Yarn Bits

Talking Threads

I have my head above water temporarily at the moment.  Next week the Moose Show at the CBC Atrium in Toronto will take centre stage and I will be back into "showville" for a few days.  Setup is on Wednesday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and the show opens on Thursday at 10 a.m.  Check the website for all the details  www.mooseshow.com  Hope to see many of you there. I have come across a fascinating website from Britain which interviews and demonstrates many different crafts. The materials and processes are quite different from those usually seen here.  I haven't watched all of them as yet, but have found those I have viewed to be well done and the work to be truly inspiring. www.talkingthreads.co.uk  Have a look when you  get a chance.

Transitions

I love the transitional seasons.  The temperatures are condusive to activity without being uncomfortably hot.  The colours are just beginning to change and become quite intense in some cases.  I just returned from a neighbourhood walk with my camera in hand.  These are some of the joyous colours I found.    Inspiration for some dyeing combinations. 
   
 

Selvedge Magazine

Just a quick post with some interesting tidbits from my "Selvedge" magazine newsletter.  Check out this delightful website  www.lucyjanebatchelor.me.uk The presentation is different and very effective.  I know I have sent you to the site for the Victoria and Albert Museum before, but another visit is always worthwhile  www.vam.ac.uk  There is also the website for the Selvedge magazine www.selvedge.org  While you are there don't forget to have a look in their bookshop.  Actually the book shop at the Victoria and Albert is definitely worth a look also.  I have found books there and then gone to Amazon and bought them there.  If you have more time to look around explore Carolyn Barnett's site  www.barnett-knits.com  and have a look at her last entry in her blog.  She found a very funny animated video on youtube that's worth a look-see.    Have fun!!

More Inspirational Sites

Unfortunately, I still cannot post images from my digital camera on this computer, but all should be rectified in the near future.  In the meantime I have been visiting some fabulous sites that I will share.  Great images that will fire your imaginations.  I started at Jane Dunnewold's website  www.complexcloth.com  and from there learned of her new blog where she is posting a new image each day  www.dailyvisuals.blogspot.com  It seems like a great idea.  From this site I also found www.artclothnetwork.com  and  www.committedtocloth.com 

I have finally returned to my loom and actually did a little weaving yesterday.  I am part of a group that all design and create marvelous wearable art pieces.  Have a look at some of our websites and you will get an idea of the various techniques we are involved in.  www.lucyslykerman.ca  www.patburnswendland.com  www.bonnieglass.com  www.mariejosette.com  www.dreamspinfibres.ca  www.helenafrei.com  We are working on plans for a show next Spring at the Burlington Art Centre.  It will be our first show as the group, the ArtWear Network, so that's quite exciting.  The work on my loom at the moment will serve as an experiment to test an idea for that show.  We will see how that goes.  Deadlines always seem to assure that work will be completed at that time.  I usually work best under the pressure of a looming deadline.  I'm sure I'm not alone in that respect.  I hope to get the experimental piece off the loom quickly and move on to the real thing. 

Have fun visiting some of these wonderful websites!!

Websites

Just spent a little time reading through a newsletter from Selvedge magazine and came across an interesting website with many textile artists showing their work.  www.edge-textileartists-scotland.com    It's interesting to me to see how textile artists are working in different countries and the new materials they are experimenting with, especially in Great Britain and Europe.  One way for me to get some inroads is through the Selvedge magazine, their articles and the advertising they present.  Another interesting website I found through the same issue is www.andsewon.co.uk  This magazine is rather pricey, but makes a truly wonderful Christmas or birthday gift whenever you are asked for suggestions.

Web Visits

I received the latest issue of "selvedge" magazine last week and have just begun to go through it.  It is always an inspiring read.  I usually find many intriquing websites to visit through the magazine's ads.  This issue did not disappoint. I will report more sites later as soon as I get a chance to explore further, but here is one that leads to an endless list of textile artists and their websites.

www.hiddenartlondon.co.uk   When you check out this site go to the 'designer/makers' tab near the top of the homepage and then to 'textiles' and also try 'fashion and accessories'.  So far I followed these paths to Allison Mitchell Metals, akerkhoff, sharon walsh, chloe scrivener (hats) and gina foster (hats) and lizzie houghton (feltwork).  All of these women have amazing work.  Enjoy!!

New Sites Found

I have found 2 wonderful, exciting websites to explore and, in one case, to interact with.  They were both discovered through reading my latest edition of Fiberarts magazine.

www.fiberscene.com   a huge collection of various textile artists which I have only begun to explore

www.digitalthreads.ca  digital artworks from Canadian artists and the Textile Museum of Canada.  This is completely interactive site where you can play for hours.  I'll have to return.  Kai Chan's work requires a substantial amount of time to fully explore.

Have fun!!

Victoria & Albert Museum

Perhaps you have been lucky enough to have visited the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England.  I have not visited the physical building, but have had a long and enjoyable virtual visit.  www.vam.ac.uk

What a large and fascinating site. Go to "Things to Do" on their home page and visit the "World Beach Project".  Something to think about the next time you are on a beach. What other collections do you have that could be substituted for the pebbles??  I thought of my button collection which is already somewhat sorted according to colour, but not size.  This may be a good exercise of an afternoon and who knows where is might lead.  Visit the textile area of the museum and you will find a very interesting blog by Sue Lawty, artist in residence at the V & A. You can also create your own textile design which is fun.  Here is the design I came up with.  You can watch a video of jaquard weaving. There is an exhibit at the moment called "Out of the Ordinary--Spectacular Craft" which is definitely worth a look see. Have fun with this virtual visit.

Carnegie Gallery

I spent a large part of today exploring Dundas, Ontario, just outside of Hamilton.  Don was attending a meeting of the TH&B Railway Historical Society which was meeting at the Dundas Historical Museum.  Railroading is his passion. I thought it would be an ideal opportunity to spend a few hours in the village, actually Don's home town.  I visited the Carnegie Gallery and discovered an intriguing exhibit entitled, "Out of the Past...Into the Future", New Works from Old Treasures.  The artists each took their inspiration from an object of their choice from the Dundas Historical Museum. Both the inspirational artifact and the new art piece were displayed.  Many art media were represented in the show.  Many of you would know Lucy Slykerman, who had a beautiful silk dyed, printed piece.  Congratulations, Lucy!!  You would enjoy a visit to her website  www.lucyslykerman.ca  Another artist that caught my interest, Renate Min-oo, worked in both textiles and clay, sometimes separately and sometimes she combined the two media.  www.renate.ca  If you can, try and find time to visit this exhibition.  I'm sure you'll come away with some stimulating ideas.