Tom of Holland at Hope & Elvis

  
It's always a joy to go to Hope & Elvis.  Before your workshop begins there are so many interesting things to look at...

Beautiful boats

Captivating cardi

...and then you get to learn something new.  This workshop was taken by Tom of Holland, (though currently living in Brighton), who is a staunch advocate of visible mending.  Tom provides mending inspiration and skills to help curb the trend towards throwaway fashion.  Tom wants you to keep your favourite garment and enhance it with visible mends, wearing them like a "badge of honour".
 

Tom of Holland

Our workshop concentrated on repairing woven materials but the day before they were working on woollen items. It was great to see some of those examples too...

These would brighten up a boring jumper

Repairing all those holes has added a new dimension to this jumper

Moving onto the woven fabrics, Tom had some beautifully repaired tea towels...

Beautifully patched tea towels

There were some interesting books and equipment to browse through too...

Weevezy

Lots of "Make do & Mend" ideas

Advice from the 1950s - I've often found I'm fearful of that visitor that might find me not neatly put together!

And then we were ready to go...

I choose to do my stitching in orange so it was easy to see the good & the bad!

Tips for neatness when oversewing - fold those edges together

So what did we attempt?  Napery hem, fell stitch or running hem, slip stitch, herringbone, flannel patch, a hemmed patch & a hand stitched buttonhole

Finished samples, stitching in orange, basting in pink

I rather like the coloured stitching - even the basting, which I haven't taken out so I know where it goes for future reference!

I was happy with my first attempts though I shall need to practise those buttonholes!  Thanks, Tom!

David Shrigley's Really Good

Really Good - David Shrigley

On a trip to the Big City (London) recently, I popped along to Trafalgar Square to have a look at the Fourth Plinth's latest offering.  I found David Shrigley's "Really Good".  This is a seven metre high bronze thumbs up, weighing 4.5 tonnes, with a dark patina like the other statues in the Square

Really Good - David Shrigley + Pigeon

It's the 11th commission in the Fourth Plinth programme, unveiled on 29 September 2016.  David Shrigley (b. 1968) currently lives in Brighton and much of his work is satirical reflecting on the absurdity of society.

Really Good - David Shrigley

The thumb is abnormally long and the whole thing is meant to be an antedote to all the current gloom and doom (economy, weather, society) and encourage us to be more positive.  We could all do with that!

Haberdashery in Paris

I've just got back from a few days in Paris.  As it wasn't my first trip there, I thought I'd do something a bit different and decided on a haberdashery tour.  I started with Sajou, 47 Rue Du Caire, which those of you who have discovered sources in England (e.g. Beyond Measure) will know, has lots of rather gorgeous things...

Large colourful threads

Colourful buttons

Small colourful threads

Wool threads

In fact you can even buy a mini Sajou if you have a doll's shop you are fitting out...
 

Mini Sajou shop

And of course I couldn't resist a little something...

 
From there I went to Ultramod,  a rather lovely experience at 4, Rue de Choiseul...

 

Ribbons

Boxes

Vintage haberdashery

...and more...

I was very restrained there and just bought a single button - but it was double sided...

Double sided button from Ultramod

After that I sought out the Emmaus charity shop, as I really can't go anywhere without seeing what the charity shops are like.  This one was at 104 Cents Quatre, a cultural centre, at 104 Rue d'Aubervilliers, which I might tell you about another time.  I did get a few select items...

Yarn, embroidery thread and a pillowcase

Another haberdashery I found by chance - Bonheur des Dames, 17 Avenue Daumesnil...

and it seemed like a good idea to go fluoro...

Thread & ribbon in fluorescent colours

And of course you can't go to Paris and not visit a fleamarket.  I chose the Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves  - not too big or too expensive, easy to get to and interesting...

 and I managed to come away with only these...

which I thought was very restrained!  I couldn't resist the tin even though it was in English. I mean, who wouldn't want a tin that held "The Original Celebrated Curiously Strong Peppermint Lozenges!"

It was a lovely trip and I might share more of it with you another time.  Meanwhile I have to think what I'm going to do with my exciting purchases!

Ai Weiwei at Downing College, Cambridge

Ai Weiwei - Tree outside the Heong Gallery

  
Ai Weiwei's "Cubes & Trees" were at Downing College in Cambridge recently.  If you didn't get to see them here's a taster...

Ai Weiwei's Cubes in the Heong Gallery

Each cube is a metre square and they are made up of Crystal Cube 2014 (Cystal), Ton of Tea 2008 (compressed Pu'er tea), Cube in Ebony 2009 (Zitan wood) & Treasure Box 2014 (Huali wood).

