Meet the Maker - Bella Lane

I am delighted to present highly skilled and beautiful lady Bella Lane for my next 'Meet the Maker' series of blog posts. Bella is a master Peruvian embroiderer and also Royal School of Needlework trained.

My path crossed with Bella at the Knitting & Stitching show where we were both teaching. I was very happy when she agreed to start offering her hand embroidery classes at Fabrications about a year ago. Her 2 forthcoming embroidery classes take place on Saturday May 13th - " Learn hand embroidery applique & stitch an Arpilleras of Peru " & "Learn hand embroidery & stitch an Andean rose ". A unique treat for beginners and existing embroidery enthusiasts as these mini master classes focus on Peruvian embroidery techniques, culture and history.

Tell me and the readers a little about yourself and what drew you to focus on embroidery?

My journey in embroidery started 40 years ago in the heart of the rain forest of Peru and it has been an incredible journey to reach this stage were I’m available to deeply understand the art of hand embroidery and the art of using it to express and inspire others by stitching, embroidering for professional use, fun, therapy, healing or just experimenting. I have been in the professional embroidery world for 10 years now and have worked with so many people and companies through commissions here in London which was a great springboard for pushing and extending the traditional professional training I had received for full three years. As well I have been teaching all kinds of embroidery workshops, for individuals groups her in UK and abroad, and still do this whenever I can. Stitching two pieces of cloth or stitching a single button really stops the busy world around us and really can connect us with our ancestors who at some point of their lives also stitched the same things without thinking that needles, threads and cloth will be with us forever, generation by generation.  Technology will move fast but we always will depend on the needle and threads, these items never will die as we do. This is what draws me in to the world of hand embroidery. When I'm working with needle and threads, my mind is transported to another place, a place that can be beautiful, peaceful, intense and challenging and my love for needlework and embroidery has helped me to produce magnificent pieces of embroidery, many of them were recognised with Awards.

 

You are a master Peruvian Embroiderer and also adept in English embroidery! How do the techniques compare?

Needle and thread is the common connection between English and Peruvian embroidery, I love both of them. In Europe we work with the finest threads, cloth and tools; in Peru we work with what we have. Peruvians love very bright colours, in England we like more subtle colours.  These choices are affected by our culture, history, weather, and so many other factors, even our language.  As we are in Great Britain, Peruvians are very proud of our ancient cultures. The rich textile heritage that the ancient peoples of Peru have bequeathed to us gives us so much to learn and enjoy, not just in embroidery but for all art forms. Those attributes are an invaluable contribution that Peru has to offer, not only for their own people but for everyone who is interested in textiles and art. I consider myself so fortunate to belong to both places. These days I am a British and Peruvian citizen. Always I'm delighted when people in Peru ask me teach them English embroidery techniques, and when I'm in UK I am very happy teaching Peruvain embroidery.  It is such a valuable asset to have these two cultures at once.

 

What is an 'Arpilleras of Peru’ ? 

 Arpilleras in Peru is the modern approach to textiles embellished with recycled or unwanted fabrics, stitched with bright coloured threads. In other words, it is a form of Peruvian applique. The creation of Apilleras started in 1974 in Chile, a year after Augusto Pinochet came to power.  During this time friends, brothers, husbands and other members of the family disappeared, and were never found again. The wives and dependents of the ‘disappeared’ were left in poverty, so they started to stitch poignant Arpilleras pieces in memory of their loved ones and as a silent protest against Pinochet’s government. These pieces were so beautiful and evocative that they soon became very popular, and visitors began to collect them; soon after they started to export the work to all America and Europe.  Our next class with Arpilleras will be a 'beginner Arpillera project'. Participants will learn technical stitches, design composition and execution of their own Arpillera creation. It is a great opportunity to join us and start an amazing personal journey of creating scenes from Peru or your own locale with cloth and threads with the concept of using pieces of recycled and upcycled textiles. After completion students can apply the same techniqus to their own small or large projects at home.  

