Cardboard City

This week, I have been helping out at the Imagine children's festival at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank. The guys from Land of Kids have put on a pirate school and a cardboard kingdom workshop and a couple of days this week I was part of the team overseeing the children who are making the cardboard architecture in their half term. 
It all started with a stunning red routemaster, the creative genius Sarah Waites of The Bungaloo, who has been running the workshops, and has grown since there into a beautiful, imaginative, inspiring installation which all the children seem to love being part of. 
They like looking at it and spotting familiar landmarks like the London Eye, Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Wembley, London Zoo, even Willy Wonka's chocolate factory! I think it is fab that lots of children have included their own homes. They also love playing with the cardboard pieces, especially the vehicles and boats on the Thames, which I realised after resurfacing the napkin road what seemed like hundreds of times while continually rescuing sinking ships!

If you have children, get down to the Southbank this weekend and add to the city, become a pirate, colour in the walls, see shows and hear stories, all completely free! Here are some pictures from the cardboard kingdom - wish I could have taken pictures of everything.

 

city lit textiles courses

One of the first things I shall be doing when back from maternity leave is teaching at City Lit. They have a huge variety of exciting Textiles courses available - here's the list of some of their upcoming classes:

This Spring/ Summer at the City Lit features an extended programme in textiles, accessories, sewing and clothes making with new courses to follow in the summer school. Courses are offered in a range of specialist areas giving you opportunities to develop design ideas, skills, and techniques and to explore and experiment with different materials and processes

Accessories

VX113 Fashioning fabrics; collars, cuffs, corsages, cameos

Fri 24/02/2012 to 30/03/2012, 6 sessions,18:00 to 21:00

Discover overlaps between textiles and jewellery to create original fashion accessories. Explore costume, and fashion trends, experiment with new or recycled materials and techniques to develop decorative, even flamboyant wearable art pieces. Tutor: Flea Cooke

VX126 Fashioning fabrics: ruffles, flounces, pleats and tucks

Sun 26/02/2012 to 18/03/2012, 4 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Develop fabric manipulation techniques to add volume, structure and drama using ruffles and flounces, pleating, tucks and gathering. Sculpt surfaces for fashion/costume detailing or create your own textile surfaces. Sewing skills required. Tutor: Flea Cooke

VX960 Felt Jewellery

Fri 02/03/2012 to Fri 30/03/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Create colourful pieces of jewellery combining the process of making your own felt with simple jewellery techniques. Learn to make felt beads, chains, brooches, rings and earrings. All levels welcome. Basic materials will be provided. Tutor: Harriet Hill

VX118 Fashioning fabrics; personality pockets and pouches

Fri 20/04/2012 to18/05/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Attached or separate, pockets can add personality. Take a fresh look at a functional form to add character, expression and embellishment. Structure cloth, create hidden or striking openings, tell a story, or be highly decorative. Tutor: Flea Cooke

Textiles

VX114 Surface pattern: design and decoration

Tue, Wed 20/03/2012 to28/03/2012, 10:3016:30

Understand pattern and repeats and develop your own designs using motifs, repeats and borders. Explore a variety of ways of applying your designs to paper and cloth. Tutor: Rachel Gornall

VX958 Creative stitched textiles

Create experimental textile samples exploring machine embroidery, manipulative and decorative stitch techniques and related textile approaches. Beginners and experienced students welcome. Tutor: Rachel Gornall

Wed 18/04/2012 to Wed 20/06/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

VX119 Textiles: approaches to drawing, sketchbooks and design development

Fri 20/04/2012 to 25/05/2012, 6 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Investigate mark-making, layering and juxtaposing ideas through experimental drawings. Explore the importance of imaginative research and how to record it in a sketchbook. Develop versatile design ideas for textiles: interiors, fashion, stationary or textile art. Tutor: Charlotte Hardy

VX952 The textile course 1: evenings; colour and pattern

Tue 24/04/2012 to 13/07/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Project based course for personal development or to begin to build a portfolio for further studies. The emphasis is on developing your ideas and practice using a variety of materials and processes. Basic materials included. Each term has a different focus. Term 3: Colour and pattern. Tutor: Louise Baldwin

VX972 Felt: developing techniques and ideas

Sat 19/05/2012 to 09/06/2012, 4 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Develop your skills and confidence in making felt as you combine a number of techniques, enabling you to explore your own ideas and personal projects. Tutor: Harriet Hill

VX985 Hand knitting for improvers

Sun 20/05/2012 to 03/06/2012, 3 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Working with different sized needles and experimenting with different yarns, produce swatches as the basis for designing your own garments or fine art structures. Basic materials included. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie click to view

