Silk Route Talk

 On the 4th November we had a very informative talk by Jim Gaffney from Textile Traders . Jim and wife Diane have been in the business of buying, selling and putting on exhibitions since 1984.

 We were entertained by Jim and his stories that were illustrated by a wide range of ethnic fabrics.

 They keep a blog that tells of their travels throughout Asia.

 Jim finished the afternoon off with a sales table of the most delightful scarves, fabrics and garments. Most who attended were tempted to buy something.

Easter Card Competition

At last I can upload the images taken in April of our Easter card competition. My computer is now talking to Blogger so here goes.

 

 Here are the entries this year, they all contain some silk within them and a click to enlarge will reveal a wide range of techniques.

The winner was Gwen Kay for her delightful embroidery on a piece of painted silk. As Gwen is a relatively new member this was a excellent achievement. I particularly like the fresh spring colours and the simplicity of the overall effect.

DYEING!!!!!!!

We've been dyeing so far this year.

Two workshops on Procion dyeing. The first with ice the second in plastic bags.

Members have been experimenting with natural fabrics in particular cotton and silk and creating very serendipity designs which we are going to use later in the year. Details are hush hush so far.

cotton dyed in a plastic bag

silk velvet dyed in plastic bags

cotton dyed in plastic bags

cotton ice dyed

cotton dyed in plastic bag

silk scarves dyed in plastic bags

cotton dyed twice, once in ice and then clamped and put in plastic bag

silk scarves dyed in plastic bags

cotton shirt buttons dyed in plastic bags

 

 

The ice dyeing gave us some superb serendipity results that were almost floral in pattern. the group also learnt how to achieve more of a block colour effect by adding the soda ash later rather than presoaking fabric before dyeing.

 

Next is Natural dyeing with natural dyes!!!!!!!!!!!!

Workshops

Over the last year we have had some shorter workshops that allowed members to produce some very interesting work. These brooches were produced using manmade fabrics cleverly cut and sewn together decorated with beads.

These tassels used up leftover wools and threads. They are wrapped around a double piece of card, cut and tied off. They can be finished off with beads and members were very happy with a quick activity.

INDIGO DYEING and HAVE A GO DAY

 

In mid August we had an afternoon of dyeing! Sandy organised us the week before and we tied and folded and twisted fabric ready for the indigo dye bath.

 

 

 

Here Louise, Kath, Sandy and Chris are busy untying their fabric and leaving it on the clothes rack to dry.

a selection of drying scarves and fabric pieces.

Jean untying her linen that she made into a stunning jacket, see below

 

Jean's asymmerical jacket is topped stitched in white and looks stunning with her white linen trousers.

This square scarf was originally a failed russet attempt and has been revitalised by tying with string and dipping in the indigo vat.

This picture shows a variety of fabrics and tying techniques, the very dark strips are cotton lace.

This silk georgette scarf was folded and wrapped around a pole to create this stunning effect.

Three revitalised scarves the two outside ones have been clamped using square cutouts to create these patterns.

 

The programme for the coming year starting September includes a series of dyeing sessions where we will use a full range of dyes and techniques including, Procion, Disperse, Acid, space dyeing, ice dyeing and more indigo.

 

We are currently getting ready for our HAVE A GO Day on the 15th September when we are OPEN for the general public to visit us and try out some of the activities that we get upto on a MONDAY afternoon.

 

IF YOU LIVE NEAR TO MARPLE, STOCKPORT DO COME AND VISIT US AT ST MARTINS CHURCH HALL, SK6 5DT

 

BETWEEN 10am AND 4pm.

 

YOU CAN HAVE A GO AT silk card making, silk flowers, silk painting,

YOU WATCH microwave scarf making, using by products of the silk industry, silk painting

YOU CAN enjoy homemade cakes and a cuppa

YOU CAN VIEW our exhibition of all things silk

YOU CAN BUY silk products that members have created.

 

The last one we held two years ago was a great success and we gained many new members, most of whom are still with us!!!

 

BRADBURY HOUSE EXHIBITION

We are in the throws of getting ready for our next exhibition which starts on Friday the 29th June 2012 with a preview evening. ALL WELCOME.

"A TOUCH OF SILK"

29th June - 27th July 2012

exhibition of silk paintings, silk scarves, silk jewellery.
All items for sale

BRADBURY HOUSE

10 MARKET STREET

GLOSSOP

DERBYSHIRE

SK13 8AR

NB

Because the building is shared it is important to check for opening times.

Either phone 01457 860007 or

email reception@bradbury-house.co.uk

SILK PAPER and SILK RODS WORKSHOP

The latest workshop at Silk-n-Threads was lead by Margaret Steeden and involved members using silk hankies and silk rods. Both these are by products of the silk industry.
Silk hankies are produced from silk cocoons and Margaret showed us how, by soaking the cocoons and then pulling out the fibres to fit around a frame. Weavers then spin yarn from these hankies but we used then to make silk paper. We layered several thin hankies, sometimes trapping fibres and other elements eg dried leaves and seed heads. Using dilute PVA as an adhesive allowed us to produce a useable 'paper' that we then made handmade books and needle cases from. Margaret also uses these new fabrics as the basis for  Free Machine Embroidery.

This is the result when you use several different coloured hankies. This example has pieces of blue lace trapped inside it. They have attractive edges and we used these to effect as can be seen in the pictures of needlecases produced

The pink example has lace trapped inside the layers of paper, it was then embellished with hand stitching.

These are examples of members books and needle cases the top and bottom ones are silk paper and the two outside ones are from silk rods.

For some reason Blogger has uploaded these pictures upside down!!!

These are the hearts produced by separating silk rods and bondawebbing them to felt from which hearts were cut, decorated and stitched. The decoration ranged form lace, buttons, embroidery, ribbons and 3D butterflies. Some of the members utilised their card making skills.

These brooches are made from the leftover pieces of the silk rods and the silk paper