My name is Lara Rudd and I am working towards a CTQ (Conservation Technicians Qualification) with The Textile Conservancy.

I work at the conservation practice a couple of days a week, whilst juggling three children and my own soft-furnishing business, (having come from a training in fashion, and an early career as a sample designer and pattern cutter).

Working in conservation has been a steep learning curve, needing concentration and meticulous attention to detail. To begin with the responsibility felt enormous, but as I have learned more handling techniques and have worked on an increasing variety of objects my confidence and competence has grown.

The support of textiles, whether for display or long-term storage, is an area in which I am becoming more competent. This can include the preparation of padded rollers, covering stretchers for mounting or creating inner supports for three- dimensional objects.

I assist in the humidification of textiles and surface cleaning using a variety of methods, including low-powered vacuum suction, and am soon to get further experience of wet cleaning. The dyeing of support fabrics has been demanding but the results are really satisfying, if sometimes a little unexpected!

Every week brings a new challenge and it is a great privilege to see, and handle such remarkable objects at close hand. Training towards a qualification gives a focus to my work and has been a stimulating experience both mentally and in developing new skills. Hopefully by the end of this year I will be ready for assessment.