TAWE GUILD LUNCH approx £16
Saturday 20th December 12 noon
Remo's
Aberavon Beach Front
Port Talbot
See you there, members don't forget to pick up your ' Christmas Box' !!!!!
Friday 19 December 2008
Sunday 2 November 2008
Calendar for 2009
Hear ye! Hear ye!
The following Saturday workshops are planned for 2009
November 22nd 2008
Knotty Knick Knacks with Tony Colbourn from Mumbles Navy Days fame!
December 2008
Christmas lunch
January 24th 2009
Plying techniques with Liz Day from the Brecon Guild
February 28th 2009
Warping with Norma Thomas
March 28th 2009
Felt Jewellry with Lynda Cash
Places are limited so book and pay early to confrim your place
April 25th 2009
A day out at Wonderwool Wales
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
2 - 5 May 2009 at Aberdulais Falls
May 23 - 25 2009
Navy Days at Mumbles, general spin on the Saturday at the event
June 27th 2009
Fimo buttons with Chris and Debbs
July 25th 2009
Spin on the beach at Aberavon
August 10 - 15 2009
Exhibition at the Cross
September
Owain Glydwr Festival
September 26 OR Oct 3rd 2009
Llanidloes trip to the All Wales event
At the AGM it was decided to hold our AGM in early September. Date to be decided
The following Saturday workshops are planned for 2009
November 22nd 2008
Knotty Knick Knacks with Tony Colbourn from Mumbles Navy Days fame!
December 2008
Christmas lunch
January 24th 2009
Plying techniques with Liz Day from the Brecon Guild
February 28th 2009
Warping with Norma Thomas
March 28th 2009
Felt Jewellry with Lynda Cash
Places are limited so book and pay early to confrim your place
April 25th 2009
A day out at Wonderwool Wales
ANNUAL EXHIBITION
2 - 5 May 2009 at Aberdulais Falls
May 23 - 25 2009
Navy Days at Mumbles, general spin on the Saturday at the event
June 27th 2009
Fimo buttons with Chris and Debbs
July 25th 2009
Spin on the beach at Aberavon
August 10 - 15 2009
Exhibition at the Cross
September
Owain Glydwr Festival
September 26 OR Oct 3rd 2009
Llanidloes trip to the All Wales event
At the AGM it was decided to hold our AGM in early September. Date to be decided
Sunday 19 October 2008
Sponsored spin
We were all so busy spinning that we did not take photos! Thanks Gill for these. Thank you to our validators, Paul Davies from Morriston Hospital and Clive Giles (above) from Pontardawe.
We managed to raise £300 in sponsorship - a great boost for the Guild. Thank you to everyone who came and supoorted the event at the Swansea Grand Theatre.
Friday 17 October 2008
Newsflash From the Assn W,S & Ds.
On behalf of the Association I would be grateful f you would bring
your members attention to the forthcoming Spring Workshops 2009, an
advert for which will appear in the December issue of the Journal.
Please send any queries direct to Margaret Parker at
convenor@wsdworkshops.org.uk.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Mary Carbert
Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
For a number of years the Association has run residential spring workshops. On a trial basis in 2009 these are being offered on an online basis. The Online Guild has been conducting workshops like this for over 6 years and is drawing on its resources and expertise to present workshops in this new manner.
All students are welcome whether members of a Guild or not and whatever their level of expertise. Access and familiarity with email and the internet is essential. Students will have to provide all their own materials but there will be no other charge.
Three parallel workshops will be offered
- Gutter Dyeing with Jane Deane
- Peruvian Pickup with Sylvia Glenister
- Spinning Designer Yarns with Tricia Weatherston and Barbara Scott
each running from Thursday 16 April to Thursday 30 April.
At the start of the period each tutor will upload the first lesson via a new website, www.wsdworkshops.org.uk. Students may then download and print off the material in order to work at their own pace. They are welcome to email comments and queries to the tutor via this website and replies will be sent in a similar manner. Photos of work in progress and completed items can similarly be uploaded. As the workshop progresses further lessons will be uploaded by the tutors.
Whilst the Online Guild has run workshops like this very successfully for its own members, offering them on an open basis is very much a trial both in terms of the number of possible students and technical and other issues involved. Please be understanding if things do not run as smoothly as everyone hopes they will. In particular all posts will be moderated before publication and if volumes become high some selection process may be invoked.
It is not expected that any specialist equipment or materials will be required. All should be available from your “stash” or easily obtainable in your locality. Kit lists will appear approximately 2 weeks before the workshops.
Further detailed instruction regarding the use of emails and photos will be published on the website approximately 2 weeks before the start of the workshops.
Any immediate queries please contact Margaret Parker on convenor@wsdworkshops.org.uk
Wednesday 24 September 2008
Sponsored spin Saturday 27th Sept
The Grand Swansea Tawe Guild Exhibition Opened in Style last night -pop in for a look see and to tempt you in for Saturday's Sponsored Spin-
This is the fibre we will be spinning !!
Wool Sliver
Bluefaced Leicester Wool Sliver
Wool micron 26
Average fibre Length 90mm
Sliver weight 25gms per metre
Buy back your yarn to keep at £7.50/500g, then any left over singles skeins will be plyed up and made into an item for future fund-raising! Thanks Andy at www.bluefaced.com for a great price to support our guild efforts!
Come on, bring your wheels we start at 9.30am
In the White room at the Grand Swansea Art Wing
to spin our skeins up!!! Hopefully our Guild will be up in "lights" by then too.
You can bring your wheels beforehand,
or collect fluffy BFL on Friday and spin at home on your honour!Bring your sponsor forms and yarn singles back by Saturday 27th 6pm.
Extra info ring Nell or Debb 01639 813472
Thursday 18 September 2008
Saturday 6 September 2008
Newsflash From the Assn W,S & Ds.
Please remind your members that bookings can be sent anytime but allocation of places will not take place untill the end of January 2009.
Many thanks.
Judith Penneck
Sunday 31 August 2008
Gill is nowww broadband enabled!!!!
Welcome Gill, hopefully we will have the treasurer writing reports online very soon!
Go Gill ,
Debb
Go Gill ,
Debb
Thursday 28 August 2008
Taster Day at the Cross
Our taster day is Tuesday 2nd September, 10.00 - 16.00 and 18.30 - 20.30. If any of the team can come along and support, we need you there. We have a few interested people that we have met on our travels over the summer (??)
Sadly, our blue haven has fallen off its perch, literally, in the high winds at Brecon. It did do the rounds though..
See you all on Tuesday
Nell
Sadly, our blue haven has fallen off its perch, literally, in the high winds at Brecon. It did do the rounds though..
See you all on Tuesday
Nell
Monday 11 August 2008
Tawe Guild Exhibition
What an opening night! The Mayor and Mrs Malcolm Gunther, kindly opened our exhibition tonight and showed great interest in our skills and work. Marjorie even gave the Mayor a spinning lesson!
Thank you Debb for organising us all - Eirean, Clare, Marjorie, Isabel, Gill and Nell - and for the wonderful nibbles. We must also thank Michael, James and Hannah for being SO helpful and polite to all our guests.
Yes, we even managed to persuade Norma to attend and to recieve some flowers to say such a huge thank you from us all, for all her dedication to the Guild. We would not be able to put on such a wonderful exhibition without her teaching and sharing of her boundless knowledge.
The "A" team!
Tuesday 29 July 2008
Cath Bowen
The terrible news about Ben and Cath's deaths affected all who knew them. Cath was member of the Guild since 2007, she attended the evening classes with her mum, Ray.
Our thoughts and prayers go to both families.
A terrible tragedy.....
Nell
Our thoughts and prayers go to both families.
A terrible tragedy.....
Nell
Friday 25 July 2008
Important paperwork!!!!!
Tawe Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
Exhibition submissions
Each piece of work MUST be labelled with the following:
1.Exhibitor’s name
2.EITHER -
NFS not for sale
FSG for sale 100% to the Guild
FSM For sale 10% to the Guild
3.Price
4.Information about the work ie 100% hand spun Jacob’s fleece,
modular knit, rainbow dyed
5.All items now must have washing instructions – Trading Standards
6.All items now must have a list of contents ie 100% Suffolk fleece – Trading Standards
I’ll bring some tags ready for all to use so that ALL work is labelled.
