My name is Marie Godfrey. I am originally from the coastal area of Lancashire and my formative years were spent growing up by the sea. At the age of 18 I left to study English and American Literature at Warwick University and then worked for the Open College of South London setting up learning course for people wishing to go back into education. I then went back to formal education myself and studied for a PGCE in Primary Education. After a few years as a teacher I stayed home to raise my children. When they were older I was lucky enough to be able to complete a part-time degree in Metalsmithing at the University of the Creative Arts. This was the first time I had actually been able to study a craft based subject and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Towards the end of my degree my relationship with metal began to wane. I found it too “hard”, rigid and not tactile enough. This feeling of rigidity seemed to seep into the objects that I made from metal. I began to feel that my creations were dull, tense, inflexible, severe, stagnant. I felt that the precious metal I used in silversmithing was also slightly obsolete and not relevant to contemporary society. It was during this period that I learnt how to loom weave and soon realised that the fabric I myself created was more precious to me than expensive silver metal objects would ever be. I wove pieces of textiles that were practical too – beautiful scarves and tea towels. Actually creating objects that were beautiful, colourful, tactile, fluid, long lasting and useable was exactly what I wanted to do.
Like everything in life things didn’t go as planned. I had elderly parents and soon they had to come and live with us, I had to take on a caring role. Unfortunately my loom got put away and sadly I have totally forgotten how to use it. Hopefully I will be able to start weaving again.
Living around the corner from the Royal School of Needlework I have taken many of their embroidery courses throughout the years. I love the vast array of colours that are used in this art form. I also like the structure and reflective repetition of embroidery. Each stitch has a right way of being created and once you have mastered this routine you can create beautiful pieces of work. The more stitches you learn the more complex the work can be.
I want to find my “niche” – my particular corner of the craft world where I am at home. I am still a “dabbler” knowing how to do lots of crafts but not knowing how to do any of them to a master craftsperson level. I am hoping that studying a Textile Degree at the OCA will be the path that leads me to my final craft destination.
Part of Metalwork Degree researching moss growing on walls and the theme of boundaries.
MARIE GODFREY ONLINE DIARY 