Following the Threads...

An Exhibition for this week - and some lovely Christmas gifts as well as a stitchers and knitters treasure trove of goodies from our stashes...

The rail Station Car Park is the nearest - the West Barn is a short walk south along the river path
at the far end of the station car park

Tiggy's Walk

My latest work, remembering my lovely Boxer Tiggy who died last Autumn. We used to walk through this field past the oak tree.

Continuing my exploration of organdie I am beginning to manipulate the surface by using the grain of the fabric to create movement and distort the surface.

This can be seen in TFSW's 'Mapping the Future: where are you now' exhibition at The Brewhouse Taunton later this month. Photo by Silvia

Cataudo

A New Venture!

Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath.... You have to try something...
So - if you look here you will see I have begun to piece and patch and layer my own blog!
Do please visit if you would like to, and watch it take shape.

The Broderers Discuss!

This week an unexpected surprise happened - I found Alison, Liz and Kay having coffee in my sitting room! Not planned and what a treat!

One of the greatest strengths of the BB's is shared creative dialogue - looking at work together and discussing strengths, ways to develop, uncertainties and emerging thoughts. Before long work appeared out of bags to look at - the 'Mapping the Future' Textile Forum South West Exhibition is coming up soon and we all felt like some BB support! This kind of sharing of work is invaluable for artists and it reminds me we need to try to make time for it to happen!

Detail from 'A Route Through' - Susi Bancroft

Mapping the Future, 'where are you now'?

Map Strings - photo Janet Haigh 

Textile Forum South West here have an exciting Exhibition coming up from 23rd February - 24th March 2012. Liz Harding, Kay, Alison, Liz Hewitt, Susi, Jan, and Carolyn from the BB's are TFSW members and will be exhibiting work (as well as some of us juggling organising, curating, blogging and pompom interventions!)

It will be at the Brewhouse, Taunton here 

The exhibition follows a stimulating TFSW Conference in 2011 about Mapping the Future.

The dedicated blog gives more details and posts from artists of work in progress! Have a look here

Crisp Packet Knitting!!

Look what Alison found!!!!!
Inspired by one of our exhibitions a poem was created...

Knitting Crisp Packets in a Shed - original poem by Sue Chadd - from Pulsar Poetry event, April 2010

Following the Threads

Exhibition of Creative Textiles 20 - 23 October from 10 - 4 daily.

West Barn, Barton Grange, Pound Lane, Bradford on Avon BA151LF

Tweave

Amy Houghton and Ed Holroyd have created Tweave (commissioned by Craftspace) - have a browse and listen!
Tweave maps sound recordings of craft and making to create an evolving thread of sounds - see here
Recently Amy recorded 3 pieces with Susi which are on the site - 'Susi Bancroft stitching hand-written paper backings onto a contemporary quilt artwork'; 'Susi Bancroft reading her reflections on sound and making' and also 'Susi Bancroft reading her reflections on sound and making, piece 2'.
You can listen to one of them here 
The pieces accompany the making of work for 'Curiouser?..' for the Silk Mills Frome in September.

Making connections..

I went to the 'It's darling!' Vintage and Artisan Fair

in Bath - click here. There were beautifully crafted items there.
 I met Eirlys from Scrapiana and bought this Stitcher's

Beeswax - fell in love with the way it was thought about and made!

Beeswax is featuring in my work for 'Curiouser' at the moment.

More about this later..

Eirlys also says she follows the Brunel Broderers blog - she follows it via the email link which simply sends a message to you each time there is a new post so you can keep

up to date with us! This was exciting news - and in return do browse Scrapiana's lovely site here! 

V and A Visit

Not been on here lately but working hard!

Last week I saw the Diaghilev exhibition at the V&A, great experience full of colour and drama.

I recommend it, also the Raphael tapestries. One can really appreciate the colour, texture and warm tactile qualities of cloth. A once in a life time opportunity I think.

Liz

Heartfelt Moments

Jan Connet - who used to be a Brunel Broderer in past years - is working on an exhibition called Heartfelt. 
It is all about 'heartfelt moments' and all the gathered hearts which people have made will be exhibited at the Bristol Gallery Centrespace in November. 

Have a look at the site to see how things are progressing here 
If you would like to be involved and make a heart, please see more details on Jan's site.

I Value The Arts Campaign

Lets all get together and promote art - everywhere for everyone! Show that the 'arts are vital and valued'.

Have a look at the website... here

hardakerandpope.blogspot.com

What a delight to see this blog post about Curious Drawers - and what a pleasurable and interesting browse of their blog and Sarah's site at hardaker and pope - click on the link and scroll to the post for 30th May 2010. Thank you to Jo and Sarah and we have linked your blog (see right hand side for blogs we follow) - best of wishes.....

Janet Haigh

If you click on this link you can read Janet's blog and keep updated with her work.
Janet visited the Stroud Festival and Curious Drawers and you can read her thoughts and comments.
Janet Haigh: her work

Good luck with the blog Janet and keep in touch!