Author: rebeccaconnollydesign

Textile Designer Maker and Hand-Weaver, specialising in British Wool and Natural Dyes.

More Than What You See

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In August I was invited to work with the inspiring day patients, volunteers and staff at the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Day Hospice on this multi-discipline creative art project. The pieces created will be exhibited for the first time on Saturday 8th September, at their Autumn Fayre.

I wound warps onto tiny frame looms, into which the participants wove plant dyed wool, fragments of textiles from home and paper strips printed with words from their poetry. The discovery of a ‘treasure trove’ of glittery threads, ribbons and beads proved too tempting, so these were incorporated into several of the little woven pieces.

More Than What You See Final

 

 

Hand of the Maker show at Chelsea UAL

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The journey of the exhibits at this year’s Society of Designer Craftsmen show started in autumn last year when British Wool obtained two cones of yarn, spun by Gardiners Yarns of Huddersfield from British Herdwick in the natural grey tones of their fleece, for me to weave with at Decorex 2017 on their stand with CountryLife magazine.

The ‘demonstration’ warp remained on the loom for several months until I decided to use it up by experimenting further to see what designs I could create from using just the two Herdwick greys.  The contrast was a little too subtle so I added Shetland wool in Charcoal, Quarry and Pearl to enhance the difference tones of the two Herdwick wools. The design elements play with the visual trick of appearing to change direction from a horizontal stripe to a vertical stripe.

Tempted to add colour, the reverse side of all the cushions have a subtle addition of a little colour.. turquoise, pheasant, claret, navy..

I decided this cloth would be perfect for my show pieces as it illustrates how my woven designs are frequently driven by the character of the raw materials. The wool ‘tells’ me what it wants to become…

These cushions are not destined for a lounge sofa, but a rural working kitchen and taken outside onto a garden bench or stone step.

For the first time the one-off pieces I have created to exhibit at the show will be available to buy, therefore they are constructed to a high standard with down/feather pads.

Raw Talent show at New Brewery Arts

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RawTalentRaw Talent is a biennial exhibition at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester showcasing the very best work produced by the students and tutors of our extensive education and participation courses and workshops.

Exhibition dates: Saturday 26th May – Sunday 17th June.

I will be exhibiting a long foot stool upholstered in my hand-woven British Wool cloth.

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Detail of Cambrian Wool piece

 

 

New Workshop for Lechlade Craft Barn

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On Friday 26th January I will be running a new workshop for Lechlade Craft Barn (GL7 3DL).  The day will be spent exploring weaving by using the simple Rigid Heddle and Back-strap loom. You could weave a series of samples working with a range of fibres, colours and textures, or something ‘useful’ like a strap for a bag, a little pocket or embellishment for a cushion.  All equipment and a vast range of yarns will be provided.

Details and booking through link to Lechlade Craft Barn

January 2018 workshop/course dates

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What can you make from your weaving experiments? Some ideas to inspire!

JANUARY 2018

Friday 12th , 9.30am to 12.30 and/or 1.30 to 4.30pm

Half day weave practice session primarily for students who have done my Introduction to Weaving workshops or are not absolute beginners. Wide range of equipment and materials available for you to experiment with or bring your own. Held at my studio at The Tallet, Calmsden. £22.50. Please send me an email/message to reserve a place as limited to 4 at each session.

Saturday 20th

Day Course ‘Introduction to Weaving‘ in The Bothy at Vanessa Arbuthnott, 12 Ashcroft Road, Cirencester. GL7 1QX. For information and booking please go to The Bothy website or phone the shop on 01285 831437.

Friday 26th

Day Workshop “Introduction to Weaving‘ for Lechlade Craft Barn at Lechlade-on-Thames, GL7 3DL. For information and to book please go to http://lechladecraftbarn.com

 

Cushions to “brighten up your home this winter” according to Interior Designer Nicole Hood

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Cushions from my Cotswolds Inspired collection were snapped by Interior Designer Nicole Hood, on the Country Life / British Wool stand at Decorex International 2017; a show which is “internationally renowned for being the destination where interior design professionals discover the finest and most coveted luxury products from new, emerging and established talent” (www.decorex.com)

To see her blog post “7 ways to brighten up your home this winter”, go here

I designed the fabric for these cushions using hand-spun and dyed British Wool from rare breed sheep. The cloth was woven by hand, sufficient for only 3 of each pattern/colour combination. These designs are available (while stocks last) directly from Rebecca Connolly Design or through my only outlet, Vanessa Arbuthnott Fabrics