Thanks Nell
Monday 21 July 2008
Tawe Guild Newsletter, July 2008
It’s the summer holidays again. Or is it?? Well the sun shone on those of us who braved the seaweed and jellyfish and went for the full immersion at Oxwich! What a lovely day that was.
We have had a lovely thank you letter from the organisers of the Carer’s Day in Aberavon. Our efforts were greatly appreciated. The spinning day at the Neath Civic Centre generated a tremendous interest in what we are trying to do as a Guild and we have been asked to exhibit at Aberddulais Falls as a result. The Community Farm in Swansea have also benefited from our skills and we hope to build on this community link to reach others interested in learning to spin or weave.
We have a very full itinerary over the next few months and I have listed the events below.
26 July 08 – Tawe Guild workshop. Please bring with you knitting needles and equivalent yarn. You will also need the same gauge yarn but in a variety of colours. Ie size 9’s or 10’s for double knit. Pencil and paper, stitch holders, rubber bands. Clare will be demonstrating her Aztec pouch technique. Isabel is going to show us how to do provisional cast ons and Eirean will demonstrate domino knitting. This would also be an ideal time to leave your exhibition goodies at the Cross!
11 Р20 August 08 РStart of the Guild Exhibition at the Cross. Get dressed in your posh frocks ladies, the Mayor and Mrs Malcolm Gunter, will be opening the exhibition at 19.00. All donations for the wine and canap̩s gratefully received. Please co-ordinate with Nell. All exhibition pieces must be accompanied by the correct paperwork which will be available on 26 July. Debbs has asked if as many silk scarves from the workshop can be brought in as they looked absolutely stunning.
23 – 25 August 08 – Brecon Mountain Centre demonstrating in our new blue haven of yarn. I will do Saturday and Monday – being the keeper of the gazebo – and will set up and take down on those days. Debbs will there on Sunday. Bring your wheels and enjoy spinning in the open air. We always have a good time there!
23 – 25 August 08. As a result of spinning in the Neath Civic Centre, we have been asked to provide an exhibition at Aberddulais Falls (National Trust) If members would rather go there to demonstrate, then let myself or Debbs know. I will demonstrate on the Sunday and Debbs will set up and take down on the Monday.
2 September 08 - Taster day on Tuesday between 10.00 – 20.30. This is our opportunity to attract new members and keep the Guild vibrant.
9 September 08 – Classes begin again YIPPEE!!
20 September 08 – Owain Glyndwr Festival at the Ancient Briton pub. Costumes desirable – I am dreading this bit – me and fluffy bits do not go together!!
22 September – 4 October 08 Exhibition at the Swansea Grand Theatre. If everything has been labelled for the Cross, no need to panic, the same paperwork will do for the Grand. All exhibition pieces to Nell by the end of August please. 27 September is the sponsored spinathon! We shall have to spin our giblets out to reach 5 miles, but WE CAN DO IT!! Several local Magistrates and Health Service Managers have offered to adjudicate on the day to satisfy our sponsors.
25 October - AGM
New calendars are here – Isabel will be taking orders!
Tuesday working parties. The Guild needs you to make items for sale to raise money to pay for the rent. It has been suggested that Tuesdays across the summer could be utilised for this purpose. We need items that cost little to make but can also sold for between £2.50 and £10. 10% of all sales goes into the Guild funds. Every little helps or so the saying goes! Bring in your odds and ends which you think could be used by the Guild, to the Saturday workshop on the 27th July. Some ideas: Christmas card toppers, fabric bags, ball ends of interesting yarns and fabric lengths
Everyone is expected to come and “do their bit” on Saturday 27th September at the sponsored spin. I shall be distributing sponsor forms shortly. If we can raise a decent sum of money, this will affect everyone’s financial contribution to the Guild next year, possibly leading to a reduction in the class fees. This all depends on every Guild member, to support this event, and the others over the summer. We have achieved so much as a Guild: we have learned so many new skills, we are in the community promoting the aims of the Guild, we have generated so much interest in what we do, we have encouraged new membership and we have made some great friends. WE ARE WORTH IT!!
I look forward to seeing you all.
Nell
01792 830106 mobile 07977 538086Thursday 10 July 2008
What do we do at the seaside!
Hi Debb et al
Attached are some photos taken today at the "end of term paddle"at Oxwich Bay .Perhaps you would like to put some on the blog to show the super day we had. Weather perfect, food scrummy, sea warm etc. Throughly enjoyed by the stalwart five who went.
Isabel
Friday 27 June 2008
End of Term - Oxwich Bay!!!!!
Next Tuesday 1st July!!!
Oxwich Bay Hotel- meet at 12(noon), choose your own bar meal etc.
Chance to catch up, gossip etc.Hopefully Liz will make it!!
Then we go for a paddle! Oh and maybe coffee and cake to warm up again!!
Please RiNG Isabel if you're coming, by Monday night,as we need to book table space if there are lots of us!
Isabel 01792 232349.
love to you all
Debb
Oxwich Bay Hotel- meet at 12(noon), choose your own bar meal etc.
Chance to catch up, gossip etc.Hopefully Liz will make it!!
Then we go for a paddle! Oh and maybe coffee and cake to warm up again!!
Please RiNG Isabel if you're coming, by Monday night,as we need to book table space if there are lots of us!
Isabel 01792 232349.
love to you all
Debb
Wednesday 18 June 2008
Jun 28th Weaving without a loom - on a ring box card or pegs
Weekend Workshop 28th June, at the Cross, 10am til 4pm,
a few places still available let Nell know you're coming
or email taweguild@gmail.com.
Can't do the whole day then consider just doing half!!
You know you're worth it!
a few places still available let Nell know you're coming
or email taweguild@gmail.com.
Can't do the whole day then consider just doing half!!
You know you're worth it!
Welcome welcome welcome
Visitors to last nights class included Gwen and her mum Bev, we met at the Carer's Day and young Gwen is showing a remarkable talent and enthusiasm for spinning!! Hope they join us for the September Classes.
And Ann Jordon came along too, you may have seen part of the work for for her fine arts degree if you remember
this from Swansea 2004.
Ann is now studying for her masters degree and would like to spin as part of her studies.
Ann is taking part in the MA show Contemporary Dialogues
on 27th June. Ann invites all Tawe Guild who are interested.
And Ann Jordon came along too, you may have seen part of the work for for her fine arts degree if you remember
this from Swansea 2004.Ann is now studying for her masters degree and would like to spin as part of her studies.
Ann is taking part in the MA show Contemporary Dialogues
on 27th June. Ann invites all Tawe Guild who are interested.
Saturday 14 June 2008
Postings from our TaweGuild email!
Good morning,
I came across the details of the Tawe Guild from the website of the Association of Guilds of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers and I wondered whether your members would be interested in purchasing any raw Alpaca fibre for spinning.
We are a family run alpaca farm, based on the ridge of the Usk and Wye valleys in South Wales. We have a lovely herd of about 30 quality alpacas, who produce an annual crop of wonderful fibre that some of your members may be interested in. Glenda spins herself, but we have some great quality fibre available for sale, at very reasonable prices.
We sell prime saddle fibre for £4 per 100g (best quality) and slightly coarser saddle fibre for £3 per 100g (good quality). We can also supply alpaca fibre for felting at £10 per kg (second quality). All prices are inclusive of vat, but P&P is extra.
We have a range of colours available, from white through fawns and browns to black.
You can see our some of our alpacas by visiting us online at www.AmazingAlpacas.co.uk
Please feel free to Email or telephone us 01291 650655 to discuss what we have available.
Kind regards.
Peter
Also
Hi Tawe Guild,
We are sheep farmers in the North Tyne Valley with a flock of pure bred Bluefaced Leicesters. We have been approached a couple of times recently by spinners enquiring if we sell our fleeces. I was wondered if any of your members would be interested in purchasing fleeces from us. We are just starting out and testing the water and thought that instead of just bundling it all off to the wool board we would try and sell some ourselves this year.
We would be grateful for any tips or feedback you can offer,
Regards
Lesley Archer email: archers@lowcarryhouse.fsnet.co.uk
Carer's Day
A wonderful day organised by Sue Stephens and crew!
