This exhibition is a gem. Such wonderfully creative and inspiring pieces of work. It is a pleasure to wander around seeing and with the sample pieces, feeling the textiles on display.
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| General view of the exhibition space |
Sweaters, cardigans, tapestries, wall hangings - such a variety of exhibits.
I took many photographs. If your work is displayed here and you are unhappy about it being made public, let me know and I will remove the picture. There is a lovely catalogue illustrating all the work which I am sure will be available to purchase after the exhibition for those who were unable to attend.
A particular delight is the open exhibition of non-juried work. Anyone who submits a piece of work has it displayed here. It was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
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| A small section of the non-juried work. |
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| A Mackintosh rose |
The various interpretations of the theme are a delight. I particularly appreciated that all the script describing the various items used the Mackintosh font. This aspect of the exhibition must have taken a long time to put together but it is a highlight.
One unusual piece was a Shetland Taatit rug. These were intended for bed covers and were woven in two separate pieces. One half would be made by the family of the bride and the other by the family of the bridegroom. They would be stitched together just before the wedding. What a wonderful memento of the occasion. It was created by Jess McCaffery from Edinburgh Guild.
The waistcoat in the background is by Rosemary Warren from the Somerset Guild.
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| A Shetland Taatit wedding rug |
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| spinning samples |
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| An exquisite shawl |
This is one of the incredibly fine lace knitted shawls exhibited. It is by Phyllis Reeves from West Surrey using handspun Shetland fleece. I am in awe of the skills needed to produce something so beautiful and delicate.
There were many scarves on show. This multicoloured scarf in silk and lambswool is by Janet Philips from the Online Guild.
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| Scarf by Janet Philips |
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| Ripples on the Shore |
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| Close up of sample piece by Jennie Parry |
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| Vintage Upcycled by Cia Bosanquet |
It is always fascinating to see the source of inspiration for the pieces. This wall hanging was inspired by N'jals Saga; a verse poem seen on a visit to the Stad Museum in Gothenburg. It is made with blends of the natural colours of Herwick fleece which is spun and then half dyed with red with the addition of black and white rovings. It was made by Caroline Thomson of the West of Scotland Guild. The poem is reproduced on the right.
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| N'Jals Saga retold. |
Exhibitions like this are a delight to view but require a lot of hard work from the Guilds involved. The Guilds in Scotland and Northern Ireland should be proud of the excellent display. They are Shetland, Clyde Coast, Isle of Arran, Edinburgh, Highland, Grampian, East Central Scotland, West of Scotland, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Tweed and Ulster Guilds. Thank you for all your hard work.
At the entrance to the exhibition there were volunteers spinning and knitting. On the window ledge there were several Kilner jars of dyeing.
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| Solar dyeing takes time! |
My Entry
My entry for the National Exhibition this year is a yellow silk stole. The inspiration for the weave was seeing a field of ripe corn blowing in the wind. The corn seemed to ripple like waves on the sea. A photograph cannot do justice to the view.I have just received a lovely email about my scarf. Fiona described her experience of viewing a field of waving corn and she has given permission for me to share it with you.
'On a windy day some weeks ago, I walked past a field of young corn. I stopped to watch the wind making waves across the field, as if there were a thin sheet of very pale yellow silk billowing over it. Then I realised that each individual stem was not just dipping and lifting, but also shimmying from side to side. I watched in fascination for some time - knowing that I had no way of capturing it, except in memory.'
She expressed so beautifully in words my own viewing of field of waving corn which inspired this scarf.
Silk seemed the obvious choice. I wanted the stole to be a luxury item. Silk has the wonderful property of reflecting light in so many directions depending upon the surface of the weave and how the material is draped. I have taken a few pictures of the stole. It is difficult to get an exact colour reproduction as the colour changes and shimmers in sunlight. Each of the photographs show a different shade of yellow.
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| Rolled up and displayed on my loom |
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| A long piece of weaving |
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| Close up of material |
Here it is displayed in the exhibition.
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| My silk stole |
Weave Chart
Here is the weave chart for the yellow silk stole. I used a networked draft to create a swirly pattern. |
| Pattern draft |
Warp and Weft
Warp 2/60 silk used double colour -pale straw 4085
Weft: 2/60 silk used double - colour 4020 and straw: colour 4082
Sett 36 epi
Pattern repeat is 143 ends.
Ends per inch: 36 epi
I used a 9 reed so there are 4 ends per dent.
Silk is always a joy to weave.
STOP PRESS
At the exhibition I spoke to Liz from the Cheshire Guild. She will be helping with the next National Exhibition. It will be held in Leigh Spinners Mill. http://leighspinnersmill.co.uk/ What an interesting venue. I had not heard of this mill before so I must go and see it.
The theme will be Coal,Cotton,Canals This gives plenty of scope for interpretation.
Start your creative journey now! Remember to create a small feely sample.
The non-juried section will have the theme of Still Waters and should be displayed in a 6 inch ring.
Happy Creating!
Susan J Foulkes
