Textiles Tour NI:Katie Brown

My textiles tour of Northern Ireland continued, to the beautiful print studio of textile designer Katie Brown. Katie is inspired by the dramatic and industrial docks in Belfast, using her own drawings and photography as starting points for delicate and graphic prints onto the softest silk. This combination and contradiction of hard and soft, works beautifully in her work. It was a treat to see the traces left on her printing table of work she has done and see developments and samplings in various fabrics and colours. One to watch!!

ULSTER FOLK MUSEUM

This is the first of a few blog entries documenting recent research and inspiration journeys. Last week I was asked to talk about my crafts business practice and development at a CRAFT NI session for emerging makers, whilst there for two days, I visited about a weeks worth of sights, museums, studio's and galleries. This was the first; Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, a cluster of original cottages, shops, workshops and farmland preserved in time. I felt like Dr Who, going back 100 years and visiting weavers in their cottages, shoe makers with their lasts, farmers, cooks and home workers. The emphasis was on craft and the message was one of localization, sustainability and self sufficiency. Though life was hard, there is definitely something to be said for the skills, community, quality, colour and provenance on display here.

PRESS

Just got my hands on a copy of this months Making Magazine to see the article about my weaving. Thanks guys it looks lovely, and in general, what a beautiful magazine full of projects and making info!

PROUD TO BE MAKING BRITISH

After my mega wonderful day spent on the bridge overlooking the incredible Diamond Jubilee Flotilla I came away feeling almost patriotic! The day was quite moving, the boats were excellent and the great British public's determination to stand and watch, celebrate, party and wave was a breath of fresh air! I met some wonderful people at the Campaign For Wools VIP area where all things woolly were being knitted, stroked, waved around and generally celebrated. As the patron for the campaign is HRH the Prince of Whales it felt wholly appropriate to wave and cheer madly (plus it was the only way to keep warm)

So back to the studio and I am please to be currently in the process of sampling and exploring the potential and properties of some beautiful British yarns, Black Welsh Mountain and Jacobs yarns that are surprisingly soft and silky and making my loom and studio feel very cosy! Just now preparing a new warp to see if I can make some comforting cushions to show at MADE London and MADE Brighton later this year.

The Campaign For Wool can be followed here: http://www.campaignforwool.org/

HRH + AMAZING ARTISANS

Today is the day of the Queens Diamond Jubilee Flotilla on the Thames. I'm heading down there in an hour to partake in the merriment and festivities and hopefully meet lots of other makers who have been invited to the celebration. Talking about makers.... here's some very appropriate celebratory knit art, made by my dear friends mother, who we all think is a genius wizard of stitch, there's nothing she can't knit! Her eye for detail is spot on and her love of making as well as royalty is evident in the care and enjoyment she has taken in making these pieces! We love them!!! (please note...she's even knitted the CORGIS and their COLLARS!)

HAPPY JUBILEE QUEENIE!

This is my first post of the Jubilee celebrations, to salute the queen and her many years of colourful rule.   I will be taking part in the Diamond Jubilee Pageant by attending a special event for UK artisans and makers  using wool, on Blackfriars bridge to wave HRM by on her boat whilst waving waving madly with the British Wool board. I will take photos throughout the day and post back here on Monday. I also have a perfect vintage boat print dress that I will try to capture. May the festivities commence (on Friday lunchtime? I'm too excited.) Here's a stunning Queenie colour chart made by Vogue showing our monarch's punchy love of shades.