I'm sure everyone had a great day, as there were lots of smiley people there. Lots of advice stalls, but also the Port Talbot Horticultural Group and some jewellery makers and a pyrographer!
A male voice ensemble, some local soloists and who could forget the line-dancers. A cracking lunch too. Thank you all and well done.
From a Guild point of view, quite a lot of interest and almost as much when I sat on the Aberavon Promenade afterwards to spin in the sun!! Not bad at all!
I'm sure everyone had a great day, as there were lots of smiley people there. Lots of advice stalls, but also the Port Talbot Horticultural Group and some jewellery makers and a pyrographer!
A male voice ensemble, some local soloists and who could forget the line-dancers. A cracking lunch too. Thank you all and well done.
From a Guild point of view, quite a lot of interest and almost as much when I sat on the Aberavon Promenade afterwards to spin in the sun!! Not bad at all!
Wednesday 11 June 2008
Is anyone able to do Carer's Day at Aberavon???
From Norma!!
Hi folks
Guess who called into Craig-y-nos country park today. You’ve guessed it. Missy Flaherty. Looking really well. Standing a lot straighter. Using a walking stick. Her leg still goes dead, but hopefully that will ease with the swelling.
Liz asked if we’re doing the usual to Oxwich or somewhere at the end of term. When we decide she wants to know.
Ta Ta Norma.
Carers Week event on Friday 13th June 2008 Aberavon Beach Hotel
Dear All,
Writing to confirm the arrangements for Carers Week event on Friday 13th June 2008 and to thank you for agreeing to take part..
The event will run from 11.00am - 3.00pm at the Aberavon Beach Hotel and therefore workshops/display holders will need to attend by approx. 10.30am to set up. Buffet lunch will be provided.
Please could you arrange your own risk assessments for the event.
Looking forward to seeing you there, however if there is any further information you require, please let me know.
My contact telephone number is 01792 860015.
Kind Regards,
Sue Stephens,
Community Learning Plan Coordinator,
Community Development & Projects Section,
Tel. 01792 860015
Community Learning Plan Coordinator,
Community Development & Projects Section,
Tel. 01792 860015
Sunday 8 June 2008
Glamorgan Guild Exhibition
The Glamorgan Guild have invited us to view their exhibition on 14 - 22 July 2008, at Oakdale, St. Fagans
Nell
Nell
Friday 30 May 2008
Association Grand Draw
I am now in recipt of raffle tickets for this draw which is due to take place during the Association Exhibition on Friday 22nd August 2008. Loadsa goodies to drool over!
Tickets cost £1 each and will be on sale in the Cross classroom. Monies to Gill please
Nell
Tickets cost £1 each and will be on sale in the Cross classroom. Monies to Gill please
Nell
Melanie Venes workshop
This 2 day design workshop has been arranged by the Ceredigion Guild and is open from the 1st June to other guilds to book places.
Cost: £50
Location: village hall Llanwrda
Dates: 20 - 21 September
Contact details: Alice Evans email: spinweave55@hotmail.com
I have phone numbers if required.
Nell
http://www.thetextiledirectory.com/Listings/Venes,-Melanie/
Cost: £50
Location: village hall Llanwrda
Dates: 20 - 21 September
Contact details: Alice Evans email: spinweave55@hotmail.com
I have phone numbers if required.
Nell
http://www.thetextiledirectory.com/Listings/Venes,-Melanie/
Thursday 29 May 2008
Liz is recovering well
Liz had her op on Tuesday and is making steady progress. We all wish her a speedy recovery. I am sure that spinning can be a new treatment in the physio department!
Get well soon my friend!
Get well soon my friend!
Tuesday 27 May 2008
Extreme Spinning Launches at Navy Days -Mumbles 2008
Well the Tawe Guild are at it again!
We've launched Extreme Spinning!
Heard of Extreme Ironing, we aim to DO it with OUR wheels !!!!!!
Hip and Happenin' that's the Tawe Guild!
We've launched Extreme Spinning!
Heard of Extreme Ironing, we aim to DO it with OUR wheels !!!!!!
Hip and Happenin' that's the Tawe Guild!
Monday 26 May 2008
Extreme Spinning
What a weekend at the Navy Days... Between the weather and the start of a new craft - extreme spinning!! I was NOT on sloe rum today. I have no excuse. It just seemd like a good idea at the time.
Wednesday 21 May 2008
I know it's not panto-time yet, but can you see yourself here!
If you need a pick me up, have a look the Seattle Weavers Guild!
You spend too much time on the 'net I hear you say!
Well, I don't watch the soaps, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it,
You spend too much time on the 'net I hear you say!
Well, I don't watch the soaps, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it,
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Sunday 27th July. Craig-y-nos
Hello There Everyone
Here at cyncp we're having a day "picnic in the park" or "teddybears picnic" on Sunday 27th July. Is the Guild available to come and do some stuff with the kids. We have a bit of money in the pot to pay (how much is the minimum). The event runs from 10am to 3pm ish. Ageliki (our warden) thinks maybe some simple felt, spindle spinning, etc.
Also on as part of the day is:-
willow weaving – 2 sessions 10-12noon and 1-3pm.
Wood-turning (all day)
Kids activities on will include scarecrow workshop 10.30 to12 noon, parachute games and teddy bears picnic 10.30 to 12 noon, jig-saw farm animals 1pm-2.30pm and animal masks 1pm-2.30
It's an open invite to the Guild or an individual member if the Guild is unavailable.
See you Tuesday.
Ta Ta,
Norma
Sunday 18 May 2008
Monday 12 May 2008
Sunday 11 May 2008
The sun shone and the birds sang and the spinning was grand!
So what was that Haven of Spinning-goodness, nonsense about, well here it is!
Another season of spinning begins, the gazebo is up and we're on for more "spinning in public"
Full of all manner of woolly goodness to show the kinds of things we do and a few things to sell too. And the banner goes in a treat, oh I do love it, when it's summer-time again.
The sun shone all day and we had loads of visitors to the tent with almost every man fascinated by the wheels!
Nell thanks Norma for hosting our spinning day, especially for the Tea-service!
And the best part of the day was when people said they had heard about us and were glad to meet us in person!
At the end of the day I was tired, slightly burnt round the edges from the sun but very happy. Actually I felt like this! Cos We've got an Idea Brewin'
Nell's mascot.
Another season of spinning begins, the gazebo is up and we're on for more "spinning in public"
Full of all manner of woolly goodness to show the kinds of things we do and a few things to sell too. And the banner goes in a treat, oh I do love it, when it's summer-time again.
The sun shone all day and we had loads of visitors to the tent with almost every man fascinated by the wheels!
Nell thanks Norma for hosting our spinning day, especially for the Tea-service!
And the best part of the day was when people said they had heard about us and were glad to meet us in person!
At the end of the day I was tired, slightly burnt round the edges from the sun but very happy. Actually I felt like this! Cos We've got an Idea Brewin'
Nell's mascot.
Wednesday 7 May 2008
Tawe Guild in National Spinning Week.
As part of our celebrations of NSD week Liz will be up at Crag-y-nos park,
on Wednesday 7th May, to spin between 1pm and 4pm ish.
Pop along and join her in the park! Need help finding it look here
or ring Liz or I.
Nell, Debb and the blue Haven of Spinning-goodness,(our Gazebo)
will be at Crag-y-nos park, On Saturday the 10th May as early as we can!
For all day Spinning!!!! Pop along and bring your wheel, possible lunch etc.
on Wednesday 7th May, to spin between 1pm and 4pm ish.
Pop along and join her in the park! Need help finding it look here
or ring Liz or I.
Nell, Debb and the blue Haven of Spinning-goodness,(our Gazebo)
will be at Crag-y-nos park, On Saturday the 10th May as early as we can!
For all day Spinning!!!! Pop along and bring your wheel, possible lunch etc.
Saturday 3 May 2008
Unashamed plug for Sian's Etsy
She didn't ask me to do it cos she wouldn't push, but here's Sian's New Etsy store
"Spin a song of sixpence"
It's full of lovelinesses. Be proud of her, she's one of ours!
"Spin a song of sixpence"
It's full of lovelinesses. Be proud of her, she's one of ours!
