is South Wales. I hope to be visiting there again soon now that our present lockdown restrictions are beginning to lift.
Please tell us about your disability and the challenges it presents to you in your creative pursuits.
I’ve been disabled with a neuromuscular illness for about 25 years now. It affects all my muscles, which are very weak, and I use an electric wheelchair to get about the house. It has left me with double vision, but I have strong prism lenses in my glasses which help quite a lot.
My arm muscles are very weak too, which is very challenging when I want to be doing things, but I make sure I take plenty of breaks to rest them for a little while when I’m weaving or painting. As long as I pace myself I usually get things done, it just takes a little bit longer.
I have to take lots of breaks when I’m warping the loom, and I’m always glad when I’ve finished doing it. My husband Phil almost always helps me with winding on the warp – I have used the ‘crank and yank’ method a few times, but it is definitely easier when he helps!
You have a beautiful assistance dog, Boo. How did you he come into your life and how has he made a difference to you?
Boo is an adorable yellow Labrador, and the gentlest dog I have ever known. He became my partner eight years ago thanks to a U.K. charity called Dogs for Good, which trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities and children with autism.
I can’t take my coat off by myself, so Boo comes by my side, gently puts one sleeve cuff between his teeth and pulls at it until my arm is free, then he goes to my other side and pulls that sleeve off too.
He also picks up everything I drop, helps to empty the washing machine and picks up the mail. He loves to come to Church with me and lies quietly by my side through the service. He has a bed in the studio and always comes to lie by my side when I’m weaving, I think he finds it as soothing as I do.
Is any of your creative work available for sale?
Most of my work is available for sale in the U.K. through my Facebook page or in exhibitions. I sell some of my woven items too, mainly scarves just now, again through Facebook. I have a stash of woven fabric waiting to be made into bags and purses, but I never seem to get round to get the sewing machine out to make them – I’d far rather be weaving!
Thank you so much to Jacky for taking the time to share with us today! I know that many of you would love to follow along with her work and see what she comes up with next. You can follow Jacky here:
Facebook-
Jacky Radbone, artist
Jacky Radbone, weaving in the Little Cwtch Studio (‘Cwtch’ is a Welsh word which means ‘ a hug’)
Instagram-
Blog-
Until next time…
Happy Weaving!
Kelly,
I very much appreciate your interview of Jacky which reminds the weaving community to be inclusive of weavers with disabilities. And as a weaver myself with several severe physical disabilities that create weaving challenges, my experience is that adaptations for weaving with disabilities are part of the creative process!
Thank you, Jude
Hi Jude, I’m glad you enjoyed the interview, Jacky is very inspiring. I love to help ALL people to be successful at weaving 😊
Thank you for sharing this inspiring and beautiful story. The paintings and weavings stopped me in my tracks as I scrolled through. I weave with repurposed plastic bag packaging to reduce waste and so others might enjoy a new skill. And I’m interested in teaching weaving with plastics so that people of any ability could learn.
I love your work, Jackie, and thank you for sharing a fuller picture of how you do it and how you address the challenges you face. It’s great to see Boo’s face too – I’m a dog lover, especially labradors, and admire their intelligence. It is inspiring to see how you and Boo work together.
Thank you Kelly for your beautiful work, and for bringing Jackie’s artistry and life to more people. I am so glad I found your post today.
Yes, Jackie is very inspiring.
Unfortunately Boo lost his battle with cancer recently, he is very missed.
Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. I was so surprised and glad when Kelly asked if she could interview me, and I’m inspired to read so many inspiring people here too,. It just shows what a wonderful thing weaving, in all its forms, is, and thank you so much to Kelly for bringing us all together and sharing her knowledge and gifts with us all. x
Thank you so much for this article. Jacky is so inspiring. I have had recent hip surgery and am unable to sit at my loom, but I also know my infirmity is temporary. When I have a pity party, I will re-read this article. I also absolutely love her paintings. Thank you again
I hope your healing is fast and you can get back to doing all the things you love ❤️
Hi I live in South Africa and I have chronic Scoliosis and I need need both hips replaced they are bone on bone. I can walk but I am bent in half at the waist and cannot lift my head to look where I’m going and need the assistance of my walker/chair to get around without this I cant manage. I had a little Inkle loom tucked away for about 3 or 4 years and decided now I cant do many things and sit at home especially now because of the covid and the fact I’m disabled and 78 so out I brought my.little Inklette and I started making bands. I’m having such fun with the different bands and now decided to try make a small income from the bands by doing doggie collars and leads. Well I’m really happy as I’ve sold a few and its given me a new lease on life and made me take note even though I’m badly disabled I can still do something useful and beautiful. I just wish i could maybe afford a small Samplette to try ridged heddles weaving as i really need to find my way to doing something more creative but sadly cant afford it. I’m so happy to read of your journey and disability and how you overcame it. Take care and stay safe. MAVIS SKENE.
Mavis,
I’m so glad to hear that inkle weaving is making your life happier and that you’ve been able to sell some bands too, that is just wonderful!
Jackie is incredible and you Kelly, are amazing to bring into our lives such an inspiring person. Her work is amazing, thank you!
Kelly,
Thank you for the interview with jacky. It is wonderful to learn about someone who creates beauty despite her difficulties.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Jacky is truly amazing and inspiring. My mom was in a wheelchair for most of my life and she was also able to overcome many obstacles like Jacky. Jacky shows me to never give up and always be grateful for what I have. Thanks for introducing us to Jacky, Kelly.
What a beautiful story about a beautiful person. Thank you for sharing Kelly and Jacky.
She is so talented and inspirational. I will draw on this interview often.
I loved reading about Jacky and her artistic journey. She is, indeed, very inspiring and her talent is amazing. Thank you for introducing her to us here on your blog. I will be following her blog too!
Smashing interview Kelly. Very inspiring. And of course lovely weaving and artwork.
Thanks for visiting (and reading!) Clare 😊
Such amazing painting and beautiful weaving! Thank you so much for introducing Jacky to us Kelly. I popped over to Jacky’s Instagram, Facebook & Blog pages for a quick look, there is so much beauty to be found in all of these places – I can see myself spending a lot more time exploring Jacky’s wonderful art and weaving. You are very inspiring Jacky, thank you for taking the time to share some of yourself and your wonderful talents with us.
I’m glad you enjoyed the interview Gai, I think Jacky is awesome too 😊