As a child Pat was always stitching. Her dolls had hand-made clothes, some made by her mother, others altered from child’s clothes originally made by her maternal grandmother. I suppose you could say it is in the genes!  Pat trained to teach home Economics and Textiles but now, having retired, teaches from home, still doing much of the same.  Lace making, particularly needlelace has fascinated her for many years, which gives her the excuse to continue stitching. She has a large collection of antique lace, much of which is fine needlelace. She has been fortunate, as a result of this, to study at close hand its structure and design.  Much of her early work is based on the designs found in these pieces.  The next step in all of this was to experiment with thread colours and texture changes but still maintain the stitch formation. This led to interesting and exciting effects and a constant desire to experiment further. The ability to use a needle and to be so creative gives her a great deal of satisfaction.  Pat’s present work, though still very stitcherly, also involves the use of other mediums. Paper and felt give interesting dimensions to the work, along with machine embroidery, particularly lace-like machining.  She would consider herself more of a textile artist than a lace maker, but the needlelace still remains her primary interest.  Pat's inspiration comes from many sources- rock formations, scenery of places viisted, plants and the shadows and spaces created by them and also derelict buildings and stonework.  These sources are illustrated through them many mediums available to us nowadays.  Experimentation is an important part of her work.