Gellionen Chapel
Gill J rang Nell t'other night to say that we had been asked to support the Gellionen Chapel fund raising day. Local church recently vandalised just up the hillside from the Cross. This would be informal spinning not demonstration, as Guild main banner and gazebo etc will be at Crag-y-nos. Church picnic 13.00 - 18.00 on Saturday 10th May.
Further information can be obtained at Gellionen@hotmail.com
Not sure about car access but parking an issue! If interested then do go and have a lovely day!
Link to "this is Swansea" for details
Not sure about car access but parking an issue! If interested then do go and have a lovely day!
Link to "this is Swansea" for details
Thursday 1 May 2008
Tuesday 29 April 2008
That comment you need to make!
Well hopefully now you can!
At least I think you can, I do really!
I really think this last rewrite has fixed it!
Go on you know you want to, it will be moderated at first, so play nice y'all.
Oh and my Mum had some interesting links so look on our Useful links Page for a new list of sites to visit.
love from a slightly blogger exasperated, Debb.
At least I think you can, I do really!
I really think this last rewrite has fixed it!
Go on you know you want to, it will be moderated at first, so play nice y'all.
Oh and my Mum had some interesting links so look on our Useful links Page for a new list of sites to visit.
love from a slightly blogger exasperated, Debb.
Thinking of you!
Eirian and Dell, sorry to hear that you both have Mum's who are very poorly at the moment. Although you may not make it to Guild, we're still thinking about you and send our best wishes to keep you going. Love the Tawe Guild.
Monday 28 April 2008
Wonderwool Wales!
If you did Wonderwool Wales, you were probably boggled by the amount of woolly wonderfulness like I was.
If you didn't make it here's a taste!
Thanks to Nell for being named driver and all those who made it what it was last weekend, and well what did I come home with, well a chocolate teapot of course, for the long suffering Douglas, and I'm not listing the rest in public as I already have S.B.L.E (stash beyond life expectancy)!!
More in photo section here. And more useful contact links here at the Wonderwool site
If you didn't make it here's a taste!
Thanks to Nell for being named driver and all those who made it what it was last weekend, and well what did I come home with, well a chocolate teapot of course, for the long suffering Douglas, and I'm not listing the rest in public as I already have S.B.L.E (stash beyond life expectancy)!!
More in photo section here. And more useful contact links here at the Wonderwool site
Monday 21 April 2008
Silk Workshop.
Thank you Liz for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm, and thanks too to Clare B. and her trusty laptop for her lunchtime talk on Shibori.
I had a great time, the work produced by everyone was brilliant and I learned loads, I have squillions of pictures to share but my ************ card reader has gone sick. I will get the pictures up ASAP. Promise,Debb
Yes we have pictures.
This little chap is the silk moth brought in by Clare B.
It is the larvae of these little moths that spin our silk cocoons.
These are just some of Clare's
wild silk cocoons.
And with a few items such as these lovely Kemtex dyes
and our cute little microwave, demonstrated here by the glamourous Sarah
With not a little help and encouragement from our Liz
we produced lots of lovely silky caps like
this!!!!!!>
And here is Margaret modelling this weeks scarf!
And there are more pics in the photo section over here!.
I had a great time, the work produced by everyone was brilliant and I learned loads, I have squillions of pictures to share but my ************ card reader has gone sick. I will get the pictures up ASAP. Promise,Debb
Yes we have pictures.
This little chap is the silk moth brought in by Clare B.
It is the larvae of these little moths that spin our silk cocoons.
These are just some of Clare's
wild silk cocoons.
And with a few items such as these lovely Kemtex dyes
and our cute little microwave, demonstrated here by the glamourous Sarah
With not a little help and encouragement from our Liz
we produced lots of lovely silky caps like
this!!!!!!>
And here is Margaret modelling this weeks scarf!
And there are more pics in the photo section over here!.
Wednesday 16 April 2008
Saturday's Silk Workshop is ON!
Hi there folks,
Silk workshop will go ahead as planned this Saturday. Liz will advise and it will operate as an in-house skill share.
Some materials will incur an extra cost ie scarves, stuff that belongs to Liz etc.
Please bring notebook, pencil, scissors and a shared lunch.
Optional but helpful - for drying silk scarves etc - a hair dryer!
old towel
rubber-gloves
See you at 10am.
Debb.
Silk workshop will go ahead as planned this Saturday. Liz will advise and it will operate as an in-house skill share.
Some materials will incur an extra cost ie scarves, stuff that belongs to Liz etc.
Please bring notebook, pencil, scissors and a shared lunch.
Optional but helpful - for drying silk scarves etc - a hair dryer!
old towel
rubber-gloves
See you at 10am.
Debb.
Reminder about our Exhibition
The Autumn exhibition, which was planned for the Waterfront Museum, has had to be moved. Liz, Gill and Nell went to the Swansea Grand Theatre to evaluate their exhibition space.
We have booked the White Room from 22nd September until the 4th October.
All items for this exhibition MUST be with the Guild by the end of August and all must be clearly labelled as regards fibre content (Trading Standards), washing instructions, who made it and how, and either marked not for sale, or with a price.
We can access the Grand’s card machine but note that they will take 20% commission, so please reflect this in your prices.
We will be able to lock away our wheels etc at the end of each day and I hope we can provide opportunities for our visitors to have a go at spinning and weaving.
Extract from Newsletter.
We have booked the White Room from 22nd September until the 4th October.
All items for this exhibition MUST be with the Guild by the end of August and all must be clearly labelled as regards fibre content (Trading Standards), washing instructions, who made it and how, and either marked not for sale, or with a price.
We can access the Grand’s card machine but note that they will take 20% commission, so please reflect this in your prices.
We will be able to lock away our wheels etc at the end of each day and I hope we can provide opportunities for our visitors to have a go at spinning and weaving.
Extract from Newsletter.
Thursday 10 April 2008
Wednesday 9 April 2008
What did you do over Easter break?
Isabel wasn't idle while in Plymouth. (Not that she ever is!) She has knitted a marvellous sweater for the wool box and here it is, its even better in the wool as it were.
Thanks very much Isabel.
Click here to Visit Isabel directly
or save her http://isabelwhitestone.blogspot.com/
What else, Meg has new glasses
but was upstaged by a very glamorous Norma
with a new 'do!
Go for it Norma!
Marj was back, apparently making wedding apparel was keeping her away from us, but the wedding's over and we are waiting for the photos now! I can't wait to see those dresses.
As an aside "Good-luck" with the op Clive, I'm sure you'll be well enough to go hang-gliding over the Brecons in a triloom-powered Skoda, VERY SOON!
Great to see you all back, but don't forget the workshop.
Saturday Workshop 19th April - Silk dyeing-see what's on! Let Nell or Eirian know if you're coming times as usual.
Sad News
The Tawe Guild is saddened to receive the news of the death of Jean Dolomore, a condolence card has been sent to her family. She is remembered with fondness by all who knew her over the years.
Tuesday 8 April 2008
Nell
More News on triangular loom please! Was that draft a tease. Can you move a big one (loom) when its warped or part woven, not sure what the term is?
Eirian's photos.
I have added some more photos from Eirian to our photo section. Pop over for a looky-see!
Includes the birthday cake!!
Includes the birthday cake!!
Monday 31 March 2008
A complete basketcase!
Finally, the basket weaving course, after the long wait, yes it was worth it. Basket making wasn't a craft I'd done before and I wasn't alone in that, but even though it was a mixed experience group Lois coped admirably. Displaying her skills as a weaver and communicator, to her advantage and ours, as we got to grips with the willow.
Another whole new vocabulary to learn, new uses for a marlin spike and a copper soldering iron!
How do we do it? go look in the photo pages!
I hope some one's got a picture of the birthday cake, if so send it in!
Mean time this is a pic of some of the baskets we made. Thanks everyone, see you all soon.
Wednesday 26 March 2008
New Pages for the Tawe Guild Blog!!!!
Our home page was getting difficult to read. So I have made new pages.
Look in the "Find out more" box for them, they are all linked, ie. we have a mini magazine!
New EQUIPMENT SALES PAGE- Let's move that STUFF folks !
New WHAT'S On - Now more printer friendly!
Useful links also have a page of their own too!
I'm also contemplating a Sales Gallery page, where you could advertise your wares!
Contact me if you're interested.
I'm off-line now,
need Tea and bikkies to recover!
Look in the "Find out more" box for them, they are all linked, ie. we have a mini magazine!