 

What is the significance of the 'Andean rose’ ?  How did it come into being and how are they used?

Andean people love flowers and wild life. They stitch all year around their own costumes, and items for sale with floral and animal designs with bright colours for the Andean Festivities. Flower designs are the principal theme of the ladies' skirts and blouses called “Polleras”.

“Andean Rose” is the given name of a full day or 3 hours master class embroidery workshop. This workshop and this floral Rose design ‘kit' is the principal design for mastering and learning the art of some Peruvian Andean Embroidery techniques. After class participants can finish their pieces at home and apply and incorporate the techniques in their own work.

Thank You Bella! I am looking forward to your next workshops at Fabrications and hope dear reader you can also join! To book your place, Contact Fabrications, Hackney, East London

 

Meet the Maker - MEGA MIX!

As Fabrications 15th Birthday Celebrations approaches, I'd like to put a BIG SHOUT OUT and say THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to all my friends, family, creatives, teachers, doers, fixers, special people that have put your time, energy and creativity into Fabrications over the years. 

I've Been going through my pics - Can you spot yourself?? (Sorry if you can't I didn't always have my camera to hand to capture the moment but I havn't forgotten you or your support!)

From left to right - David Mumford ( D.A M ) Sue Russell (Wool-n-Dance) Katherine May, Jillian Bulgan, Clare Sams & Mark - Paul.

Eric Martin & Nikolai Delvendahl (Delvendahl & Martin Architects) Jay & Yassir (Out of the Dark now Jay & Co) Sam Buckland & Sarah Mc Phee, Ayda Anlagan (Monstify), Rachael Matthews (formerly Cast Off now Prick Your Finger)

Rosie Martin (DIY Couture) Adeline Royal Caminski, Stephanie Bescoby, Jane Smith, Sarah Corbett (Craftivist Collective) Lisa Margreet

Caroline Brooks (Shoreditch Sisters) Tommy the Cat, The Upcycling Academy (collaboration with Fabrications, Traid & War on Want) Clemence Joly, Laura Lees (The Mighty Stitch) Marion Berger

Fiona Sail & team (Sail & Sons), Jade Ilke, Hackney Council, Michael Swaine, Ryan Frank, Annie Sherburne, Tree (Stitchless TV) Lu Flux

Yarn Shop Day! Come see us! Saturday 2nd May!

Following the success of last year’s event, Fabrications is pleased to announce that we will be participating in the national ‘Love Your Yarn Shop’ campaign, initiated by Let's Knit Magazine which aims to raise the profile of the value that bricks and mortar yarn stores bring to the local community. Part of the campaign includes ‘Yarn Shop Day’ taking place on Saturday 2^nd May.

On ‘Yarn Shop Day’, Fabrications will be hosting a ‘Close-Knit Community Knit-Tea Party’ open to all ages (from 7+) and all levels of crafter from 1:30-5:30pm. 

Flowers, leaves, and garlands will make up the creations for the day, which can be knitted or crocheted in detail with small needles and hooks or large on their unique MACRO knitting needles and French knitting wheels. All of the items created will be added to a flourishing knitted trellis installation on Fabrications shop front, so that everyone can admire them! 

Special Goody Bags are set to be available for the first 25 customers of the day to start off the event. Everything will be provided, from the materials to the food, with Fabrications lovely teachers on hand to help, so all you need to bring is you! Everyone is welcome to this free event, but space is limited, so be sure to book your spot NOW!. 

Participating in this exciting day is just the beginning of the celebration to mark Fabrications 15th birthday! 

Meet the Maker: Gilda Baron

Over my 15 years of running Fabrications, I have promoted, sold work, collaborated with over 200 talented textile practitioners. In my shop I have explanation cards alongside makers work, giving insight into the maker, their ethos and processes. I thought it would be fun to extend this to my blog.