VX120 Textiles: Recycle, Reuse, Retell

Sun 06/05/2012 to 13/05/2012, 2 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Recycle your old favourite fabrics into a small experimental quilt; exploring the idea that textile carries many memories and secrets. Re-tell your story or journey of these fabrics, using patching, piecing, darning and machine stitching. Tutor: Amarjeet Nandhra

VX121 Manipulated textiles using heat setting techniques

Sun13/05/2012 to27/05/2012, 3 sessions10:30 to16:30

Create innovative subtle or dramatic fabrics using heat to permanently structure the surface. Explore the creative potential of crumpling, crushing, pole wrapping, stitching and colouring, tying in objects and using origami moulds to shape fabric. Tutor: Caroline Bartlett

VX122 Crochet for improvers

Fri 01/06/2012 to 29/06/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

An improvers crochet course for those who know how to crochet but want to progress from the basic stitches. You will learn advanced techniques such as shaping, working in the round, cluster stitches and reading patterns. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie click to view

VX123 An introduction to fabric printing

12/06/2012 to 3/07/12, 4 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

An introduction to simple and effective methods of printing using silkscreen, block and mono-printing. Experiment with effects of opaque and transparent colour and finishes such as foiling and explore colour, shape and texture. Tutor: Caroline Bartlett

VX214 Structural crochet: working with 3D forms

Sun 17/06/2012 to Sun 24/06/2012, 2 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

For intermediate crocheters, wanting to progress from flat swatches/fabrics. Develop three dimensional pieces for jewellery, fashion items or sculptural objects using advanced techniques such as shaping, working in the round and free forming. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie

Sewing and Clothesmaking

VX105 The clothes making course 3: day

Tue 17/04/2012 to 29/05/2012; 7 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30Further your sewing skills and techniques through working on your own personal project. Demonstrate improved skills in the making of clothes and complete a well fitted and professionally finished garment using a bought pattern. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX106 The clothes making course 3; evening

Thu 19/04/2012 to 21/06/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Further develop your clothes making skills through working on your own assignments whilst learning new techniques. Learn further collars, pleats, lining etc. through demonstrations. You will receive help and advice from your tutor. Tutor: Jasmine Carey

VX997 Clothes making intensive 3

Sun 10/06/2012 to 24/06/2012, 3 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Further your skills through working on your own assignments whilst learning new techniques. Learn collars, plackets, pleats, frills, gathers etc. through demonstrations. Help and advice at hand. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX116 Introduction to using a commercial sewing pattern

Sun 01/04/2012, 10:30 to 16:30

Learn how to buy a pattern for your size and how to cut it out. Recognise symbols and keys in the instructions and follow fabric lays for your style. Understand what some of the puzzling sewing terminology means. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX998 General sewing to survive! – an Introduction to Sewing

Fri 01/06/2012 to 29/06/2012, 5 sessions 18:00 to 21:00

You will learn mainly machine and a few hand sewing skills, through sample work, such as seam finishes, hems and buttonholes, inserting zips, and move on to complete a small project like a cushion. Tutor: Dawn Burton

SUMMER SCHOOL

The new Summer School Course Guide will be published on 9^th March with enrolment from 11^th March, featuring more Textiles, Fashion, Sewing and Clothesmaking courses that will take place between the end of June and the end of July. Reserve your copy of the new Course Guide.

You can find out more about our courses, by visiting our website, or call 020 7492 2700 / 03, or email visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk.

nest knitting games

I went along to the Nest knitting games at the weekend which were loads of fun!




They had knitted fruit and vegetables in the window which were judged to be the best for all sorts of reasons like the sweetest, longest and tastiest. Yum!


There was a guess the city honey contest, with a city honey and a country honey to judge which were best. I liked A, and will find out which was which very soon hopefully.

I also want to know who won the fastest knitting competition as I had to leave before it took place, they would have walked away with the very covetable knitted cup!

The sale is still on, so even if you missed the fun of the knitting games, there are plenty of reasons to visit the lovely nest!

RCA Textiles show

Last week I popped along to the RCA textiles private view on a very hot and muggy day (how do they choose the hottest day EVERY year?!?)

The knitted textiles students were all very diverse which meant an interesting show. Fiona Brooker's pretty watercolours translated beautifully into her textural knits, made up of stripes of many different gauges, stitches and fibres, the mohair working especially well at blending the colours as in her painting. The palette is pretty and quite calming, creating throws perfect for snuggling under in the colder months.