New EQUIPMENT SALES PAGE- Let's move that STUFF folks !
New WHAT'S On - Now more printer friendly!
Useful links also have a page of their own too!
I'm also contemplating a Sales Gallery page, where you could advertise your wares!
Contact me if you're interested.
I'm off-line now,
need Tea and bikkies to recover!
Sunday 23 March 2008
Invitation from Cerdigion Guild to go to their Friendship Day
In the Snail mail post today, an invite from Cerdigion Guild to go to their Friendship Day.
Saturday 12th July, at Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron Secondary School.
Bring fleece, yarn or whatever and spend the day with them. They will provide tea coffee etc but bring your own lunch. Also have sale table - 10% goes to their Guild
RSVP June 6th to jones.am@tiscali.co.uk
Saturday 12th July, at Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron Secondary School.
Bring fleece, yarn or whatever and spend the day with them. They will provide tea coffee etc but bring your own lunch. Also have sale table - 10% goes to their Guild
RSVP June 6th to jones.am@tiscali.co.uk
Doggy plea via Val!
In our email from the Assn:
This came to me recently and as Sylvia lives in the Cardiff area I am hoping that you may be able to help.
Val Thorne, Correspondence Sec.
I posted a question on the Laughing Hens site, asking if anyone knew how I could get hair combings from my Afghan Hound spun.
I had a reply> suggesting I contact your guild.
Can you help please and put me in touch with someone who would be willing to spin dog hair?
Sylvia Lees.
So girls if anyone can help, then let Nell or I know and we can give you Silvia's email!!
This came to me recently and as Sylvia lives in the Cardiff area I am hoping that you may be able to help.
Val Thorne, Correspondence Sec.
I posted a question on the Laughing Hens site, asking if anyone knew how I could get hair combings from my Afghan Hound spun.
I had a reply> suggesting I contact your guild.
Can you help please and put me in touch with someone who would be willing to spin dog hair?
Sylvia Lees.
So girls if anyone can help, then let Nell or I know and we can give you Silvia's email!!
THE ASSOCIATION OF GUILDS OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS
THE ASSOCIATION OF GUILDS OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND DYERS
NEWSLETTER NO 43 March 2008
From the Chairman
The National Exhibition, ‘FABRICreATIONS’ is getting closer, and I am much looking forward to seeing all the work your Guild will be submitting for selection in July.
Your Guild Secretary will by now have received detailed instructions about submission procedures at guild level, so do ask about them. Check when you will have to bring your work to a guild meeting for preliminary selection, so you can be sure to finish it in time. There is no quota dictating the number of pieces each guild may submit, but no member may submit more than two pieces in the main category. There is no limit on the number of pieces a member may submit in the two additional categories (Miniatures and those submitted in CD cases) as the displays need large numbers in order to make an impact.
However, we are appealing to the guilds to be really rigorous in their selection of the work which goes forward. If possible, a selector from outside the guild should make the choice. The work submitted by each guild will go to their allocated Collection Centre between 7th and 14th July. From there it will be taken to the University for the final selection, which will take place on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st July. All work submitted will go through the same selection process. Hanging the exhibition will take place over the next three days, and the Private View will be on the Thursday evening, 24th July.
Details of the Collection Centres and the codes for both Centres and Guilds will be given out at the AGM. If your Guild is unable to send a delegate, these details will be sent to your Secretary as soon as possible after the AGM.
Books of raffle tickets will also be given to each Guild at the AGM. Since it is so hard to get funding for our regular events, we are very dependent on the sale of raffle tickets to help with the expenses involved in mounting a National Exhibition, so we ask all the guilds to do their best to sell as many as they can. We are extremely grateful to suppliers, guilds and individual members who have donated such tempting prizes to the raffle. We now have a variety of prizes to appeal to both makers and non-makers, so the tickets should be easy to sell.
Details about the residential Weekend Workshops have also been sent to your Secretary, and the booklet can be photocopied and distributed to anyone who might be interested. The University has a Press Officer who is dealing with publicity in the media but we also depend on all of you to distribute posters and leaflets to people and groups in your locality who might like to visit Liverpool in its year as Capital of Culture.
Information will also be on the Association website (www.wsd.org.uk) and extra posters, flyers about the weekend courses and raffle tickets will be available at the AGM, or from me on request. My contact details are on the papers which have been sent to your Secretary.
As my spell as Chairman comes to an end at the AGM in April, I would like to thank you all for your help and support for Association events over the past five years. Most recently, I am extremely grateful to the volunteers who came to Liverpool to help at the workshops for the students at Liverpool Hope University. Everyone who came along agreed that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and their enthusiasm communicated itself to the students, who much appreciated their help. I hope very much that other guilds, or groups of guilds, will give serious consideration to setting up similar collaborations with educational establishments in their area. It is a very positive step towards keeping our crafts alive.
If any of you would like to be involved in helping with the exhibition in any way, I would be very glad to hear from you. I look forward to talking with many of you at the Conference and the AGM next month.
Hilary Turner
GPC Matters-
Treasurer’s Report
Chasers have been sent out to 28 Guilds who have not paid their affiliation fees, reminding them that they are not covered by the Association’s insurance. They have been given until the end of Feb. to pay their fees; another letter will go out then to any who have still not paid.
Valerie Thorne will collect the affiliation fees later this year and the form will be posted on the website. Guilds will be requested to provide only one set of contact details and will be asked to ensure that they send fees to the Assn. under the correct Guild name to avoid confusion and possible problems if they have to make an Insurance claim.
Secretary’s Report
Publicity material, for the Association, written by Valerie and Dot had been sent to a new online Magazine “Giddy Limits” (www.giddylimits.co.uk) aimed at the over 50’s. The information that had been sent to them had been circulated to the GPC before the meeting.
Speakers List
Following the recent review there are more ‘NR’ [no reply] Speakers than there should be. The last time a review was carried out a lot of time was spent in trying to get in touch with some listed speakers. All speakers this time will receive a copy of the list. Those Speakers who did not reply will have NR after their names. As the list will be on the Assn CD, hard copies will only be produced, on request, for guilds who find that there isn’t one of their members who is able to access the CD to print off information as and when required.
The CD’s will be available at the AGM. Although the number of Speakers on the 2008 list has only increased by 4, there are some quite significant changes. First, several of the ‘old’ speakers have added new topics, or changed their contact details so it is important not to just look at the names when scanning through the list. Nine speakers have decided to bow out gracefully this time. On your behalf I have passed on our grateful thanks to all of them. There are 13 new speakers who between them cover lots of topics – including subjects that haven’t appeared on the list before. Almost half the new speakers are based in the north of England or Scotland. Hopefully that will help to refresh parts that some Guilds have felt have not been reached for some time!
Following the changes in the way the List is made up, there are several folk in the Probationer category. The Association needs to find out what Guilds think about all speakers / tutors and it is particularly important to give some feedback on those who are in the new category.
Forms to comment on speakers / tutors and to recommend new ones will be on the new version of the Association CD. Please return the Speakers and recommendation forms to Norah Ball.
Association CD
CDs will be produced and distributed to the guilds at the AGM. Those not collected will be posted. Any spares will be given to Valerie Thorne and may be purchased by guilds for a flat fee of £5 to include postage.
Liverpool workshops.
5 out of 6 workshops have taken place and have been successful. The students have been enthusiastic and numbers have increased. The helpers have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have also learnt a lot, many volunteering to come back and help at other sessions
Summer School 2009
An insurance question arose whether the tutor's responsibility was/was not included under the Association insurance policy. Having clarified with the Treasurer that it was not, the tutor's contracts have been issued as "self employed, carrying appropriate insurance..."
A short list of insurance agents was included as a starter (stating others were available) in case anyone did not have insurance.
WHAT’S ON
Details of these and other events are listed on the AGWSD website: http://www.wsd.org.uk
Voluntary Arts Network
During February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport conducted its first ever national survey of amateur arts groups in England. The survey aimed to focus attention on the wealth of amateur and voluntary arts opportunities enjoyed by millions of people across the country every day - often with little publicity. The research has the potential to be very useful for arts groups, who will be able to refer to the findings when applying for funding, and for policy-makers, who can use it to look at how amateur arts groups could be better supported. The results will be published in the summer.
