Dyes with a Heart

Alison Daykin led a Dyeing workshop for 16 of our guild members. We all had a great day working with Alison's New range of Natural Pure Tictoria powdered dyes. They are very easy to use and give a lovely range of colours. We each went home with yarn samples made up into a comprehensive shade card showing the full range of colours Alison has on offer.

The only preparation we had to do was mordent our fibres the day before. Alison supplied everything else. We had great fun modifying the dyed yarns with iron water and copper warter with some surprising results.

Two New Banners

The Guild has two new banners!

Our old guild sign was stolen along with all our exhibition stuff, all the guild members beautiful works, a spinning wheel, wheel chair and the camper van it was all packed into ready for the Broomfield show last year 2006. The police think the van was stolen to order. But that's all past now and we have moved on and all our guild members have worked hard to replace the items we lost that day and our bright new PVC banners hang well at all the events the guild attends.

Broomfiield Open Day

Sunday 10th June - Broomfield Hall Open Day
This is a great day out for all the family and it proved to be a busy one for Maxine and Anne.

The open day was well attended, the weather was kind to us and the event was busy right up to closing time.

We had queues of children who were fascinated with our spinning wheels and eager to try their hands at spinning. Younger ones just had a go at treadling the wheel. But the older boys and girls were keen to spin a length of yarn.

Maxine and I must have been the most photographed demonstrators of the day, as proud parents took snaps of their little ones spinning with us.

In the pen area next to our stand was the sheep shearing demonstration so the children could follow the process through from fleece to finished product.

Making Silk Bowls

9th June 2007 - Guild Saturday workshop at Hazelwood village hall.
Jean Groom (our chairman) demonstrated how to make silk bowls using silk caps and throwsters silk waste. Layers of silk fibres were paste onto a balloon using a paint brush and PVA glue (watered down). You build up the layers and trap things between them. For example, skeleton leaves or interesting textured fibres. You leave the glued fibres to dry completely before removing from the balloon. The result is a beautiful delicate silk bowl.
A tip from Mary Hawkins, don't use a balloon with print on it. This comes off onto the silk. Mary's bowl now has the word England (in reverse) and the George Cross on the inside of her bowl.

Jean demonstrating the technique, Anne getting all stuck-up and silk-cap balloons drying out in the sun. Here is the finished result of my bowl from that days workshop. It's a project I will try again. And, here is my other half wearing a 'silk cap'..........well what can I say.

Woolfest 2006

As promised here are photographs of last years woolfest exhibition. Just to give you an idea of what it's all about, lets start with the live stock. Angora goats, Gotland sheep, Leicester Longwool and many more.

The exhibition had a large and interesting variety of stands with all types of textile crafts represented. Last year there was a strong emphasis on felt making with exibits from small pots to a full sized Yurt and demonstrations on how to make Nuno felt.

There were lots of beautiful natural fibres to choose from as well as a wide range of exciting modern yarns. There were dyes, books and equipment in abundance, just about everything you could possibly want for any textile project. Looking forward to Woolfest 2007!

Shows & Events

Broomfield Open Day - Sunday 10th June 2007 held at Broomfield Hall, Morley, Ilkeston, Derbyshire. Open to the public from 11am to 5pm. The Derbyshire Guild of Weavers Spinners & Dyers will be demonstrating there. It's a great day out for all the family, lots for the kids to see and do. Both educational and fun events, animals, craft stalls, B.B.Q. and more!

Derbyshire County Show - Sunday 24th June 2007 held at the Showground, Elvaston, Derbyshire. Open to the public from 10am to 5pm. Members of The Derbyshire Guild of Weavers Spinners & Dyers will be there demonstrating their crafts to the public.

Woolfest 2007 - Friday 29th & Saturday 30th June. Held at the Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre, Cockermouth, Cumbria. Open to the public 10am to 5pm. Tickets £5 each per day. Accompanied Children free. This is a great two day exhibition. If you are into textiles of any kind you will enjoy this. Most of the Derbyshire Guild will be going along. I will post photographs of the 2006 Woolfest so that you can get the flavour of what it's all about.

The Wool Experience - Saturday 7th July 2007 held at Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough, Buxton, Derbyshire. Open to the public from 10am. Demonstrations of Sheep Shearing, Spinning, Weaving, Felt Making, KNitting, Dyeing and other crafts. Crafts on sale and produce from the mini farmers market. Entrance fee £1 for adults 50p for children.

Inspireation 21 - 7th to 22nd July 2007 Exhibition of creative textiles and mixed media held at the Hardwick Park Visitors Centre, Doe Lea, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Open daily from 11am to4pm.

Masham Sheep Fair - 29th & 30th September 2007 held at Masham Town Hall. They are running a Handspun Wool Competition, entries for this must be in by 8th September. Categories are Spinning, Dyeing, Weaving, Knitting or Crochat, Felt making and Sundry (any other item using handspun yarns).

Knitting & Stitching Show - 22nd to 25th November 2007 at Harrogate