 

 Image of Gilda courtesy of Colouriciuos

I am delighted to present the talented Gilda Baron, who will teaching 2 textile workshops this month at Fabrications. In 'Don't Bin it, print with it!' Gilda will share fabric printing methods with a twist! In the afternoon you can stay on and learn different hand embroidery techniques and learn how to embellish your printed fabrics created in the morning or other fabrics!

Textile piece by Gilda using printing (from rubbish!) and hand embroidery.

Barley: Where do you draw inspiration for your work?

Gilda: I try and have a sketch book at hand when on holiday, although it is sometimes not easy, as it maybe pouring with rain, freezing cold, or nowhere to stop and get my pencils out.

I only carry a very small notebook mini coloured pencils and a black pen.

  
Barley: Your work is so multi layered, using a number of different textile processes in a piece, do you have a favourite technique?

Gilda: I have developed a unique style of textile art, which bursts out of the frame with life and vitality.  The techniques I use to achieve this include fabric dyeing, batik, hand and machine embroidery, hand made felt and applied pieces. The many layers are what makes my textile art so distinctive and draws the viewer into the scenes

I love all the techniques! 

Barley: You have led a very accomplished and long textile career, can you share some highlights?

Gilda: Life has been good and so many special things and people.

I think the first of the many was convincing everyone that I wanted to go to Shoreditch Technical School, for the Garment Trades when I was only 12 years old and not stay at school and take O levels and do a Commercial course as nice girls did in my youth.

At the other end of my life to be invited to teach at the V&A Museum last year

 

 

Gilda running her 'Don't bin it, print with it! workshop at The Attic, Lines of Pinner

Barley: What can participants expect from your classes you will be offering at Fabrications?

Gilda: Finding throw away items to print with, your rubbish will never look the same to you again. But most of all having fun, while learning.

Another example of Gilda Baron's innovative printed 'Don't bin it' pieces!

  

Gilda Baron has a large exhibition of her work at this Spring's 'Knitting and Stitching Show' in Olympia, 13th - 16th March. Go and meet Gilda and her amazing textile works and then book onto her workshop at Fabrications for a unique learning experience with a special, internationally recognised textile artist.

Some thoughts on Collectivism

These thoughts have been whirling around my mind for some time now, perhaps even most of my life, having been brought up in rural North Wales in the 70's where a sense of community and working together is embedded into the welsh culture.


Somewhere along the line, there has been a prevailing attitude of  "look out out for No 1" and not to worry about or look too deeply at the consequences of our actions on others. (positive and negative)

Recently at the Holloway Arts Festival, Rowan Arts screened Ken Loach's film "The spirit of 45" which I went along to watch. It is a powerful and rather upsetting (I cried at the end!) documentary style portrayal of the re building of Britain following the second war including the creation of social welfare, the NHS, the railways, manufacturing and employment and then the slow disassembling, erosion and privatisation under the election of Margaret Thatcher in the 80's. Ken Loach juxtaposes archive footage of soldiers and working class people declaring "We came together to fight the war, we can now come together to work for good" versus Harry Enfield's "Loadsa Money!" character.
                             

When I set up the 'Upcycling Academy' 3 years ago with the aim of raising awareness of the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry, I also wanted the Upcycling Academy to promote and demonstrate the power of collaboration. To bring together different independent organisations working together to deliver a message / activities, actions in a fun, creative and informed way. So I approached Traid, who approached War on Want.

The first Upcycling Academy took place at the Knitting & Stitching shows. It was interesting to observe the overwhelming feedback we received from an older generation on how good it was to see different organisations working together in this way and how unusual it was! Has the spirit of 45 really been lost?

As Nadia Idle, outreach officer at War on Want succinctly put it in her recent post on the Craftivist Collective's blog " The value of the collective, of coming together to act. Let us reject greed and profit as a motivation and rejoice in activities that bring us together to make things better for ourselves and others"

The Upcycling Academy will be taking place once again at this year's Knitting & Stitching show at Alexander Palace. Thursday 10th - Sunday 13th October. This year the Craftivist Collective are joining forces too.
Why don't you come along too??

DIY Christmas!