The 98 Lace Group is holding a 10th Anniversary exhibition "Beguiling Time", an exhibition of innovative hand-made lace inspired by music and poetry at the De Morgan Centre, 38 West Hill, London SW18, 22 March - 31 May 2008; Opening hours: Tues - Wed 12 noon - 18.00, Fri - Sat 10.00 - 17.00.
For further details see: Website: www.demorgan.org.uk or Tel: 020 8871 1144.
AGM / Conference 2008 -
11th – 13th April, Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fife
Further details and application forms available on the Association website: http://www.wsd.org.uk.
Wonderwool Wales 26th & 27th April 2008 at the Royal Welsh Showground.
For more information contact Lee on 01982 552224 or www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk.
FABRICreATIONS
AGWSD National Exhibition 25 July – 22 August 2008 at The Cornerstone Gallery, Liverpool Hope University, Everton Campus, Haigh Street, Liverpool L3 8QB. Open Mondays to Fridays 9.00 – 5.00 but closed at weekends, except for Saturday and Sunday, 9 & 10 August.
Selection starts on 21 July, and submissions must be received between 7–14 July. The guidelines for submitting work can be found on the Association CD given to every Guild last year.
Paddy still has leaflets and posters for sale, also badges. For further details call Paddy Bakker on 01823 325345 or email paddy@thebakkers.co.uk.
Change of Secretary
If you are no longer the allocated contact for your Guild, or if your contact details have changed, please let Trudi Thompson know so your details can be updated in both our contact list and in the Journal.
If you have any queries concerning anything in this newsletter please contact:
Trudi Thompson, 2 Mount Rule Cottages, West Baldwin Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4HS. Email: tlthompson@manx.net.
NEWSLETTER NO 43 March 2008
From the Chairman
The National Exhibition, ‘FABRICreATIONS’ is getting closer, and I am much looking forward to seeing all the work your Guild will be submitting for selection in July.
Your Guild Secretary will by now have received detailed instructions about submission procedures at guild level, so do ask about them. Check when you will have to bring your work to a guild meeting for preliminary selection, so you can be sure to finish it in time. There is no quota dictating the number of pieces each guild may submit, but no member may submit more than two pieces in the main category. There is no limit on the number of pieces a member may submit in the two additional categories (Miniatures and those submitted in CD cases) as the displays need large numbers in order to make an impact.
However, we are appealing to the guilds to be really rigorous in their selection of the work which goes forward. If possible, a selector from outside the guild should make the choice. The work submitted by each guild will go to their allocated Collection Centre between 7th and 14th July. From there it will be taken to the University for the final selection, which will take place on Sunday 20th and Monday 21st July. All work submitted will go through the same selection process. Hanging the exhibition will take place over the next three days, and the Private View will be on the Thursday evening, 24th July.
Details of the Collection Centres and the codes for both Centres and Guilds will be given out at the AGM. If your Guild is unable to send a delegate, these details will be sent to your Secretary as soon as possible after the AGM.
Books of raffle tickets will also be given to each Guild at the AGM. Since it is so hard to get funding for our regular events, we are very dependent on the sale of raffle tickets to help with the expenses involved in mounting a National Exhibition, so we ask all the guilds to do their best to sell as many as they can. We are extremely grateful to suppliers, guilds and individual members who have donated such tempting prizes to the raffle. We now have a variety of prizes to appeal to both makers and non-makers, so the tickets should be easy to sell.
Details about the residential Weekend Workshops have also been sent to your Secretary, and the booklet can be photocopied and distributed to anyone who might be interested. The University has a Press Officer who is dealing with publicity in the media but we also depend on all of you to distribute posters and leaflets to people and groups in your locality who might like to visit Liverpool in its year as Capital of Culture.
Information will also be on the Association website (www.wsd.org.uk) and extra posters, flyers about the weekend courses and raffle tickets will be available at the AGM, or from me on request. My contact details are on the papers which have been sent to your Secretary.
As my spell as Chairman comes to an end at the AGM in April, I would like to thank you all for your help and support for Association events over the past five years. Most recently, I am extremely grateful to the volunteers who came to Liverpool to help at the workshops for the students at Liverpool Hope University. Everyone who came along agreed that they thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and their enthusiasm communicated itself to the students, who much appreciated their help. I hope very much that other guilds, or groups of guilds, will give serious consideration to setting up similar collaborations with educational establishments in their area. It is a very positive step towards keeping our crafts alive.
If any of you would like to be involved in helping with the exhibition in any way, I would be very glad to hear from you. I look forward to talking with many of you at the Conference and the AGM next month.
Hilary Turner
GPC Matters-
Treasurer’s Report
Chasers have been sent out to 28 Guilds who have not paid their affiliation fees, reminding them that they are not covered by the Association’s insurance. They have been given until the end of Feb. to pay their fees; another letter will go out then to any who have still not paid.
Valerie Thorne will collect the affiliation fees later this year and the form will be posted on the website. Guilds will be requested to provide only one set of contact details and will be asked to ensure that they send fees to the Assn. under the correct Guild name to avoid confusion and possible problems if they have to make an Insurance claim.
Secretary’s Report
Publicity material, for the Association, written by Valerie and Dot had been sent to a new online Magazine “Giddy Limits” (www.giddylimits.co.uk) aimed at the over 50’s. The information that had been sent to them had been circulated to the GPC before the meeting.
Speakers List
Following the recent review there are more ‘NR’ [no reply] Speakers than there should be. The last time a review was carried out a lot of time was spent in trying to get in touch with some listed speakers. All speakers this time will receive a copy of the list. Those Speakers who did not reply will have NR after their names. As the list will be on the Assn CD, hard copies will only be produced, on request, for guilds who find that there isn’t one of their members who is able to access the CD to print off information as and when required.
The CD’s will be available at the AGM. Although the number of Speakers on the 2008 list has only increased by 4, there are some quite significant changes. First, several of the ‘old’ speakers have added new topics, or changed their contact details so it is important not to just look at the names when scanning through the list. Nine speakers have decided to bow out gracefully this time. On your behalf I have passed on our grateful thanks to all of them. There are 13 new speakers who between them cover lots of topics – including subjects that haven’t appeared on the list before. Almost half the new speakers are based in the north of England or Scotland. Hopefully that will help to refresh parts that some Guilds have felt have not been reached for some time!
Following the changes in the way the List is made up, there are several folk in the Probationer category. The Association needs to find out what Guilds think about all speakers / tutors and it is particularly important to give some feedback on those who are in the new category.
Forms to comment on speakers / tutors and to recommend new ones will be on the new version of the Association CD. Please return the Speakers and recommendation forms to Norah Ball.
Association CD
CDs will be produced and distributed to the guilds at the AGM. Those not collected will be posted. Any spares will be given to Valerie Thorne and may be purchased by guilds for a flat fee of £5 to include postage.
Liverpool workshops.
5 out of 6 workshops have taken place and have been successful. The students have been enthusiastic and numbers have increased. The helpers have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have also learnt a lot, many volunteering to come back and help at other sessions
Summer School 2009
An insurance question arose whether the tutor's responsibility was/was not included under the Association insurance policy. Having clarified with the Treasurer that it was not, the tutor's contracts have been issued as "self employed, carrying appropriate insurance..."
A short list of insurance agents was included as a starter (stating others were available) in case anyone did not have insurance.
WHAT’S ON
Details of these and other events are listed on the AGWSD website: http://www.wsd.org.uk
Voluntary Arts Network
During February, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport conducted its first ever national survey of amateur arts groups in England. The survey aimed to focus attention on the wealth of amateur and voluntary arts opportunities enjoyed by millions of people across the country every day - often with little publicity. The research has the potential to be very useful for arts groups, who will be able to refer to the findings when applying for funding, and for policy-makers, who can use it to look at how amateur arts groups could be better supported. The results will be published in the summer.
The 98 Lace Group is holding a 10th Anniversary exhibition "Beguiling Time", an exhibition of innovative hand-made lace inspired by music and poetry at the De Morgan Centre, 38 West Hill, London SW18, 22 March - 31 May 2008; Opening hours: Tues - Wed 12 noon - 18.00, Fri - Sat 10.00 - 17.00.
For further details see: Website: www.demorgan.org.uk or Tel: 020 8871 1144.
