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: 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.

New Year's Revolutions!

Revolution = A dramatic and wide reaching change in conditions, attitudes or operation (Oxford Dictionary)

It’s the start of a new year again, many of us will have made resolutions, usually to give something up like smoking! Or to loose something like some weight! Or to do more of something like spending quality time with family and friends. How about directing that positive energy into making the world a better and fairer place for everyone?  Quite a tall order you may think - where would you begin?

“If you think you are too small to make a difference try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito” - African Proverb

As a designer maker I have held the belief that craft and design has an amazing potential in creating social and environmental change. It was a real inspiration to meet the like minded Sarah Corbett, founder of the Craftivist Collective 3 years ago and I have subsequently been participating in and supporting a number of the Craftivist Collective’s projects in exposing and tackling injustice and poverty through provocative, non-violent action.

As your 2013 resolution, I would love all you fellow crafters to get involved in the Craftivist Collective’s current project #iamapiece in conjunction with Save the Children’s ‘Race against hunger campaign’.

Sarah Corbett says: "Life is like a puzzle, it all seems a mess but when it gets finished it looks brilliant. There are some amazing small-scale successful projects happening all over the world that are tackling hunger and showing that the world doesn’t have to have malnourished children whose potential is stunted. There is no one solution to the problem of injustice but we can all play a part in a movement for change. The G8 coming back to the UK is too big an opportunity to miss so why not have your New Year’s Resolution to be part of eradicating hunger through your love of craft? That would be a pretty cool resolution right?!”

How can you get involved? You can stitch messages onto material jigsaw pieces which will be put together to make a HUGE creative, crafty installation alternative to a petition that Save the Children will show off to our Government, the public and World Leaders showing that hundreds, even thousands of us, want, with world leaders, to be a part of the solution to hunger, not the problem. You can also give a jigsaw piece to your local MP to remind them to be a part of the solution too or at least tell them about the piece you made for the installation. If you have never approached your local MP in this way before Fran Swaine has written a really good post on her Skulls and Ponies blog about how easy and useful it was to approach her local MP Caroline Lucas. You can also host your own ‘stitch-in’ event and get others inspired and involved in the project , sign the Save the Children petition here, and spread the word online through Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc using the hashtag #imapiece. The deadline to receive the jigsaw pieces is 28 February, so let's get stitching!

As with all their projects, the Craftivist Collective have created really excellent tools to help and support you to get involved! Download the jigsaw piece pattern and instructions here, see some of the stitched jigsaw pieces created by fellow crafters here and a collection of Vlogs, posts and online streaming about #imapiece here

“What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is in the end of little consequence; the only consequence is what we do.” John Ruskin

MARCH - workshops

This month's workshops focus on different hand sewing methods. I'm really excited about this month's activities as we are introducing some new classes and textile teachers to Fabrications fold!
Starting with this Sunday 4th March, Katherine May fresh from her popular classes at the V+ A this week is running a quilting class. For those of you unfamiliar with the technique, quilting is the decorative sewing through of your patchwork fabric or whole cloth and wadding to create designs and texture. Katherine wanted to do a class that focuses on quilting as she found that it tended to get rushed at the end of her patchwork classes as students get engrossed in the patchwork part. She also wanted to highlight historical and contemporary examples and show the variety of applications for the technique.


On Saturday 17th March, local textile artist Jessie Chorley is running her full day special workshop 'embroidered memory books and pages'. Once you've booked on, Jessie will send you a materials list and encourages you to bring along special fabrics and mementos so you create something truly unique to you. Before you get going with learning the embroidery and applique methods that Jessie uses, she will talk about the inspiration behind her own narrative textile works and take you on a visit to her shop on nearby Columbia Road. The full day will give the space to really get into the making process.


On Sunday 18th March, Sarah Corbett will be running her Craftivism workshop - making mini protest banners. For regular followers of my blog, I have written about a number of Craftivist projects that Sarah has initiated. Sarah set up the Craftivist Collective and is seen as one of the leading spokespeople for the global craftivist movement. During the workshop she will talk about how the movement started and the benefits of using craft as a beautiful, non threatening and thought provoking method to activism. It will also be very creative and hands on, where you will learn how to interpret design and text into cross stitch or embroidery and create your very own mini protest banner, which hopefully you will want to hang out in the street after the workshop as other craftivists do!

On Sunday 25th March, I will be running an introduction to weaving workshop. During the class I explain how to create your 'warp' and 'weft' looking at colour, design and material choices. I will show 3 different weaving techniques - flat board weaving, a technique I developed for my woven upcycled inner tubes, 'tube matting and cushions'. Peg loom weaving on wool-n-dance peg looms. Both these methods are very low tech and a quick method to create fabric. Then there will be opportunity to have a go on my antique foot peddled loom. - a slower process but more intricate. You will create a series of samples to take away.

