I was hoping to have got some great images of my trip to Kuwait online by now, but I am having problems uploading images to WordPress, so whilst my website people (doesn’t that sound posh?!!) are getting back to me (hopefully with a solution), I thought I would put forward a few things that I propose to do this year.
1. The workshop I gave in Kuwait on Colour and Texture was really well received and it got me to thinking about writing some blogs on what I cover. So over the next few weeks, I shall be putting down some of the thoughts I have and suggested exercises I recommend to help with using a design source into a piece of textile art. Although I am a weaver, my workshops are geared to most textile practises. Obviously, I don’t have the intimate knowledge that, say, a shibori dyer would have to a particular technique relating to shibori, but I can give suggestions and put forward ideas that might inspire or prompt further research.
In fact, translation of ideas into textile techniques is my particular area of expertise. Over the 4 years or so that I have been giving these workshops, it is this aspect of my presentation that strikes a chord with so many people. The technical information that most people require can easily be found through books or guild membership. For instance, I often give these workshops to Embroiderers Guilds, and whilst I am no dab hand with a sewing machine or a needle, I can see potential effects in different media which can lead to a different and effective approach. My approach to colour might well be similar to yours or to other peoples. I have read many books and attended quite a few workshops from other people in the past, so there are bound to be many similarities. However, there might be a different way of looking or a combination of ideas that suddenly clicks in your mind. That’s the kind of connection I’m looking for.
2. Over the years I have had a fair number of emails asking for advice on all sorts of things related to weaving (and sometimes not!!) and I’ve been asked several times recently to share my responses in a wider way online. So I will, on occasion, publish a few of the queries, and my answers, and it would be lovely if anyone wants to contribute and chip in with ideas, suggestions, or questions. The weaving community, as so many others, is a warm, friendly (usually!!), and sharing community, so I look forward to hearing from you.
3. So that’s to come in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, and on the same track, I would like to tell you about a company that’s organising textile tours in the UK. Textile Holiday Tours UK has been set up by Lorraine Traer-Clark and she has got together a varied collection of tours that might appeal. The Gardens and Textiles Tour is one I am leading in May and July, and I’m very excited about it. As you can see, it’s right up my street in terms of colour and texture and it should be a lot of fun!
4. I’m also really excited about a new publication by a weaving friend of mine. Robyn Spady has just announced the publication of her monograph on Handwoven Decorative Trim – an introduction to weaving passementerie trims. http://spadystudios.wordpress.com/ (Jan 8th). Robyn is a committed (and I mean that whichever way you wish to read it!!! <LOL>) weaver and a great gal! We have had some lively times together and hope to meet up again at Convergence this summer where Robyn is giving a workshop, whilst I am leading 4 seminars.
That’s all for today, but I do hope to have some Kuwait images up very soon.