A new venture … in October I will be running my own weaving courses at ‘The Bothy‘, which is a fab “creative space” next door to Vanessa Arbuthnott’s shop in Cirencester. Please spread the word, it would be lovely for this to be a success so classes could run on a regular basis.
I will be demonstrating hand-weaving on a floor loom, using British Wool, at the Cotswolds Living Landscape Festival on Sunday 18th September. This event has been organised by Cotswolds AONB in conjunction with The National Trust and is held at NT Lodge Park, running from 10.30 to 4pm.
“Past Buckingham Palace, last door on the left before Admiralty Arch”
The Mall Galleries – Main Gallery
Designer Crafts on the Mall Private View evening – my display of handwoven wool rug samples, upholstery and bolster cushions.
Received a Distinction Award from the Curators, given in recognition of work exhibited by a New Licentiate.
My pieces have now been hung in the Mall Galleries, London ready for the SDC show opening to the public on Friday, 12th August. I will be travelling up for the Private View tomorrow evening, 11th August.
For anyone who may be in London on Thursday 18th August, I would love to see you as I will be stewarding on that day.
Countdown to the Society Of Designer Craftsmen summer show at the Mall Galleries, London. Opens on 12 August. Exhibiting with them for the first time! More details here.
Work still in progress, winding wool warps destined for soft furnishing fabrics.
Jacob sheep at The Cotswold Farm Park
A full-on weekend leading and teaching on a special ‘Creative Weekend’ course to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Cotswolds AONB, which they titled: Weaving the Wonderful Cotswolds.
Day 1 was at Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park, near Bourton-on-the-Water. I took the students on a farm walk to meet the rare breed sheep and be inspired by the colours and textures of their surrounds. They watched a shearing demo, then learnt the techniques of carding and spinning, turning white and coloured washed fleece into fabulous yarn with the Northleach Spinners and Weavers.
We then dyed wool yarn (which had been mordanted with Alum), using hand-spun from the Farm’s Cotswold sheep and commercially spun British Wool from Laxtons in Yorkshire. Using plant matter picked at the start of the day, we made dyes from Hawthorn, Cow Parsley and Nettle and produced a range of yellows which were over-dyed with colour from dried natural dyestuffs in blues, purples, reds, pinks and browns.
Cotswold Handspun Wool dyed with nettles
Day 2 we relocated to the Cotswolds AONB Discovery Centre at Northleach, where we got creative in the Old Victorian Court Room, weaving with the student’s fabulous hand-spun wool and the wool yarn they had dyed the previous day. Visual sources of inspiration were translated using card windings and paper weaving for colour and proportion into weave patterns using the rigid heddle and back-strap technique.
Amazingly creative beautiful pieces from these absolute beginners, don’t you think…
Using a tapestry technique, clasped weft
Backstrap weaving using natural fleece colours and plant dyed wool
Inspired by Delphiniums
As a member of the Creative Forum, a group of multi-discipline creatives and artists in Gloucestershire, I was encouraged to do a presentation on ‘my textile practice’ at the last group meeting.
Not having done this before, I prepared 4 A4 sheets, headed: Background, Milestones, Current Practice and Future. The Milestones one was illustrated with samples which included my first weaving, my first exhibition piece, and my Bradford Textile Society competition successes.
One of my milestones, The Cambrian Mountains Wool Challenge, where I got to talk to HRH Prince Charles about me and my work!
Private view of collection and reception with patron HRH Prince Charles
My audience was very supportive and I really enjoyed (and found useful) the process of looking back and analysing my creative journey, and having to think about what I want moving forwards.
One of the lovely comments I had on Facebook:
Thank you Rebecca for a great talk about your weaving practice. It was really interesting and certainly you didn’t talk too long! Looking at all the different samples was a joy. Beautiful colours and textures! Seeing how other craftspeople and artists work and their experiences towards a creative line of work is, I think, very relevant to everyone even if they use a different approach or medium. Enjoyed it immensely!