AGM / Conference 2008 -
11th – 13th April, Tulliallan Castle, Kincardine, Fife
Further details and application forms available on the Association website: http://www.wsd.org.uk.
Wonderwool Wales 26th & 27th April 2008 at the Royal Welsh Showground.
For more information contact Lee on 01982 552224 or www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk.
FABRICreATIONS
AGWSD National Exhibition 25 July – 22 August 2008 at The Cornerstone Gallery, Liverpool Hope University, Everton Campus, Haigh Street, Liverpool L3 8QB. Open Mondays to Fridays 9.00 – 5.00 but closed at weekends, except for Saturday and Sunday, 9 & 10 August.
Selection starts on 21 July, and submissions must be received between 7–14 July. The guidelines for submitting work can be found on the Association CD given to every Guild last year.
Paddy still has leaflets and posters for sale, also badges. For further details call Paddy Bakker on 01823 325345 or email paddy@thebakkers.co.uk.
Change of Secretary
If you are no longer the allocated contact for your Guild, or if your contact details have changed, please let Trudi Thompson know so your details can be updated in both our contact list and in the Journal.
If you have any queries concerning anything in this newsletter please contact:
Trudi Thompson, 2 Mount Rule Cottages, West Baldwin Road, Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4HS. Email: tlthompson@manx.net.
Tuesday 18 March 2008
Spring has Sprung!!!!
This Spring we have had 535 visits ( I haven't counted me or Nell, cos I'm always faffing about here), 298 individual visitors popped in more than once, 168 visited during Spring for the first time and 70 were old pals who drop in frequently and who started visiting us last year!
Yippee, regular readers.
Don't just lurk!! Send us an email, tell us who you are! Perhaps we can feature you!
Debb.
Yippee, regular readers.
Don't just lurk!! Send us an email, tell us who you are! Perhaps we can feature you!
Debb.
Tawe Guild Newsletter - March 2008
Easter is almost upon us. Just remember that all that chocolate can be worked off by spinning at double speed for 30 minutes!!
We had a very successful workshop in February – Indigo Isabel taught us some wonderful things to do with this dye. Please have a look at the pictures on the blog site to see the evidence.
Debbs has done a wonderful job on keeping that updated. Who would imagine that all this internet stuff was started off just a few months ago by Sian! Just look at how far we have all progressed. Well done everyone!
Those if us involved in the Woolbox project have been working hard to find sources of funding for that and for the development of the Guild. Gill, Debbs and myself attended the Funding Fair in Carmarthen last week. There was a lot of interest in our ideas and what the Guild was trying to promote as part of its aims and objectives. Classes are at the heart of our Guild and we seem to be almost the only Guild, nationwide, who offer them. They contribute such a wealth of knowledge, experience and inspiration - not only from Norma, but also from other class members- on a weekly basis. They provide an ongoing base for those wanting to experience the joys of our crafts without having to, initially, purchase expensive equipment.
These classes are expensive to provide, therefore funding is required to ensure their future.
At the funding fair, we learned a few hard facts which I need to share with you.
The buzz word within charities and not for profit organisations at the moment is “sustainable funding”. This means that we have to move away from depending on grants and get our income from more diverse sources. We also have to PLAN, long term, for our income generating activities. One very useful session at this fair, was delivered by Sara Carroll and Nicola Llewelyn from the WCVA. This outlined 3 steps to sustainability.
Income diversification – reducing dependency on a single source of income, being aware of funds available, exploring those funds and accessing the skills in the group to apply for those funds.
Organisational skills – identifying the skills in the group, not only the fundraising skill, but those skills which are at the heart of the group – the spinners, weavers and dyers. Everyone who can, develops a shared approach to sustainable funding, but we all work as a team to keep the Guild going.
Effective planning – this really means that as a group, we need a business plan to manage the income generation.
A lot to take on board folks, but we came away from that fair thinking that we were very lucky as a Guild to have the classes and the skills that we already have, but that we need to protect and nurture that core feeling – the love of yarn in all its glorious forms. To achieve this we will need to ask our members about their skills and what they feel they can give to the group. Some of us give our knowledge skills and experience of spinning, weaving and dyeing. Some of us have some business skills which can be given to the group. Together, as a team I am sure we can move forward. If anyone feels they can help with the latter, I would love to hear from you!
On to lots of other matters!
The Autumn exhibition, which was planned for the Waterfront Museum, has had to be moved. Liz, Gill and I went to the Swansea Grand Theatre to evaluate their exhibition space. We have booked the White Room from 22nd September until the 4th October. All items for this exhibition MUST be with the Guild by the end of August and all must be clearly labelled as regards fibre content (Trading Standards), washing instructions, who made it and how, and either marked not for sale, or with a price. We can access the Grand’s card machine but note that they will take 20% commission, so please reflect this in your prices. We will be able to lock away our wheels etc at the end of each day and I hope we can provide opportunities for our visitors to have a go at spinning and weaving.
Future workshops:-
March – as those of you who put your names down to attend this workshop, you will know that it has had to be postponed until 29th March. I did stand outside the door until 10.20 just in case anyone turned up, but the Guild grapevine seemed to work just fine! Any names for this new date to me/Eirean asap so that accurate figures can be given to Lois.
April 19th Silk dyeing – what to bring will be on the blog site or on the class notice board.
May 24th Show and tell. We will also use this day to have a “shop” for our items which we want to pass on to other members.
Wonderwool Wales 26th and 27th April at the Royal Welsh Showground. Hilary Miller is asking for volunteers to man the Association stand. Any one who can, please contact Hilary on 01248 713160 (evenings and weekends)
Thinking about the Navy Days - 24 – 26 May – I came across an article about knitting hats for The Sailor’s Society. Have a look at the website – www.sailors-society.org Do we want to support this as a group?
Anybody interested in another day at Tesco’s??
Happy Easter to one and all
Nell
01792 830106 mobile 07977 538086
We had a very successful workshop in February – Indigo Isabel taught us some wonderful things to do with this dye. Please have a look at the pictures on the blog site to see the evidence.
Debbs has done a wonderful job on keeping that updated. Who would imagine that all this internet stuff was started off just a few months ago by Sian! Just look at how far we have all progressed. Well done everyone!
Those if us involved in the Woolbox project have been working hard to find sources of funding for that and for the development of the Guild. Gill, Debbs and myself attended the Funding Fair in Carmarthen last week. There was a lot of interest in our ideas and what the Guild was trying to promote as part of its aims and objectives. Classes are at the heart of our Guild and we seem to be almost the only Guild, nationwide, who offer them. They contribute such a wealth of knowledge, experience and inspiration - not only from Norma, but also from other class members- on a weekly basis. They provide an ongoing base for those wanting to experience the joys of our crafts without having to, initially, purchase expensive equipment.
These classes are expensive to provide, therefore funding is required to ensure their future.
At the funding fair, we learned a few hard facts which I need to share with you.
The buzz word within charities and not for profit organisations at the moment is “sustainable funding”. This means that we have to move away from depending on grants and get our income from more diverse sources. We also have to PLAN, long term, for our income generating activities. One very useful session at this fair, was delivered by Sara Carroll and Nicola Llewelyn from the WCVA. This outlined 3 steps to sustainability.
Income diversification – reducing dependency on a single source of income, being aware of funds available, exploring those funds and accessing the skills in the group to apply for those funds.
Organisational skills – identifying the skills in the group, not only the fundraising skill, but those skills which are at the heart of the group – the spinners, weavers and dyers. Everyone who can, develops a shared approach to sustainable funding, but we all work as a team to keep the Guild going.
Effective planning – this really means that as a group, we need a business plan to manage the income generation.
A lot to take on board folks, but we came away from that fair thinking that we were very lucky as a Guild to have the classes and the skills that we already have, but that we need to protect and nurture that core feeling – the love of yarn in all its glorious forms. To achieve this we will need to ask our members about their skills and what they feel they can give to the group. Some of us give our knowledge skills and experience of spinning, weaving and dyeing. Some of us have some business skills which can be given to the group. Together, as a team I am sure we can move forward. If anyone feels they can help with the latter, I would love to hear from you!
On to lots of other matters!
