Figs for life!

I am the proud owner of three new baby fig trees (we call them figlets), thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, that I will be planting in the new South London plot, to provide me with a lifetime of fig breakfasts! I'm planning to be a grower of many thigs in New Cross, that I hope to turn into delicious ingredients for the Cottage Cafe menu! Details of which, will emerge this year, but is guaranteed to be a melting pot of wonders!

m2 gallery : Peckham

Oh and did I mention..... I stumbled past the tiny (actually meter squared) m2 gallery at 2c Kings Grove, Peckham last bank holiday Monday. A window/ a gallery/ a show ..... an exhibition about a circus, a mistake and a white elephant...that wasn't in fact white. I liked passing this space on my wanderings through Peckham, I think more people should turn their street facing windows into public art displays, this may need to happen if cuts continue no?

New London Gallery.

I checked out the 'New London Gallery' last weekend with the lovely Oz, South Londons newest creative space to hang out, drink cocktails, see art, eat good food and read. All very very lovely (if there's not someone sitting behind you kicking your chair) and where B.C. (www.bazandchaz.com) are presenting their first exhibition of art from 25th - 30th April 2011. I shall be returning to sample their Sunday lunch very soon, and did I notice something about a hot tub and swimwear on the 1st may? I think I did....I'll take my bathers!

Knitty Gritty

Finished, finally, and conveniently just in time for summer! This extra long curly neck scarf is made from locally sourced and finished yarn that I acquired from the Shetland Islands during the start of my weave residency last year. With the landscape historically and visually of the islands being my inspiration during the days I spent designing, researching and weave sampling there, I felt that a pass-time both useful and creative was called for, hence starting this piece. With all the colours of my rainbow, and non of the islands more subtle hues, it was a stark contrast and escape from my days spent stomping and looking around Yell in the North, I can't wait to go back!

The happy weaver...

This weeks goings on...

Looming in the sunshine with panoramic views.

Helmshore Mills Textiles Museum

Reproduction of a poster from the mill walls of 1836 stating the rules and punishments of the Manufactory.

Doffing cylinders for lengths of un-spun carded cotton.

Making the individual yarn lengths for spinning.

Teasels for finishing woven woollen cloth.

Amazing contemporary looking glass hooks for hanging cloth for bleaching when woven. Super old and super beautiful!

Mill walls all painted in this white and turquoise with a red stripe, good colour combo for a weave I think!

A recent trip to the oh so wonderful Helmshore Mills Textiles Museum. One of the first of the UK's mills at the start of the industrial revolution, closed in the 60's and 70's and is now a fantastic source of historic and technical detail about the processes and lives of the spinners and weavers who created the 'jewel of the realm'. First a woollen mill then diversifying into cotton production this mill was built by the enterprising Turner family in 1789, the details, images, examples, videos and wonderful tour guides really enlightened me to what it must have been like working in a mill in that bygone age. I recommend a visit to everyone!

Yarn Sourcing....

If you're brave enough to open my cupboards today or to open that giant box underneath my weaving table -be careful of what you may find! Not teddy bears but bundles and cones and balls and wraps of yarn! All colours of the Holly Berry rainbow! Navy, mustard, coral, geranium, Khaki, pumpkin, turquoise, moss and violet! Cup of tea in hand, colour chart in mind I spent a very happy Friday morning recently in Rochdale dipping into piles of beautiful fibres and colour to cherry pick my new season shades, which have already found themselves onto the loom. This year I will be making new colour stories, including one inspired by the lichens, mosses and molluscs I've photographed on my trips to northern Scotland, and another influenced by Shetland Harbours and graphic-utility road markings and construction sites, and of course I will not be abandoning my acid bright colour junkie roots. The sun is shining in London and my studio is ablaze with colour, what could be better!

Calder ispirations

Lucky old me found myself outside the university library at just the right moment, to re-home these discarded beauties! Books full of old images of the works of Alexander Calder the prolific maker, artist and innovator. The striking energy, unique balance and bold block shapes and colour will not fail to inspire me, and I would imagine will find its way into my subconscious when planning a new warp and the blocking designs on my loom. The thing that strikes me most when looking through these books though is the sense of enjoyment and obsession Calder found in his own work, making in his studio, his barns, outside in the open, town and country, he seems to have made from whatever came to hand wherever he was. This attitude and fixation on creativity and expression is uplifting and inspiring to look at! Thanks Mr Calder.

Blankets ahoy!

Hello blankets! Sitting wrapped in blankets, making some changes to the Holly Berry website and putting the final touches to the online shop to go live soon, making it easier to get your hands on my woven wares. Also designing a story book and a woven alphabet, to come soon. And if anyone's interested in collaborating on a video with me please get in touch! Spring is most definitely in the air!