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Sept / Oct 2016 Newsletter
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NADINE'S DVD'S AVAILABLE on
www.amazon.com
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And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.
Roald Dahl
Dear Readers,
At the bottom of this newsletter are listed my classes for the remainder of 2016.
I spent the month of June in Scotland and England. While there I received a newsletter from my local San Diego Creative Weavers Guild. There was an article by textile artist Michael Crompton telling about growing up in Manchester (which happened to be my home-base during my trip!) and his grandmother's stories about working in the industrial cotton textile mills. He writes,
"As she grew, she graduated to a bobbin winder and finally to a loom minder and worked up to six looms at the same time. When she heard that I was thinking of finding a job in a mill she summoned me and told of the many dangers and hazards of such places. She was stone deaf from the noise of the machinery, the continuous drive belts of the Lancashire Looms, the recalcitrant flying shuttles which would shoot up through the warps, and of the air filled with cotton fibres; all were a real danger and must be considered most seriously."
For anyone who would like to read his entire article, it can be found
here.
I found his story very inspiring of being a young lad and collecting yarn scraps, bobbins, strings and bits of machinery which led to his experimentation with embroidery, knotting and weaving.
Coincidentally I toured a textile mill a few days later and his story really helped to enrich my experience. I visited the Quarry Bank Mill at Styal, Cheshire. It's a working mill producing spun fiber and cloth. It is
one of the best preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution and is now a museum of the cotton industry and inspired the 2013 television series The Mill.
Touring the mill is like taking a step back in time.
The mill is on the bank of the River Bollin which provided water to power the waterwheels. I was surprised to learn that the cotton produced by U.S. slaves was shipped to England for processing. That was left out of my history books at school.
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Prior to 1830 spinning mills produced cotton that was put out to hand-loom weavers who worked in their own homes or small loom shops. Hand-loom weaving continued in parallel to power loom weaving throughout the 19th century. In a weaver's home the children carded the fiber, the women spun the fiber into yarn (hence the term "spinster!") and the men did the weaving. When the man of the household died, he passed on his most precious possession, his loom, to his oldest son, hence the term "heirloom." I find the origins of words fascinating!
Weaving sheds were added to the Mill in 1836 and 1838 and housed 305 looms. In the Mill you can immerse yourself in the clattering and whirring of machines and discover what working life was like during the Industrial Revolution (not very pleasant). If you're a weaver or interested in history, I would highly recommend making this a destination. It was not only extremely educational, but in a beautiful setting along a river with lovely gardens and woods. The volunteers were all enthusiastic, well informed and demonstrated the machinery. My favorite was the massive water wheel.
Visitors can also t
ake a guided tour of the Apprentice House which housed the pauper children who worked in the Mill and learn about their working and home lives. You can also stroll to Styal Village built to house the Mill workers, which is still a thriving community, or walk through ancient woods along the River Bollin.
A few days earlier I visited
The Puzzling Place in Keswick, England. It's a whimsical store filled with entertaining illusions that challenge the brain. Thought my readers might enjoy a photo of me in one of their "crazy" rooms!
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You can take one of my classes for FREE! Yes, I said FREE! If you gather 4 or more friends to arrange a private workshop with me, YOUR class fee is zero! Just email me at [email protected] if you would like to ask questions or schedule a private workshop.
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THINGS TO DO
CARLSBAD
2016 Annual Juried Exhibition
Through September 17
This mixed media exhibit features paintings, glass, beaded vessels, quilts, photography, basketry and more. I have one piece in the show and also several pieces for sale in the gallery.
http://www.frontporchgallery.org/
CORONADO
Coronado Art Walk
September 10 & 11
10am - 5 pm
The 2-day Coronado Art Walk is held at the Coronado Ferry Landing. Paintings, hand crafted jewelry, photography, ceramics and other mediums will be featured. Free admission
http://www.coronadoartwalk.com/
LOS ANGELES
Trish Lange Designer Handwovens
Through September 3
This exhibition features work by Trish Lange, a nationally recognized designer of handwoven clothing. Over thirty-five years ago, Lange ventured into garment design, creating pieces with drape and high glamour at a time when most hand-weaving was heavy and ethnic. Lange's creative work in this exhibition illustrates her wide range of technique and uniqueness as a designer. This is especially seen in her ensembles made from unusual materials, which include garments made from signage tape, bubble wrap, and mylar ribbon. Other work displayed in the gallery are wall hangings with a sense of humor and garments inspired by "challenges" from fiber groups Lange belongs to.