The Autumn exhibition, which was planned for the Waterfront Museum, has had to be moved. Liz, Gill and I went to the Swansea Grand Theatre to evaluate their exhibition space. We have booked the White Room from 22nd September until the 4th October. All items for this exhibition MUST be with the Guild by the end of August and all must be clearly labelled as regards fibre content (Trading Standards), washing instructions, who made it and how, and either marked not for sale, or with a price. We can access the Grand’s card machine but note that they will take 20% commission, so please reflect this in your prices. We will be able to lock away our wheels etc at the end of each day and I hope we can provide opportunities for our visitors to have a go at spinning and weaving.
Future workshops:-
March – as those of you who put your names down to attend this workshop, you will know that it has had to be postponed until 29th March. I did stand outside the door until 10.20 just in case anyone turned up, but the Guild grapevine seemed to work just fine! Any names for this new date to me/Eirean asap so that accurate figures can be given to Lois.
April 19th Silk dyeing – what to bring will be on the blog site or on the class notice board.
May 24th Show and tell. We will also use this day to have a “shop” for our items which we want to pass on to other members.
Wonderwool Wales 26th and 27th April at the Royal Welsh Showground. Hilary Miller is asking for volunteers to man the Association stand. Any one who can, please contact Hilary on 01248 713160 (evenings and weekends)
Thinking about the Navy Days - 24 – 26 May – I came across an article about knitting hats for The Sailor’s Society. Have a look at the website – www.sailors-society.org Do we want to support this as a group?
Anybody interested in another day at Tesco’s??
Happy Easter to one and all
Nell
01792 830106 mobile 07977 538086
Wednesday 12 March 2008
**WILLOW WEAVING DATE CHANGE **
Unavoidable date change, workshop now to take place
Saturday 29th March,
All other details remain the same. By now Nell will have at least attempted to reach everyone on the list but, if you can't make it or, if you would like to stand by in case there is a spare place, let us know. Probably best either to:
email: taweguild@gmail.com
or ring Eirian direct see last couple of posts!
Saturday Willow Weaving
Things to bring on Saturday;Yourself and as usual, a lunch contribution,
a set of secateurs,
a pair of comfortable gardening gloves,
an old iron file or heavy flat bar of metal 1/4" x 1" x 12"for pounding willow between uprights (not a tyre iron must be flat not round, honest that's what Eirian said !),
a spray bottle to mist the willow,
an old towel to wrap willow - i.e. to keep it damp,
and lastly a bag of 2lbs pebbles/stones -
Monday 10 March 2008
The Regional Funding Fair!!!
Gill, Nell and I 'did' the funding fair held at Carmarthan.
I came away drained and with mixed feelings about the whole day!
The "Woolbox" sub-committee will convene soon, when we hope to mull over what we all thought and will fill you in coherently, perhaps through Nell's next newsletter.
Debb.
Basketmaking with Lois UPDATE
Please leave your name on the list at The Cross by Tuesday lunch or if needed contact Eirian by phone ASAP regarding attendance. Eirian must give accurate no.s to Lois by Tuesday. Correct no.s = right amount of materials!!!
More about Lois here http://www.kibseycraft.co.uk/biography.shtml
More about Lois here http://www.kibseycraft.co.uk/biography.shtml
Thursday 6 March 2008
Plug for fellow wool artist
TAPESTRY WEAVING workshops
with Fiona Hutchison
For beginners and advanced students
Weekend Workshop, 15th/16th March 2008
Week Workshop, 7th to 11th April 2008
Workshops will give you the opportunity to explore colour, texture and surface of tapestry weave.
Classes are held in the artist’s studio
at WASPS Studio, Patriothall of Hamilton Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 5AY,
For further information and booking
www.fionarhutchison.me.uk
E. mail. fiona.hutchison@blueyonder.co.uk
tel.0131 555 2337
with Fiona Hutchison
For beginners and advanced students
Weekend Workshop, 15th/16th March 2008
Week Workshop, 7th to 11th April 2008
Workshops will give you the opportunity to explore colour, texture and surface of tapestry weave.
Classes are held in the artist’s studio
at WASPS Studio, Patriothall of Hamilton Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 5AY,
For further information and booking
www.fionarhutchison.me.uk
E. mail. fiona.hutchison@blueyonder.co.uk
tel.0131 555 2337
Monday 25 February 2008
A happy kind of Blue!!
Isabel led a marvelous class on Indigo dyeing, thanks Isabel from us all!
There were loads of photos to choose from but only room here for a few. Go to our Gallery page to see more. 
We dyed wool, mohair, silk and cotton damask fabric too and clothes!! Now go to Our Gallery to see more.
There were loads of photos to choose from but only room here for a few. Go to our Gallery page to see more.
Isabel explainig that she has prepared lots of little skeins for us to take home at the end of the day. We had to vats synthetic indigo and natural indigo. We started with the synthetic indigo as the natural requires longer standing time.
Isabel dipped different skeins in for different times 3mins, 5mins, 5mins plus further 5mins and 10 mins.
Here Gill (thermometer monitor) and Isabel are checking the Natural Indigo dye vat doesn't exceed 60'C.
And here are those little skeins after 3mins, look closely and you will see the colour change as the oxygen in the air acts on the indigo making them darken, they were very pale green when they left the dye bath but is takes less time for them to go turquoise than it takes my camera to auto focus!!
And here are those little skeins after 3mins, look closely and you will see the colour change as the oxygen in the air acts on the indigo making them darken, they were very pale green when they left the dye bath but is takes less time for them to go turquoise than it takes my camera to auto focus!!
We have here the finished tests, the first skein was tie-dyed to retain the original cream colour.
Then there was 3mins, 10mins, 5 +5mins.
Dorethy and Nell ready and waiting with masses of skeins. No not Blue string Pudding -skeins being lifted after 5 mins. Look at that- after airing out-WOW and that's a fetching pink glove too!
We dyed wool, mohair, silk and cotton damask fabric too and clothes!! Now go to Our Gallery to see more.
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Messing with the blog!!!!
Feels like Spring is in the air, my drive has been repaired and all is well with the world.
So, to celebrate, I faffed with the blog; nearest to indigo I could find, and revamped.
I have tidied the newsletters together, put in a FAQ section, and popped them all in a 'FIND OUT MORE' section - Go look!! Make comments (at least pretend to read it!!) etc.
So, to celebrate, I faffed with the blog; nearest to indigo I could find, and revamped.
I have tidied the newsletters together, put in a FAQ section, and popped them all in a 'FIND OUT MORE' section - Go look!! Make comments (at least pretend to read it!!) etc.
What do we do in class ??
Very nearly a full house last night, finally the weather has improved and there are less bugs knocking us out!.
Dorethy was warping and winding for a new project just out of shot.
Chris is setting a loom up for the first time, I think she's planning a waffle bathmat.
Norma works her way round the class, stopping us now and agian when something of interest comes up and keeping us going. In the pic she seems to be sorting heddles with Chris.
Nell can be spotted at the back, cranking out another bat, on the drum carder. Nell is a prolific spinner and that wool will probably be a gorgeous knitted shawl very soon.
Carol has brought her wheel along and is spinning fine singles, from a beauty of a bat that came from Winghams, towards knitting herself a cardigan.
Dell is here too, this is some of her own funky yarn, in the style of "pluckystuff", from some blended roving from Ann (used to be Merlins Mill), some multidirectional directional knitting going on down there!
Meg is experimenting in hand-carding, fractional colour blending of Jacob wool. If you peer closely you may see pretty rolags from natural white through shades of grey marl to darkest brown grey and a few regular stripey ones for good measure.
Meg is experimenting in hand-carding, fractional colour blending of Jacob wool. If you peer closely you may see pretty rolags from natural white through shades of grey marl to darkest brown grey and a few regular stripey ones for good measure.
Vilma has spun the warp and weft for this loom of twill fabric, its an on going project but the end is nigh. There must be metres and metres I can't wait to see it unfurlled.
Oh and Liz popped in too, more Guild paperwork.
And what was I doing apart from being camera shy,
well I worked out the threading for my Christmas placemates and runner, and browsed with guilty pleasure through a whole lot of catalogues Nell brought in, from a recent foray to a trade craft event.
That's us for the evening crew. Maybe Isabel will do some photos to show what it is the morning group get up to. There was a lot of evidence of indigo dyeing experiments for example, oh and what is going on the big loom!
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