I have received a commission to weave and make three ties for a wedding. The Bride and Groom have found it difficult to get exactly what they want in the shops and so have asked me to do this for them. They are looking for a wool tie using black and grey with a hint of pink to tie in the bridesmaid dresses. These are the colours I have dyed so far so that I can work out exactly what colours they would like.
I spent a lovely weekend weaving with a fellow weaver. We made up a small sample warp, a double cloth with two blocks. On an eight shaft table loom this only gave us the option of plain weave but we were investigating the interact of the two cloths/blocks. By creating these simple sample warps it allows me to explore quick techniques which them inspire and filter down to my professional weaving.
I have had a little bit of spare time lately and have spent that in the dye lab at uni testing out some of the dyes and recipes. Below are a few of the colours I dyed. It is difficult to see the true colours online but I love the coral colour which works really well with the cherry and navy.
I have been working my way through some of my older samples, sorting them out and making sure my documentation is clear. The samples below were woven a few years ago using wool and cotton. They were an experimentation of different shrinkage rates, the wool shrank a lot when washed and the cotton didn’t. This is something I would really like to work with more.
I was very excited to see that Missoni are now doing a lot of home products and are partnering up with a hotel. I find Missoni a bit much in terms of my own personal taste and what I would have in my own private space. Having said that I love that it is over the top when it come to pattern and colour, it has it’s own unique style and would like to stay somewhere that is decorated fully with Missoni. The colours are amazing, there is always an interesting combination and they are bright yet muted which are my type of colours.
Check out their new designs at www.missoni.com
Tim Gresham caught my attention because of his combination of skills and how well they work together. It is clear from looking at his work that he has a strong interest in pattern. He is skilled in both weave and photography and both of these are highly focused on the same type of abstract imagery; they are both graphic in nature and bold. He uses his weave to draw the patterns he finds with his photos and they both work well placed together in exhibition spaces.
