Final show in Bradford on Thursday 12th June.  It was great to see all the hard work put in by all the students on other courses.  The HNC girls did us proud though, fantastic.  Had a great weekend in Bradford with my husband.  Curry at Kashmir and music in Centenary Square plus a visit to the Peace Museum and to the Industrial Museum.  Felt quite emotional, apart from collecting my weaving from the show that is probably the last time I will spend any time in Bradford.

 Images from the Industrial Museum in Bradford Industrial Museum.  Worth a visit for any weaver.

Love the colours in this photograph, perhaps another project.

My first day without thinking about weaving for a very long time, how strange.  I have spent the day doing some administrative tasks that have been outstanding for a while.  We are in the middle of house renovations so I will soon have a lot to do.  Meanwhile I will have a look around for weaving ideas, perhaps the build could throw up a couple of ideas...

Insulation with interesting texture

Leaf imprint in Sandstone in new patio-the builder suggested he could power hose it out!!!!

Well, the last weekend of the HNC at Bradford College, all our project hung and some fantastic work on display.  Here is my effort plus those of the other students (with their permission.)  Our preview night is next Thursday and the show is on for the following week, Sunday excluded.

My effort included cushions, seat pad, runner ,placemats and various other bits and pieces. Perhaps I wove just a bit too much.  Here (with the permission of other students) are some of the other projects.The quality of the work is just fantastic. 

Today I've been sewing up some of my cloth to make cushions, teatowels and  getting to get some props together.

These are based on my original seed idea.

Cushion cover

And another

a

And another

Have been working on my project for final presentation at Bradford.  Unfortunately some of my blogs have not appeared.  Not sure why.
Began by looking at seed heads in the garden with a view to creating textiles suitable for a kitchen/diner /sitting area.
Some of my art work and inspirations for this project

Some inspiration from Barbara Fidoe in Textiles Now

and some from some old packaging

Some Collage

My mood board in progress

winder

 New Toys1 bought a winder

and a couple of boat shuttles, have

previously used stick shuttles.

Going to try some finer yarns.

shuttles

I'm also looking at winter colours in the garden and took some photos on a sunny day. So plenty of colour and texture to go for................. More art work on Monday and then to choose some yarns.

Well, the time for nostalgia is over and time to look forwards to a new year with new ideas and plans.
So down to some art work and thoughts for my next presentation at Bradford College. I started with drawing some seed heads found in the garden last year (2013)

January 1st, Happy New Year for anyone who happens to pass this way.  Just can't believe another year has gone by.  Had some time to look for images of The Mill in Walkerburn.  This entrance was just beside the bus stop I used to stand at every day to High School in Peebles. I remember the clock being damaged during a hurricane and this part of the building was destroyed by a fire in the early seventies.  The whole village centred around the mill owned by the Ballantyne family.
All this reminiscing-must be getting old.........................
I must get weaving again in the next few days as I have to submit information about what I am doing for my final project at Bradford by Jan 20th.

We all had to present out weaving for marking.  I displayed my samples on hangers.  My finished article was a scarf.  Indeed I wove two scarves-one is quite neat and the other was not really tidy enough for me!
My weaving was based on photographs of seaweed taken in Ireland.

My project was entitled Beachcomber

Just returned from the weaving weekend at Bradford.   Enjoyed a visit to Moon's in Guisely to look at the processes going on in the mill there.

1. Spinning at Moon's of Guisely

The visit, particulary the smells and the noise reminded me of the village of Walkerburn in Peeblesshire where I grew up. The mill was originally owned by Henry Ballantyne and Sons.

The village no longer smells of lanolin or the dye tanks.  There is an eerie silence where once the noise of looms was a constant.

Just finished weaving scarf for my assignment at Bradford next week.
Reasonalbly pleased with the result.

Getting the hang of this

Today I have put on a warp for a scarf after sampling.  A warp without any mistakes would be good. Will find out tomorrow if I have succeeded. ..... I have decided to keep it simple - texture is the name of the game.
I once read that you should enjoy warping as much as weaving.  It can be a challenge.
Great service from The Handweavers Studio, received some yarn within 24 hours of ordering.

Working on my next project for Bradford.  Have had a few glitches with my warps and record keeping.
Some art work that I have decided not to use, perhaps next project.

Have been working with texture.  I love the shrinkage effects when you are not sure what is going to appear

My weaving journey started around 40 years ago at school in the Borders of Scotland.
I wove a piece of material that I turned into a skirt and waistcoat.
Around five years ago I was given an old loom by a friend.  I did a tester weekend with Laura Rosenweig  at Farfield Mill in Sedbergh and my new love of weaving was born.......
I bought a book and did some sampling-then I heard about a course at Bradford College.