Monty Don’s Real Craft: Weavers

15 May 2014 Events / General
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Monty Dons Real CraftMon 19th May, 9-10pm: More4

In the final show of the series Real Craft, Monty meets three trainee weavers who are competing for a commission that could seriously put them on the road to a career as professionals, with the winner’s work set to be sold internationally as part of a collection for the luxury menswear brand Hackett.

The three are put under the tutorage of Ptolemy Mann, a master weaver and textile designer whose clients range from the Hilton Group to Sotheby’s.

The three trainees are 24-year-old Juliet; single mum Aviva, who went back to college five years ago to study weaving and hopes to one day earn enough money from the craft to put her own daughter through university; and 22-year-old Calum. But will any of them prove good enough to represent an international brand?

Series Prod: Kate Morey; Exec Prod: Tim Quicke; Prod Co: Ricochet

Print/Weave dual city course: London/Istanbul

15 May 2014 Courses / General
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csm weave workshop1low resDual City Course
Istanbul/London: Print /Weave
16th June – 11th July

Istanbul 16th June – 26th June
Taught by Nesrin Türkmen, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University

The 2 week course in Istanbul will introduce you to screen printing on textiles and give the opportunity to create your own collection of printed textiles by utilising the same pattern with a variety of compositions and colour combinations. Studio and workshop sessions will be complemented by visits to places of interest, such as bazaars to buy woven/printed fabrics

Week 1 will concentrate on building design and preparing screens for printing.
Week 2 will be based in the workshop creating various techniques and compositions to make printings on various fabrics. The course aims to introduce you to screen-printing and provide the confidence to experiment printing on your own fabrics.

London: 1st – 11th July
Taught by Ayse Simsek, Central Saint Martins, University or The Arts London.

The second part of the course will take place in Central Saint Martins’ weave department where you will create a collection of hand-woven fabric samples using a table-top loom, inspired by your time in Istanbul and the prints you produced there.

You will be introduced to hand weaving starting with the technical aspects of loom set-up and how it can affect the final product leading to you making your own samples. By rotating round a number of looms during the nine days you will have an opportunity to create a variety of different samples using different techniques – combining different yarns colours and weave patterns to create something unique to you. You will create a collection of beautiful samples that will be an impressive addition to your portfolio.

No experience of weave is required to attend this course; however you will be expected to develop your own weave designs and patterns so some design experience will be useful.
For details and application

Exhibitions & Symposium: Z- Twist

25 April 2014 Conferences / Events / Exhibitions / General / News
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final Pink cabbage exhibition postcardLOW RESZ–Twist is a new Arts Council funded programme for Somerset Art Works (SAW) and Stroud International Textiles (SIT). Z – Twist has brought together artists, designers, textile producers, educators and curators to raise the profile of high quality textiles in Somerset and the south west – past, present and future.

Since January 2014 three contemporary designer/makers; Lucy Lean, Penny Wheeler and Debbie Smyth have been undertaking a residency to enable them to develop a new body of work with support from textile manufacturers; John Boyd Textiles, Fox Brothers & Co Ltd and WSP Textiles, local heritage collections with resident hosts Somerset College and Stroud International Textiles (SIT).

There are two opportunities to see the results of the residencies, which promises to be inspiring and a fascinating insight from three highly skilled artists who have explored and researched to create a final body of work.

Exhibition: Pink Cabbage Gallery.
1 Middle Street, Stroud, England GL5 1DZ. 31st May – 13th June 2014.
Opening and meet the artist talks from 11am on 31st May.
Open: Wednesday to Friday

Times: 11am -5pm , Saturday 10am -5pm
Details: sawztwist.wordpress.com
Telephone: 01458253800
Email: info@somersetartworks.org.uk.
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Courses: Tapestry weaving

25 April 2014 Courses / General
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Caron PenneyIntroduction to Tapestry Weaving
Tutor: Caron Penney

Fashion and Textiles Museum,
83 Bermondsey St,
London SE1 3XF
Tel: 020 7407 8664
Dates: 3rd – 4th July 2014,
Times: 11.00am – 4pm each day, this workshop requires a minimum of five students to run.

