Gill started by showing us a beautifully dyed silk hanging to whet our appetites. She told us that she was primarily a felt maker but also did printmaking, so she worked across different textile techniques.
Some samples were made by sewing running stitches across the material and pulling up tightly(a lovely wood grain effect was produced). This was called ‘Mokume’. She suggested it was a good idea to plan your design before starting. | She told us about ‘Arashi Shibori’ using a pole to bind material and also ‘Itajime’ using folding and clamping with boards and binding objects into fabric with different sized threads and ropes. |
We noticed that the dye in the bucket produced a lighter colour as time went on.
Gill set up two other buckets of mixture during the day and we all continued to dye everything in sight. I even dyed my apple by mistake at lunch time!
At the end of the day there were rows of beautiful pieces on display. For me the star prizes went to Brenda with her tee shirt and trousers, beautifully dyed in symmetrical patterns and Carole with her lovely folded silk scarf. We all went home with a great sense of satisfaction. Thank you Gill. | |
The Travelling Books group displayed their books for the last time. Carolynne Parkinson gathered them in for her husband Mark to photograph and produce a DVD of every page (that in itself will be a mammoth task) as a lasting souvenir of each other’s work.
And finally several exhibition pieces were displayed to encourage and remind everyone our exhibition is only a few months away.
Thanks to Irene Pugmire for writing this months blog and Kath Howarth who has helped to set it up.