Open studio and sale, 21/22nd Jan

Hope you can forgive the self promotion, but I'm holding an Open Studio and Sale this coming weekend to celebrate moving to the Model House Craft & Design Centre in Llantrisant, South Wales. I'll be demonstrating weaving on my 24 shaft AVL floor loom, and I'll have lots of samples available to look at. And there will be a tempting 20% (or more) off everything for sale......

Hope to see you there :-)

Helen Foot

Charcoal / Lime cushion

Purple/Yellow cushion



'Glasgow' handwoven cashmere, lambswool & mohair

'London' handwoven cashmere, lambswool & mohair



Helen's wonderfully curated stand at Made By Hand, December 2011



Helen Foot is a recent RCA graduate who launched her first handwoven collection of seriously covetable scarves and cushions at Made by Hand in December. Exquisitely woven fabrics in various combinations of lambswool, cashmere and mohair are inviting to touch as well as the eye. Her composition of colourful stripes against more neutral backgrounds really appeal to me, and I'm looking forward with interest to seeing the new colourways and collections in the pipeline for 2012. Do also check out her blog to keep up to date with her latest news

At Made by Hand I also met Helen's brother Richard Foot, who in collaboration with Arron Fowler made this fabulous short film about the weaving process, featuring Helen of course. Enjoy......

Helga Matos

'In search of something special'

'Lab One'

'Currents'

 

Designers Block exhibition 2011

Art Deco Collection

   

geometric wire weave

The above article by Denna Jones in the excellent Cover magazine drew Helga Matos to my attention. I love her quirky and bold approach to colour, structure and unconventional yarns choices. She clearly has a wonderful sense of fun and curiosity for constructing cloth which appeals to me no end. I look forward to seeing more of her work....

'Penelope' by Tatiana Blass

Its at times like these that I remember that my slight Facebook addiction is actually a postive thing ;-)  This jaw dropingly wonderful installation was 'shared' on Facebook today by a good weaver friend of mine and I can't thank her enough for bringing this to my attention.

'Penelope' is a recent installtion by Tatiana Blass which celebrates the act of weaving..... or is it unweaving? I read about the project on Trend Tablet by Lidewij Edelkoort and so I urge you to follow the link rather than I copy and paste the explanatory text. Of course, you must visit Tatiana Blass's website too........

Ptolemy Mann, Ruthin Craft Centre

There is a truly sumptuous feast for the eyes exhibition at Ruthin Craft Centre which will be closing on the 15th January, so I urge you to go see this wonderful celebration of Ptolemy Mann's work in the primary gallery space whilst you can.

Ptolemy is one of the leading woven textile artists working in the UK at the moment, renowned for her ikat colour satuated artworks which adorn the walls of numerous public and private spaces. In recent times she has developed her signature style into digital prints which have opened up a whole new commercial avenue for her to exploit.  The exhibition presents these digital prints as fabric lengths, garments, furniture upholstery and cushions, alongside her handwoven ikats, and also her rug collaborations with Christopher Farr.  There are also some framed prints of her architectural colour facade designs.

Woven rugs on wall and floor - a collaboration with Christopher Farr

New hand dyed & handwoven ikats stretched over circular frames

I covet this sofa by Kristian Stringer upholstered in jacquard woven ikat effect fabric by Ptolemy



Detail of tufted rug

If you can't manage to visit Ruthin to see the show, you can order a catalogue direct from the gallery.

These pictures are all from Ptolemy's blog 'Significant Colour' which she started writing last year. Its a fantastic blog which I thoroughly recommend subscribing to.  She is generous in sharing her inspirations, preoccupations and thoughts about her all consuming passion for colour in all its guises.

The Clothworkers Foundation Awards

Just saw this on the Artists Newsletter website, and thought I must share the opportunity as its so rare to something of this ilk just to support weavers.  Look forward to hearing about the successful recipients of the awards in due course.

The Clothworkers Foundation Awards

WHO: weavers who demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit as well as creative excellence and craft skills.
WHAT: the Cockpit Arts/The Clothworkers' Foundation Awards helps weavers to set-up in business. The selection panel includes the acclaimed ikat weaver and designer, Mary Restieaux.
PAYMENTS: there are 6 Awards available. The award provides studio space and business support as well as shared use of looms within the creative community of Cockpit Arts at Deptford. 5 Awards are worth £2,000 with the remaining £2,000 fee being provided by the Award winners, payable on a monthly basis. 1 Award is worth £4,000 covering the full fee, awarded to a weaver taking responsibility for managing the weaving studio including shared access to looms and equipment and their maintenance (costs paid for by Cockpit Arts).
APPLY: full details available online.
www.cockpitarts.com/studios-support/awards
Deadline: 12 December 2011

Job vacancy: 0.6 Weave lecturer / senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University

Just thought I'd let you all know that Nottingham Trent University is currently advertising for a 0.6 Weave lecturer / senior lecturer. I've done a little teaching there - it's a great textiles department with supportive colleagues. Kinda wish I could do the job, but there isn't enough hours in the day, plus its a bit of a trek from South Wales! Further info here: http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/4369403/lecturer-senior-lecturer-post-ref-no-d1185-/