In this two day workshop students will learn the basic weave techniques used to create a tapestry, these include plain weave, soft diagonals, hatching, blending and shaping. The course will start with a demonstration of the warping-up process and participants will get experience of this process before starting to weave. By the end of the workshop participants will take home a completed tapestry sample.

There will be group tuition and demonstrations during the two day workshop which is suitable for beginners – intermediate levels.
The workshop costs £160.

To discuss the course content please contact the tutor at caron.penney@btinterent.com
To book a place,  telephone 020 7407 8664 or contact the Fashion and Textile Museum

Explore Tapestry Weaving
Tutor: Caron Penney
West Dean College,
West Dean,
Chichester,
West Sussex,
PO18 0QZ
Tel: 01243 811301
Dates: 9th – 15th August 2014, this workshop requires a minimum number of students to run.

This workshop is designed to elp complete beginners, intermediate weavers and returning students to develop a clear understanding of the basic structure and materials of tapestry. Introductory techniques will be covered initially; they include shaping and shading.

More complex techniques can be considered during the workshop they include, interpretative skills, circles, using supplementary warps, or making textured tapestry.

An illustrated talk will cover other weavers’ work and reference material will be available throughout the workshop. There will also be a visit to the West Dean Tapestry Studio during the course.

The workshop costs £623 (5% online discount).

To discuss the course content please contact the tutor at caron.penney@btinternet.com
To book a place telephone 01243 811301 or contact West Dean College

To view the course details please visit this link

Bonnie Kirkwood Ltd: Freelance woven textile designer required

14 April 2014 General / Jobs
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Bonnie Kirkwood, Textile Designer photographed in her room, LondBonnie Kirkwood Ltd (MA RCA) based at Cockpit Arts Studios in Central London, is looking for a freelance woven textile designer,  MA student or MA graduate.

The applicant must be a creative and enthusiastic individual, initially flexible with their time and be available during specific contracts and busy periods. Working closely with Bonnie Kirkwood the applicant will gain invaluable knowledge, by working on varying projects designing high end fabric collections for international fabric mills.

Responsibilities will include using cad programmes to present design concepts, weaving seasonal sample collections by hand, warp and loom set up and general admin. This role could potentially lead to a more regular position for the right person.

Skills required:  confident weaving knowledge and experience on a 24 shaft ARM loom, warp winding and loom set up,  excellent colour skills and weave structure knowledge,  confident Photoshop and Illustrator design skills for weave and print designing (and have access to use photoshop / illustrator programmes). Additionally research trend and fabric qualities, excellent time management, reliability and organisational skills are essential and an ability to work independently in a confident manner.

Salary – day rate: to be discussed
For further details or questions please contact Bonnie Kirkwood at bonnie@bonniekirkwood.com . Tel: 07813666907.

Award application: The Peter Collingwood Trust 2014

14 April 2014 Competitions / General
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pct_2014

Fiorete Group : The magic fabric

13 April 2014 Company Profile / Exhibitions / General / New weave developments
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Fiorete logoFiorete began its production in 1934 at Como, Italy specialising in the production of interior decorative fabrics, using the natural fibres of the time such as silk and cotton. By 1950 they were the first company to use synthetic fibres. At Fiorete, they have been constantly innovating and investing in R&D and in their production system.

Fiorete have created a system of refined domotics which include a yarn warehouse that is fully automatised and bidirectional connections between the weaving plants and management system. They feel they are a leading company in quality innovation gaining the Seri.co certification and OEKO-TEX.