NEW workshop programme

Fabrications is proud to announce new dates for our Sunday afternoon (2 - 4.30pm) classes for January - March. Firm favorites are back but we are also very excited about introducing some different sessions and also a couple of new teachers to the fold! For further details and information on how to book please visit the workshop and calender section of our website.

Katherine May's 'Textile Tokens' workshop draws inspiration from her favorite
exhibitions 'Quilts' at the V+ A and 'Threads of Feeling' at the foundling Museum

January Dates:
Sunday 16th: Beginners Knitting with Barley Massey, learn the basics and get started.
Sunday 23rd: Taste of Patchwork with Katherine May, create a mini quilt sample 'block' step by step from choosing fabrics to edging and finishing.
Sunday 30th: Beginners Crochet with Ayda Anlagan, how to hold the hook and yarn to create single, double and treble chain stitches.

Barley Massey 'Darn it!' workshop. Image taken by Clara Vuletich at Bricolage's
pop up shop in Brixton market, December 2009

February Dates:
Sunday 6th: Textile Tokens with Katherine May, make a personal fabric keep sake to give to someone special from embroidery stitches and patchwork.
Sunday 13th: Refresh your Wardrobe with Barley Massey, give your old garments a new look through darning, patching + customising.
Sunday 20th: DIY Couture - make your own cloak with DIY couture author Rosie Martin.
Sunday 27th: Beginners Knitting with Barley Massey, learn the basics and get started. If you attended the beginners knitting on the 16th January, then you can explore more!

This could be you! Images from Rosie Martin's 'DIY Couture' Make a cloak book, which is included with Rosie's session

March Dates:
Sunday 6th: Socks + Spinning with Sue Russell. From top to toe and step by step through the process.
Sunday 13th: Unravelling Knitting Patterns with Lisa Margreet. Aimed at beginners get confident reading patterns, increasing + decreasing and assembling + finishing techniques.

Hope to see you, meet you, teach you!

Stitch + Tell

Needles and threads at the ready? I've got a double (trouble!) workshop planned this weekend at 2 cracking East London locations...

Stitch doctor Barley Massey will be on hand to assist you in leaving behind a secret, a memory, a piece of emotional baggage (happy or sad) or simply your initials marking the moment by stitching onto hexagon patchwork pieces.
Your creativity and contribution will form flowers or 'rosettes' which will be added to one of the walls of the 'Handmade Tales' exhibition, creating a patchwork pattern known as 'grandmother's garden'.

A drop in session aimed at all ages and abilities. There will be pre prepared hexagon patches from Barley's stash of pre loved + upcycled textiles and colourful threads and demonstrations of simple but effective decorative stitches or just go free styling!

Where can you Stitch + Tell?

Saturday 27th November, 12 - 5pm - The Women's Library.

Sunday 28th November, 12 - 6pm - BUST Christmas Craftacular - Shop, Craft, Dance and Make Merry!
I'm really excited as my fellow crafting friends will also be there - DIY Couture, Make and Do with Perri, Prick your Finger + Tatty Devine! Yeh!!

I've got my very own Tweet Towel!!

Last week I received this embroidered personalised tea towel or 'Tweet Towel', We are what we do's latest awareness enterprise, just in time for Christmas! By logging onto their website you can preserve your tweets for ever on a tea towel or send a message via a tea towel!! How great is that? washing up has just got really trendy!
As with all of We are what we do's projects all profits go into their charitable foundation. At the moment they are funding their 'digital inclusion project' with the aim of getting generations spending more time together, talking more and sharing more.

To see mine and 12foot6 crocheted characters and set animated film of the making of the tweet towels in the East London 'Factory' visit this link NOW! Let me know what you think?

New Year's Revolutions

There is a new generation of women (and men!) that are reclaiming lost craft skills in order to raise awareness on global injustices and environmental issues and at the same time are also creating community.

One such movement that is growing in popularity is 'Craftivism'.

Simply - Activism + Craft = Craftivism

I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah Corbett last summer at Fabrications. She has set up the Craftivist Collective. Shortly after meeting Sarah I received a 'Mini Protest Banner Kit' through the post. This unexpected delivery really made my day! The Craftivist Collective's approach evokes a modern day version of the Suffrage banners. The Women's library has one of largest collections in the UK.

Inside the kit, you get everything you need to create your own mini protest banner - cross stitch fabric, embroidery silks, embroidery needle, instructions/type face/quotes to help you sew your thought provoking message. Once you've stitched your message you attach it to a pre eyeletted piece of fabric. The kit also contains zip ties so you can attach your mini banner to railings in a public place and hopefully make people stop, read and think!

Sadly however my new year's revolution message of 'Create Change' only lasted 2 days on my location of choice - a barrier used to contain our Saturday market on Broadway Market, with a 'Do not Obstruct' sign, which I thought was in keeping.
I wonder who took down my mini protest banner? and why?

