The warp and weft blog...: February 2012

A little while ago I wrote a blog entry about Helen Foot. She is currently seeking support to get a very exciting venture off the ground entitled Millbank and Foot, with fashion designer Kate Millbank. They plan to produce a Shropshire inspired, UK manufactured collection of tweeds and related tailored clothing and products. They are currently seeking votes for the project on the Enterprise Nation website to achieve £500 funding to buy yarn to get the manufacturing started...... please do follow the link to read more and support a new weave business. Thank you.

You might also want to view Helen's rather delicious new online catalogue of her Festival of Britain collection of handwoven scarves......

Image source: NMS

I've just been doing a little googling on the wonderful Bernat Klein..... and came across this job opportunity, which frankly has me salivating. If only I was living in Scotland (and had the spare time!) The closing date is this coming Monday, so if you're interested you're going to have to move fast.

Job Title: Assistant Curator, Bernat Klein project
Organisation: National Museums Scotland
Salary: £22,465 - 25,161 p.a.
Type:Full-Time Position. Contract: 6 Months
Location:Edinburgh, Scotland
Closing Date: Monday, February 20th, 2012

Job Description: These are full time fixed term posts for a period of 6 months to provide subject specific expert knowledge to assist with the cataloguing element of the Bernat Klein Project.

Required Skills: You will have a degree (or equivalent) in a related subject, plus knowledge of and enthusiasm about the subject matter of the Bernat Klein Collection. Proven experience in paid or unpaid work in museums or similar environment is desirable. You will be organised and methodical, with good verbal and written communication skills and ICT skills in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook. You should also have experience of managing your own time and workload, working to deadlines and handling multiple priorities. A driving licence is desirable.

Application Instructions: Details of this post and of all our vacancies can be viewed on www.nms.ac.uk. For further information and an application pack, please visit www.nms.ac.uk, telephone 0131 247 4094 (answerphone) or email applications@nms.ac.uk, stating reference NMS12/208. Closing date for completed applications is 20 February 2012. It is anticipated that the selection event will take place in late March.

National Museums Scotland is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer.

These images below show an exhibition of Klein's work at The Scott Gallery, Hawick Museum (August – October 2005). He was renowned as a brilliant colourist who painted fabulous canvases as well as commercially producing woven fabrics for the high end fashion market composed of chunky mohairs, velvet ribbons, and space dyed wools. Oh, I wish I could have seen this exhibition.....