Fiorete fabrics has been used in well known projects, by leading designers and architects in and around the world such as; Aria Sky Suites by Peter Marino, Las Vegas, The Burj Khalifa Armani Hotel, Dubai and the Nhow Hotel by Karim Rashid, Berlin.

With this spirit of constant innovation, search for new development and after three years of intensive studies, Fiorete have developed a new technology which allows weaving and integrating optical fibers on jacquard looms.
Fiorete Magic Sofa 2low resFiorete Magic Sofa 1low res

The optical fibre is a thin strand of glass or synthetic cable that carry light from one end to the other, without light in its length. The optical fibre filters out ultraviolet rays and infrared, does not transmit heat thus it is inflammable and can be immersed in liquid, making it one of the safest materials to use. It is compact, fan-less, has high light output, multicolour illuminators that requires almost no maintenance and is extremely energy efficient.

Its versatility makes it today, the most suitable alternative lighting systems where until recently was not possible to achieve better results in the desired colour definition that can be used for a multitude of lighting applications in home decoration and interior architectures. Due to these features it is now used in various sectors such as exhibitions, various types of industries, the arts and crafts, museums and scenography just to name a few.

The starting point for Fiorete was the vision to explore all the possibilities given by this new generation yarn such as the optical fibre, normally used in other fields and industries and to find an application to the industrial textile world. They were very excited in to be able to control light while giving radiance to our fabrics. In other words bringing “life” into fabrics.
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Exhibition: By the Banks of The River Lea

13 April 2014 Events / Exhibitions / General / New weave developments
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Processed with VSCOcam with c1 presetOver the Autumn of 2013 weaver Ali Holloway walked the length of the River Lea from its source in Bedfordshire to where it eventually joins the River Thames at Limehouse.

Prompted by the experience of this solitary walk she has used the medium of woven cloth to recall the colours, textures, moods and rhythm of the walk.

Following the River Lea walk in roughly 8 mile sections she documented her experience as she went, with photographs, drawings and a blog. This inspiration has been transformed into a collection of hand dyed and hand woven pieces which are often sculptural, collaged and hand stitched.
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Profile: Catarina Riccabona

31 March 2014 Company Profile / Events / General / New weave developments
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C_Riccabona 2Catarina Riccabona is a London-based textile designer / weaver. Originally from Austria she came to London to work in publishing, but after some time decided to change her career.

She did a Foundation Course at Chelsea College of Art and Design followed by a BA (Hons)  in Textile Design at Central Saint Martins where she specialised in woven textiles. Catarina started her own textile design business upon joining Cockpit Arts in May 2012. She is also a recipient of the Cockpit Arts/Clothworkers’ Foundation Award 2012/13.

Using traditional hand-weaving techniques Catarina designs and makes woven fabrics for scarves, cushions and throws. Each piece is made from start to finish in her Deptford studio. Her distinct aesthetic language is informed by a sound ecological concept based on a strict selection of yarns.

Main image photography by Gareth Hacker, courtesy of The New Craftsmen.
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Woven Light: Swedish School of Textiles

21 March 2014 Courses / Exhibitions / General / New weave developments
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therese.amusgidlof@gmail.comWoven Light was exhibited at Stockholm Furniture Fair 2014. Under the theme light – material – structure the textile design students from the Swedish School of Textiles, University of  Borås, explored the interaction between different light settings and light qualities and the creation of woven textile structures. Special light emitting and reactive materials were introduced, including reflex materials, “glow in the dark” and PMMA optical fibres. The aim was  to introduce the students to Smart Materials and current textile research in the context of traditional weaving techniques. The course has been lead by Ulla Ranglin, hand weaving expert, accompanied by Barbara Jansen, textile design researcher in the area of light emitting textiles. They are  also members of the Smart Textiles Unit at the Swedish School of Textiles.

The exhibitors were Ellinor Eliasson, Frida Samuelsson, Joanna Vikström, Malin Bobeck, Therese Amus Gidlöf. Textile design students in their 3rd year.

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