Lucy Faulke exhibited some crochet, which is fabulous to see, and not only that but she used it in an interesting and orginal way, combining with plastics and using oversized hairpin lace from looms she made herself to create interesting pieces which could become furniture or jewellery.

Victoria Campbell's stunning monochrome pieces were bejewelled with metal beads, chain and metallic yarn to create beautifully elegant evening wear.

Helen Paine used heavy printing techniques on brightly coloured, fine knits to create very modern, wearable pieces.

Victoria Bulmer used recycled denim very effectively to create energetic, textural garments for men - which is unusual in itself for knitwear, most students aim for womenswear. She had also produced a very professional looking fold out pamphlet of a range of her pieces instead of business cards.

There was an interesting and original layout to the show this year, with each textiles student interspersed with a product design one. I think the two disciplines go well together and it was interesting to see the textiles students who used interesting products and form in their work and the product students who utilised textiles in an interesting way. For me, the most fascinating of these was Marina Dragomirova who used Bulgarian carpet making traditions to create chairs that take the form of looms, with the warp and weft making the seat - fabulous! She also has a diverse range of other products, which are just as interesting.

The show has unfortunately now closed, but I am sure there will be many more gems in next years batch of graduates!

First of two parter at City Lit last weekend, it's a 3D crochet class, so much fun was had making beads, weird and wonderful shapes and ruffles. Next class we will be concentrating on surface texture and experimenting, so more pictures to show with the outcomes of that next week!

experimental handknitting

My first class of the year at City Lit was an experimental class, where we all basically sat around and played with yarn, stitch and colour for six Friday evenings! I had some very creative students who even had the chance to have a great week making their samples into felt with Heather Belcher while I was away in Florence. Here are some of the fabulous colours and strange yarns and fibres they put together.

Some beautiful samples made from yarn, ribbons and other oddments, plus the string saved from a well known veg box - that is what I call recycling with style!

nest

It was with great excitement that this morning I visited the new knitting shop around the corner from my flat. Nest is not only just a few minutes walk away but is full to brimming of fabulous yarns that I have not seen sold in other bricks and mortar shops.

I love the way the shop has J C Rennie yarn on cones, which you can buy spun off into little balls of the exact weight that you need and wrapped in beautiful brown paper nest labels (above).

Other exciting stock is malabrigo yarns, (including Rasta and Lace which are both used in Linda Permann's Pebble hat in the Christmas issue of Inside Crochet) Drops yarn and patterns and British based John Arbon, Skein Queen and Fyberspates.

I was also saved from a trip into town by purchasing some lovely black and gold beads for a crochet project, which you can buy by weight (60p for 10g - very reasonable!) and was tempted by hello kitty buttons and vintage knitting books, maybe next time!

I spoke to Amy, one of the owners of the shop and her young man (who was clad in a very fetching hand made jumper) who are very friendly and I

have already heard tales of groups sitting down with tea

to knit and natter so I am thinking that this is going to be a cosy, must-see destination for North London knitters very soon - get down there while it is still quiet and they have plenty of stock!

While all of this is definitely a good thing, I can see myself frequently popping out for some groceries and ending up with armfuls of yarn and no dinner. Temptation should never be placed this close, to your doorstep!

Stitching and Knitting

I have finally found a free moment to fill you in on what else went on at the stitch and knit show at Ally Pally this year so here are pictures of some of the things which inspired me most....

Of course the students' work was my first port of call, as I love seeing

what the fresh young designers of tomorrow will be creating. This year I was mainly looking at crochet, following the trend that I seem to be following lately and for a change there was quite a bit of it!

Grace Hamilton's very wearable statement jewellery was my favourite as it was unique and exciting yet practical.

Emma Philpot's knitted and crocheted sculptural dresses were not new to me as I had first noticed them at her graduate fashion show, but it was great to get to see them up close and personal and they did not disappoint.

I was on the Kal Media stand all weekend, which was fabulous as I got to meet loads of people who I had only got to know virtually, and the new issue of Inside Crochet was really well received, which was lovely.

This is the Artyarns stand, which was a magpie's dream - all sparkles and glitter with heavily embellished luxury yarns glinting in the artificial light. Their yarn is also the one in the top picture, which just demonstrates what a fabulously vivid colour palette of yarns they stock.

Finally, (as I could go on forever, but bedtime calls) here's a glimpse of Mrs Moon's store. I have not yet managed to get down to the relatively new yarn shop in south London. It looks adorable, with pretty candy coloured yarns and decorated with girly printed wallpapers.