As the festive season is nearly upon us, here at Fabrications HQ, I'm planning a "Re design Christmas Craft Club", taking place every Wednesday, starting this week. Inspired by the book "Why don't you Re-Design Christmas?" published by the organisation Re Design (and featuring some ideas by me and on sale at Fabrications!) the aim of the club is to demostrate different resourceful gift and decoration making ideas which are quick and effective, money saving, recycled and beautiful and we guarantee you will have fun with others while doing it! I've also invited along some eco designer guests - Rebecca Alderman (Girl with Beads) and Annie Sherburne to share their expertise.

 

MORE INFORMATION & BOOKING:

 

Week 1: Upcycled Christmas Decorations. CLICK HERE 

Week 2: Bows, Ties & Bow-Ties. CLICK HERE

Week 3: Personalised Santa Sacks. CLICK HERE

Week 4: Lovely Bubbly Fascinator Party. CLICK HERE

Jubitea Party!

Join Fabrications & The East End WI this Saturday for an East End vintage style tea party! Barley will show you how to make a vintage inspired hair decoration or 'fabulous fascinator' whilst the East End WI will be serving tea in vintage t-pots and t-cups with their famously delicious cakes. the event is FREE to attend but please support our local WI by buying their tea and cake. BOOKING A TIME SLOT is advised (between 12 - 4pm) crafting activity takes approx 1hr, as we can only fit in a certain amount of tea party goers at one time!

Even the Queen got wind of our plans and dropped in as part of her Jubilee tour, last Thursday during our bunting making day with Brother. Sporting hand knitted crown, sash and medals. The young queen is actually Caroline Brooks from the Shoreditch Sisters, who have been involved in creating an entire knitted jubilee presentation and activities inside the WI tent over at the Diamond Jubilee Festival in Battersea Park, next weekend.

Fiona Macalister is the textile artist behind this incredible hand woven tapestry 'Pop Queen', currently on display in Fabrications window. Fiona studied art in Chelsea college of Art in the 1960's, culminating in a highly commended post graduate scholarship in woven tapestry design from Edinburgh College of art, where she stayed to continue her career.

JANUARY workshops and events

This year's workshops are now underway! It's so lovely to be able to offer a wider range of classes in a new fully equipped workroom. Last weekend we had a beginners crochet class facilitated by Ayda Anlagan on Saturday. On Sunday I ran a beginners knitting class. I've introduced a feedback form - these were some of the comments:
"The workshop space is amazing, really friendly and helpful teacher"
" Had a great time learning a new skill with a nice teacher and meeting new people. Can't wait to do another"
" The course was great. I really liked the individual attention and encouragement"

This is what else is on this month. For more information on each class please click through to the calender on the website. If you are interested in booking a place, contact Barley through e-mail or telephone or at the shop.

THURSDAY 19th January, 5.30 - 8pm: Basic book keeping
FRIDAY 20th January, 5.30 - 8pm: Setting up your own business
SATURDAY 21st January, 2 - 4.30pm: Taste of flat felt making
SUNDAY 22nd January, 2 - 4.30pm: KNIT LARGE!
SUNDAY 29th January, 2 - 4.30pm: Refresh your wardrobe - Darn it! Mend it! Customise it!

After the success of the first Mrs Bears clothes swap event, we've decided to do another this month on SATURDAY 28th January, 1 - 4pm. Go through your wardrobe and bring up to 7 unwanted yet quality items to exchange. Visit Mrs Bears website to find out how it all works.
This month ON THE MEZZANINE, Mrs Bear is introducing her Vintage SALE RAIL and Debs of Stitch in time alterations will also be on hand for a free consultation and promoting her service.
Keep an eye out for our 'Refresh your wardrobe' workshops, which we're running to compliment the swaps. Maybe there is something on the rails that doesn't quite fit or you'd like to learn how to alter the item or transform it in some way.

MRS BEAR says "Please try to come to the Swap early, to avoid queuing, the rails will already be full of clothing to swap, as I run a number of clothing swaps, so what's on the rails is constantly changing! Looking forward to seeing you!"