The Craftivist Collective meet up once a month on a Thursday evening in the Royal Festival Hall. Check out their website to join the group, receive their newsletter. Happy subversive stitching!

Beside Textile Project

'A Journey towards mental wellbeing and wholeness'

Mental Health action week 12 - 18th April

Please visit the Ideas Store this month to see some fantastic textile pieces from a project I am very proud to have been a part of. I was approached by Beside last year to facilitate a collaborative textile banner with their members.

Beside is a Tower Hamlets based charity working with people who have recurrent or long term mental health difficulties. Their aim is to enable their members to rediscover their inner resources and develop strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing

After a series of 'taster' sessions in crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, feltmaking, knitting, rosette making, weave, we explored the theme of the project through drawing and debating! The discussion around ideas of 'wellbeing' was very insightful and provocative and triggered

lots of thoughts and approaches for the banner.

Once a foundation design was settled upon, each week the piece has evolved into a visualy and conceptualy strong statement as well as a great display of feltmaking and embroidery skills.

Some of you may have seen the group adding the last touches to the piece for the last month at Fabrications on a Wednesday afternoon. So if you're in Whitechapel please call by the library and shop for some ideas around mental health.

WORKSHOPS - March, April + May

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT Come and join Barley Massey and Sue Russell at The Barbican on Saturday 7th March

11 - 12.30pm Make felt juggling balls

3 - 4.30pm Learn to weave on simple bamboo frames

£5 per workshop for further info and bookings visit www.barbican.org.uk/different

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY Incase you missed Barley and Sue on the Saturday! Remember and celebrate women's achievements at The Old Town Hall, Stratford E15 4BQ on Sunday 8th March 2 - 6pm There will be lots of FREE activities.

We will be Creating rosettes, scarves, sashes in the colours of Green (Hope), White (Purity) + Violet (Dignity) These colours were also linked with the Suffrage movement (Give Women Vote)

WORKSHOPS AT FABRICATIONS: (£20 / £15 conc per session, includes a kit) * * BOOKING REQUIRED * *

BEGINNERS KNITTING

Sunday 15th + 29th March, 2 - 4.30pm

Getting started with Barley Massey - Learn how to Cast On, Knit + Pearl Stitch, introducing a new colour and of course casting off!

INTERMEDIATE + ADVANCED KNITTING

Sunday 5th April, 2 - 4.30pm

This classes led by Rachael Matthews is tailored to what YOU want to learn! She will also incorporate info on how to read knitting patterns, shaping, increasing + decreasing, creating your own patterns, textures, 3d knitting as well as general support, advice and tips. You will need to know the basics (casting on + off, Knit + pearl) in order to make the most of this session.

CROCHET (Beginners + Improvers)
Sunday 19th April, 2 - 4.30pm

Get started, refresh or improve your techniques. Learn to crochet in rows, circular or 3d objects. All levels of crocheters are welcome. Rachael Matthews' straightforward, fun and freestyle approach will get you started
and inspired.

BEGINNERS KNITTING
Sunday 26th April, 2 - 4.30pm

Getting started with Barley Massey - Learn how to Cast On, Knit + Pearl Stitch, introducing a new colour and of course casting off!

BIG KNITTING (intermediate+)
Sunday 3rd May, 2 - 4.30pm

Leave Fabrications with your very own designer accessory
(this could be a scarf or wrap - your choice!)
This creative session will be led by Barley Massey and focusses on working on GIANT knitting needles, GIANT french knitting stools
and yes GIANT circular needles.
There will be lots of interesting chunky yarns, tassles, corsage making tool etc to design and create with.

INTERMEDIATE + ADVANCED KNITTING (best foot forward)
Sunday 10th May, 2 - 4.30pm

There has been a lot of interest expressed in learning to knit socks + gloves. If this interest is still around then this could be a special session that focusses on working on 4 needles to create leg warmers, socks,
gloves or other 3d knitted objects (with Rachael Matthews)

HAND EMBROIDERY, EMBELLISHING + CUSTOMISING
Sunday 17th May, 2 - 4.30pm

Learn simple hand sewing techniques, which can be used for repairs, alterations and decoratively. I am open to ideas for the session - I can demonstrate different embroidery stitches, cross stitching + tapestry, applique, sequining, cut work.
Applied to garments or making pictures and gifts.

CROCHET (Beginners + Improvers)
Sunday 24th May, 2 - 4.30pm

Get started, refresh or improve your techniques. Learn to crochet in rows, circular or 3d objects. All levels of crocheters are welcome. Rachael Matthews' straightforward, fun and freestyle approach will get you started
and inspired.

BEGINNERS KNITTING
Sunday 31st May, 2 - 4.30pm

Getting started with Barley Massey - Learn how to Cast On, Knit + Pearl Stitch, introducing a new colour and of course casting off!