Exhibit located at the Branch Gallery,1031 W. Manchester Blvd, Inglewood
The Branch Gallery is a project of The Knitting Tree, L.A., a fiber retail space in Los Angeles' Culver City. It is a community space offering materials and classes for knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners and other fiber crafters and artists.
OCEANSIDE
California Fibers: Eclectic Threads
Through Oct 9
2 & 3-D artwork from current members of
California Fibers. This invitational juried exhibition features a range of fiber and textile arts in media such as silk, cotton, bamboo, palm, wool, wire, and paper, using techniques including weaving, basketry, quilting, embroidery, and felting. Oceanside Museum of Art
http://oma-online.org/
SAN DIEGO
Trolley Dances
September 24 & 25 and October 1 & 2
This is a truly unique event - passengers on the San Diego Trolley are led by volunteers to get on and off the trolley at specific stations to view the dance performances which are set in unexpected locations!
http://www.sandiegodancetheater.org
VENTURA
Ventura Art & Street Painting Festival
September 10 and 11
10 am-5 pm
Ventura Harbor Village
Fifty artists will be showing and selling their work in a juried fine arts and fine crafts show, while fifty street painters will be creating vibrant works of art on the sidewalks along the docks.
VISTA
Vista Fiber Arts Fiesta
October 1 & 2 10am - 4 pm
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 North Santa Fe
Fiber artists, guilds, and vendors will be at the Fiesta showcasing their work, demonstrating their skills, and selling their creations, wearable art, and supplies. Local fiber artists will also be selling their finished work. Meet and pet baby alpacas and listen to live music. Free admission, $5 parking.
www.VistaFiberArtsFiesta.com
The West Coast Clock & Watch Museum will have an amazing array of antique clocks on display and the Vista Gem and Mineral Society show will be taking place this weekend too.
The Museum will be open all weekend so you can see examples of mechanical ingenuity and crafts associated with the early days of the American farm and rural community. On Saturday, October 1, you can also visit the Model Railroad display and the Blacksmith Shop.
Also during the weekend, the San Diego County Spinners will be doing a demonstration/practice run for the International "Back to Back" Wool Challenge.
OHIO
Leap Before You Look
Sept 17 2016 - January 1, 2017
A travelling exhibit chronicling Black Mountain College, an alternative liberal arts school in North Carolina that attracted students from around the world from 1933-1957.
VIRGINIA
And Still We Rise: Race, Culture, and Visual Conversations
Sept 24 - December 31, 2016
An exhibition of quilts that honor African American history. Works in this exhibition give voice to the unique histories of African American men and women and relate the stories of enslaved people, soldiers, athletes, poets, political leaders, and many others while also drawing attention to social challenges America continues to face today.
PENNSYLVANIA
Through November 1, 2018
Native American Voices: The People Here and Now
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CLASSES
BEGINNING PINE NEEDLE
BASKET WEAVING
In this introductory class students will start a pine needle basket around a polished stone cabochon. The swirling stitch is taught with a unique method that lines up stitches on both sides of the basket, making the vessel attractive on the inside as well as the outside. Students also learn how to shape their basket and how to taper down and finish the final coil. The coiling method can later be used to weave other plant materials including sweetgrass, palm inflorescence and leaves from a wide variety of common plants.
Repeat students are invited to attend to learn more advanced techniques as time permits.
San Diego Botanical Gardens
Saturday August 13 10am - 4pm
Art Lounge on 101
Sunday October 30 10am - 4 pm
Golden West Community College
Saturday November 5 10am - 3 pm
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NADINE'S HOME STUDIO WORKSHOPS
The home workshops are kept small to provide a generous amount of individual instruction tailored to each student's skill level and interest such as: Learning how to coil a basket, or for more experienced students, shaping of vessels, novel starts such as walnut slices or other objects with holes, beaded centers, fancy stitches (wheat stitch, diamond stitch, fern stitch, inserting beads between coils using the mariposa stitch) handles, teneriffe, lidded vessels, sculptural techniques, and much more!
Both beginning and experienced basket weavers are welcome. Show 'n Share is a fun part of the workshop, so please bring any baskets you've made to share with the group.
Since enrollment is kept small, early registration is recommended. Email Nadine
[email protected] to verify there's an opening, then send a check with a note specifying which class date you want to attend. Students are welcome to bring their own materials (pine needles must be washed and dried) or a started basket; supplies are always available for purchase in class.
Classes at Nadine's home
Encinitas, CA
To enroll (760) 944-9369
2016
August 27
November 19
December 10
10 am - 4 pm $50.00
Basket Kits (optional) $37.00
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