Why don't you (Re) Design Christmas?

"How about swapping some stressful shopping for a bit of creative Make It Yourself this Christmas? " So suggests the resourceful and DIY festive project book 'Why don't you (Re) design Christmas?' by Re Design, on sale at Fabrications, it is jam packed with step by step instructions to help you create beautiful decorations and personalised gifts from materials that would otherwise go to waste by a bunch of really COOL designers (Creation Out Of Landfill - a term I banded about back in early 2000 before the brilliant word Upcycling came along!)

Thanks to Hannah Judge Brown, sustainability manager at the Guardian, I was invited in to share a couple of projects I had included in the Re Design book including how to make 'Plarn' - plastic bag yarn, as featured on my little video (scroll down the blog!) and some Christmas tree decoration ideas, which participants are planning to make for the Guardian's office Christmas tree!

Here I am demonstrating how to make 'Plarn'!

This was a great prelude to a festive decorations workshop I'm planning at Fabrications on Saturday 17th December. I've teamed up with Rebecca Alderman, aka Girl with Beads, who will show you how to make your own Christmas wreath out of upcycled plastic bags, whilst I'm teaching pom pom making and french knitting to create a range of Christmas tree decorations, also out of upcycled plastic bags!

We hope lots of parents and children will attend as the techniques are family friendly and adults accompanying a child come free! Bring along your own plastic bags or use our collection. The session costs £20 and booking is required.

Fabrications wishes you a very happy, scrappy DIY Christmas! X X X X X X

Behind the Seams!

I had a little film made about me recently by Story as part of series of films 'Uncovering East London' for the new Westfield shopping centre (Stratford) website.
I was quite surprised that I had been chosen as my independent cottage industry is the antidote to this global chain of shopping malls. But it's a positive portrayal ,and I'm always for looking for mainstream channels for getting my environmental, social and value of craft messages out there. Hope you enjoy it!

Behind the Seams photos thanks to Story!

Upcycling workshops at Vintage in pictures

As promised here are my snap shots (Not all workshops are covered - more on Fabrications Facebook page) of the upcycling workshop area at Vintage at the Southbank, which I recently co curated with Louise Kamara of the Eco Design Fair.

A big THANKYOU! to everyone involved, the Hemingways and their team, RFH staff, workshop hosts and of course all the lovely participants who made things with us, brought our wares, and looked so fabulous! It was a really enjoyable weekend.

My fascinator making from vintage silk scarves went down well, I even had a hen party on the Saturday! So great to see people wearing their creations around the Royal Festival Hall.

I shared my workshop station with Mollie Makes, who had 2 different workshops on offer. Eirlys Penn aka Scrapiana made strawberry pin cushions, read her highlights of the upcycled workshops on her Blog. On the Sunday Sara Sinaguglia taught crochet and then how to make an apple cosy.

Ahoy there! Seaside Sisters had sunny side offerings - making flower brooches and specially designed 'Vintage 2011' festival of Britain style pennants. you can see some of the creations from the weekend on their blog.

Meanwhile in the 'Refresh your wardrobe' station. Jessica Aldred passed on her 'stitchy goodness' in the form of lovely motifs to customise and breathe new life into an old garment or accessory. Read Jessica's experience on her blog!

Lisa of U Old Bag demonstrates how to make yarn from an old t-shirt and then how to crochet fashion accessories from it.

In the 'Fashion Rework' area, Fashion Antidote ran their 'Chop + Change' workshop where you could transform a couple of shirts and a t-shirt into a skirt, whilst TRAID revamped old woollens and taught finger knitting.

Out of the Dark kindly let us use their upcycled vintage furniture to display our wares in alongside the workshops. Their pieces created the perfect setting for the space.

Good work team! I look forward to working with you all again at another time or place!

Vintage at the Southbank

This year Wayne and Gerradine Hemingway's Vintage festival is at the Southbank, London.

