Lengthy Samples...

One of my favourite moments when weaving is always cutting off a length of samples from the loom to see what  has been successful (and what has not). I'm currently sampling for a beautiful new piece, and cut this acidic multicoloured treat off the loom to discover a harmonious clash of exciting shades and dark khaki blocks. 

MADE IN THE UK

Exciting new pictures in my inbox this morning from the beautiful mill in Scotland that batch produces my LOVE blankets. This batch is a new limited edition LOVE blanket for 2012, with the tangy mossy green taking centre stage and a new ultra-violet in the warp. So nice to see my larger pieces of work being woven in this traditional British mill!

THE COTTAGE PROJECT - NEW CROSS

We've just launched the new website for our dream cafe! The Cottage Project - New Cross! The Cottage Project will be a creative cafe space, full of tasty food, good coffee, making, baking, art, talks, projects and exhibitions. It is the brain child of designer Osian Batyka-Williams who loves constructing things for people and weaver Holly Berry who loves to plant, bake and make. The Cottage project will welcome local artists, families, students, revolutionaries and the old and wise. It will be a space for day dreaming, creating, eating, drinking, resting, meeting, listening, looking and laughing.

Watch our making process video here:

Visit the website here: http://www.thecottagelondon.com/

An Obsessive Process by Emma Stanfield

Announcing the launch of one of my Foundation students new short animation about Obsessive processes in fashion. A comment on the care people take when dressing or when looking after their clothes, a reaction against throw away fashion and a beautiful thing to behold, have a watch and come to the show to see more!

100% BRITISH

A new warp is waiting to get wound onto my sample loom this morning, in three shades of 100% British wool in Jacob and Black Welsh Mountain yarns. Soon to be ready for sampling for a new collection of hand made home-wears. Strong, springy and surprisingly soft, I'm really looking forward to working with this new material and exploring its properties in the loom. 

Designs for my kitchen

I went to the Mondrian-Nicholson exhibition at the Courtauld gallery at Somerset house a couple of weeks ago and immediately decided that I needed to use some of the colour, shape, balance and pattern in my home. We're at the tail end of major renovations of a tall house in New Cross, and these are our new Mondrian-Nicholson inspired tiling ideas for the kitchen alcove:

Two Loom Fun Factory!

The delightful and super handy Osian Batyka-Williams (click here for his website) has just converted my busy studio into a two loom fun factory by constructing this new desk extension for me with shelving for all of my yarns and plans! Thank you!

Construction Experiments

This weekend I have been on a technical weaving workshop with Margo Selby in her Bloomsbury studio,  developing some techniques to push my weaving further structurally, whilst keeping my sense of fun, colour and pattern. I created some truly scrumptious samples which I will be developing into ideas for future products. Just about the best thing I could do on a bank holiday weekend I think. I've been working on deflected double cloths, point and block threading and working with many new yarns that are a move away from the lambswool, cashmere and merino yarns I'm used to. Really enjoyed having time to experiment and explore different constructions. I will always love my block-y double cloth but it's great to work with other constructions to make new textures shapes, repeats and combinations. Looking forward to continuing to develop these next week with a new warp in some very special 100% British wool I am lucky enough to have!