Ai Weiwei - Ton of Tea (detail)

Ai Weiwei - Treasure Box (detail)

The cubes show Ai Weiwei's preference for simple forms and at the same time his repect for the properties of different materials and traditional craftsmanship.

Ai Weiwei - Trees outside Downing College Chapel

Ai Weiwei's dramatic trees are sculpted from parts of different types of dead trees, some hundreds of years old.  The nuts and bolts used to hold them together are visible, emphasising that they are constructed.  They are tree-like yet rather strange.

Ai Weiwei is an outspoken Chinese artist who has been critical of the Chinese Government particularly on issues relating to the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake.  Here schools collapsed as a result of the use of substandard building materials and little effort was made to determine how many students were killed.  Ai Weiwei and his team compliled a list of more than 5000 names and his related artwork was included in the RA Exhibition in 2015.  His criticism of the Government resulted in the confiscation of his passport between April 2011 and July 2015.  He is currently working in Berlin and Lesbos where his work has focussed on the plight of refugees.

Flowerpower Yarnbomb Blooms in Cambridge

Flowerpower Yarnbomb, Jesus Green Tennis Courts, Cambridge

Recently on a trip to Cambridge, I came across this wonderful yarnbomb on Jesus Green.  Those of you who follow my blog will know that I love a good yarnstorm and this was very inspiring.  It was designed and organised by Clare Collier, yarnbomber, and Sarah Clark from The Sheep Shop, Cambridge with pattern assistance from Liz Marley and Just Add Crochet and made by members of the local community and those further afield.

Knitted and crocheted Rhapsody clematis flowers and leaves

You will see a thousand knitted and crocheted Rhapsody clematis flowers and leaves extend across 9 metres of the Jesus Green tennis courts' fence.  Most of the flowers are purple, but 1 in 5 are blue.  This is to highlight the fact that 1 in 5 women will suffer sexual abuse or rape during their lifetime.  It also promotes the work of the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre, a specialist sexual violence charity who provide support to survivors of sexual violence in Cambridgeshire.

Most flowers are purple but 1:5 are blue

The use of flowers was inspired by Naomi Lawrence, a former Cambridge yarnbomber and street artist now living across the pond in New York, who uses flowers in her work.

The display will be up till the end of October after which the flowers will be taken down, made into brooches and sold to fundraise for the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre or you can donate now, here.

At least for a time you can listen to Leigh Chambers from Cambridge 105 Drive radio interview Sarah Clark and Clare Collier here.  Although a difficult & distressing subject, this is a great way to raise awareness, involve the community, fundraise and to let survivors know they are not alone.  Do go see it if you're in Cambridge.

Nora Fok's "New Threads" at the Harley Gallery

Nora Fok - Tomato Earrings 2012 (knitted nylon & Linlon)

If you haven't seen Nora Fok's "New Threads" exhibition at the Harley Gallery recently here's a little something to cheer you up!  Nora is one of Britain's leading jewellers.  Her work is very sculptural and the pieces in this exhibition were created using nylon, flax and 3D printing.  Nora has invented "Linlon" thread which is a mixed nylon and linen thread.  Her work explores the interaction between art and science.  The proceses Nora uses include weaving, knitting, crochet & knotting.

Nora Fok - White Linen Globe 2016 neckpiece (knitted Linlon with 3D printed links), Earth Sea 2016 wristpiece (knitted Linlon with pearl links)

Nora Fok neckpieces - Seed Pod Variations 2012 (crocheted knitted looped linen/Linlon tied with flax seeds), Choker Weave 2014 (woven linen thread), Wearable Seed Bank 2012 (woven linen with flax seeds & polypropylene)

Nora Fok - 3D printed spiral weave wrist & neckpieces (3D printed polymer & thread)

Nora Fok - I Heart Pentagon 2016 Neckpiece, Hexagon & Pentagon 2016 Wristpieces (3D printed polymer units with tied knotted dyed nylon)

Nora Fok - Coral Colony: A Thriving Community 2016 - Crocheted linen
+ polyester threads on polypropylene

Nora Fok - Coral Colony: A Dying Community 2016 - Crocheted natural linen
+ polyester threads on polypropylene with glass beads

The Harley Gallery is situated on the Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire.  There is ample car parking and a cafe close by. Nora Fok's "New Threads" is on until 23 October 2016.

Note: It is also handy for Hope & Elvis, where Louise Presley curates a fantastic range ot textile and mixed media workshops, run by leading artists and makers.