I am co curating the Upcycling Workshop area (located inside the Royal Festival Hall) alongside the lovely Louise Kamara, organiser of the Eco Design Fair.

There will be 6 main workshop stations. Hosts will be rotating 2 1/2 hr classes 12 - 5.30pm and also selling their handmade wares, vintage clothing, accessories and haberdashery, kits, magazines and published books throughout the day.
You can book in at the workshop of your choice on arrival at 12 noon or just drop in if there's space! Here's a sneak preview of what we've got planned....

Sewing machines at the ready....get 'Reworking Fashion' or 'Chop + Change' with Fashion Antidote and revamp old woollens with TRAID. Horrockses will show you how to transform their printed bed linen into a vintage inspired dress. In celebration of the current Festival of Britain exhibition and celebrations at the Southbank, The Seaside Sisters have developed a special FOB inspired pennant making session. On the 'Refresh your Wardrobe' station discover styling and customising tips from Kustom Box, whilst author Jessica Alden from the Royal School of Needlework will demonstrate beautiful embellishment techniques.

Want to do a bit of DIY? Join Max McCurdo from Reestore who will be creating Bird boxes out of circuitry and hardware. Meanwhile U Old Bag (great business name!) will demonstrate how to make yarn out of an old t-shirt and then how to crochet it into simple accessories.
Last but not least I am sharing a station with the new craft magazine Molly Makes who will be making items from recent issues including strawberry pin cushions and crocheted apple protectors, whilst I'm doing my 'Create a fabulous fascinator' out of vintage silk scarves and haberdashery. Fun fun fun...hope to see you there!

No more boring necklines!

Here's what some of the participants made during my 'Upcycled textile necklaces' at The Hatton Garden Festival, part of the London Jewellery Week recently. Didn't they do well?

I love how everyone collages and interprets the materials I provide for a workshop so differently! Freely reflecting their personality and creativity. I also love how everyone enjoys sharing their making experiences and are really proud of what they create.

Make with Me

Calling all crafters, non crafters willing to have a go and social people! Help raise money for Mencap's wonderful work with people living with disabilities by Making and Baking things!

Mencap's latest newly launched campaign (just yesterday!) is 'Make with Me & 'Bake with Me'. The Make with Me website contains lots of ideas and inspiration to get crafty, host a fund raising crafty party or get together as well as free seasonal recipe and project cards that you can download.

I am very proud to let you know that I have designed one of these project cards for Mencap. I hope you enjoy making my 'United Gingerbread People Bunting' and using it to decorate a crafty party for Mencap. You will find the pattern template and step by step instructions on the Make with Me website.

The Make A Me appeal challenges everyone to make a 'Me', a personalised home made or baked creation, to show your support for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. It's easy to take part: get inspired, Make a Me, and upload it into the ME gallery at Make with Me to raise awareness and much needed funds, for national disability week 20 - 26 June. Mencap need as many people as possible to hand make or bake a 'Me' and show their support.

We are on the move.......

Come and wave us goodbye this Saturday as we embark on an exciting journey of renovation and rejuvenation here at Fabrications. On Monday building works commence to create an extension (Or 'Imaginerium') on the back of the shop. It's been 3 years in the planning, and I am excited that the show is on the road - a new Eco classroom space for even more workshops, events and collaborations.

I've moved out my workshop downstairs, which has become spacious echoing chambers now all my stuff is out!

Getting my floor peddled loom out was a challenge! We had to take off the legs and then we walked it out of the building. It has now been re assembled and installed into Fabrications temporary new home at 16 Broadway Market. We will be there for 4 months.

Katherine May has created a fantastic appliqued banner for us, which will go on display over our shop window, so you know where to find us during the build.
I will also be posting up the design and progress reports on the blog and Fabrications FB page, so please follow our news virtually!

* We would welcome any suggestions for what you'd like to experience in the new space, or perhaps you may have a workshop, event or exhibition you'd like to host.

* Any comments or feedback on what we've already done and how we could do it better would be much appreciated!