Monday, February 27, 2012

Millbank and Foot, Enterprise Nation


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......

Friday, February 17, 2012

Job opportunity: Assistant Curator, Bernat Klein project, National Museums Scotland



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.....

http://nordarchitecture.com/projects/bernat-klein/

http://nordarchitecture.com/projects/bernat-klein/

http://nordarchitecture.com/projects/bernat-klein/

http://nordarchitecture.com/projects/bernat-klein/

http://nordarchitecture.com/projects/bernat-klein/
For those of you that want to learn more / see more of his work, follow these links:
http://www.nms.ac.uk/about_us/about_us/press_office/press_releases/2011/klein_acquisition.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernat_Klein
http://archiveshub.ac.uk/features/textiles-bernatklein.html
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/features/interview_bernat_klein_textile_designer_1_1987390

I also understand that there is a collection of fabric samples at the Royal College of Art as well.

Monday, January 30, 2012

New publications...


I'm delighted to share with you details of two new books that are about to be published all about weaving.  Margo Selby is having a book launch at her gallery shop this coming Thursday 2nd Feb to celebrate her first publication, 'Contemporary Weaving Patterns'. You can buy also buy it direct from her website.  The book presents 150 weave patterns for you to follow or adapt which can be woven on a 4 or 8 shaft loom, and knowing Margo's approach, the book will be a riot of colour, texture and intelligent structural ideas.


Later this spring (exact date to be confirmed) will see the publication of Dr Jessica Hemmings latest book dedicated to presenting the latest woven textile developments in fashion, art and interiors. The impetus for this book stemmed from the warp+weft symposium which Jessica hosted at the National Wool Museum. Throughout the day, it was clear that there is such a thirst for information and celebration of woven textiles, which has been somewhat neglected by the publishing industry for some time. 

But now we two very different, high quality books published within months of each other celebrating weaving from the practical and theoretical points of view, and I can't wait to get my hands on copies! Make sure you get yours too...... if these books are successful, there will be follow-ups......

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

João Bruno Videira

Once again a favourite blog has directed me towards a wonderful new name (to me) in the world of textiles. João Bruno Videira is a yarn artist based in Portugal, and I'm loving his contemporary twist on woven furniture structures in vivid, graphic colour palettes.....














Monday, January 23, 2012

Dashing Tweeds


Dashing Tweeds are one of my very favourite weave companies.  I'm the proud owner of one of their Luma Twill flat caps which I adore wearing. When the day comes that I get lucky with a lottery win, one of my first purchases will a bespoke tailored coat in one of their fabrics.....

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that they've recently redesigned and relaunched their website, which quite frankly, has me all of a quiver :-)  One of their recent collaborations which I'm really excited about was with Converse - I'm now seriously coveting these wonderful shoes:


The Weave Shed



I am SO delighted that The Weave Shed, a much-needed and invaluable resource for weavers was launched last year. It has a fantastic listings resource for suppliers, commission weavers, publications, and weave artists/designers. Everything a weaver needs all in one place - brilliant! Go check it out and bookmark it!

Fran White, The Linen Shop








I have long admired the elegant, refined work of Fran White, an accomplished linen handweaver who  moved into the commercial production of exquisite linen fabrics that can be bought by the metre. She trades under the name The Linen Shop, and believe me, if you are ever in Sussex, you must visit her idyllic showroom. The handle of her fabrics is absolutely wonderful, and you can clearly see the handweavers eye for detail coming through in these power loom woven textiles.

Having just checked out her website, I can see that she's got a very generous and tempting January sale on at the moment.... how could you possibly resist?!

The amazing showroom!