Warp&Weft Contents Contact details 2 Editorial 3 Tributes 4 Meeting reports: September 2006 7 April 2007 10 Features A bit of Weaving History and a Weekend Break 14 Exhibition review: ‘Indigo: A Blue to Dye For 16 Profi le: Allya Khan 18 Membership news 19 Library 21 Future meetings 22 What’s On 24 Association AGM 26 The Newsletter of the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Issue 226 June 2007 Warp and Weft Issue 226 London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers www.londonguildofweavers.org.uk President Daphne Ratcliffe - [email protected] 020 8997 0291 Vice Presidents Aileen Kennedy Nancy Lee Child Mary Smith Executive Committee: Officers Chair - Jenifer Midgley [email protected] 020 8892 4708 (and interim Treasurer) Secretary - Ann Brooks [email protected] 01494 726189 Committee members Librarian - Jean Derby [email protected] 020 8560 0483 Exhibitions Officer - Allya Khan [email protected] 07970 155127 Membership Secretary - Noreen Roberts [email protected] 020 8973 1847 Lola McDowell - [email protected] 020 8749 0923 Sharen McGrail - [email protected] 020 8446 3418 Programme Secretary - Marianne Medcalf [email protected] 07800 839082 Editor of Warp & Weft - (Vacancy) [email protected] Webmaster – Brenda Gibson [email protected] 020 8673 4914 Page 2 June 2007 Editorial Following the resignation of Maggie Ruddy as editor of Warp and Weft we have had to face the embarrassing situation of being unable to find a successor. Brenda Gibson, with her usual efficiency, produced the last issue for which the committee and I am sure the entire membership are very grateful. This issue has now been put together as a joint effort and we hope any obvious faults and omissions will be forgiven. We are attempting to bring the newsletter up to date with reports from past meetings. However, we appeal to all our members to help us in our efforts to keep up the high standard of Warp and Weft and would welcome comments on the content, contributions for future issues and most of all an offer to fill the post of Editor. The next issue will provide information on the procedure for submitting work for our biennial exhibition, 11th – 20th October, so start putting some ideas together re ‘Shades of Autumn’. The Weave Study Group continues to meet every two months and is at present looking at techniques using parallel threading. In the coming months we have some fascinating talks on offer with linen, rugs and silk so we hope our meetings will continue to be well attended. Jenifer Midgley and Ann Brooks Page 3 Warp and Weft Issue 226 A Tribute to Melanie Guild. She continued to contribute to committee meetings by sending Venes Seven Years’ Presi- ideas, advice and comments via email dency or phone. She is one of the longest serving members and knows the past Throughout my years as Membership and present members better than Secretary, which almost coincided most; her information on former with Melanie’s Presidency, whenever members is invaluable, as is her anyone joined the Guild, I always knowledge of suitable and unsuitable asked ‘How did you hear about the speakers for meetings. Guild?’ and inevitably the answer To me one of Melanie’s best was ‘From Melanie’, less often ‘From attributes is her ability to realise the your website’. Take away all the potential of others and encourage, members taught by Melanie, either dare I say sometimes bully, them into at Handweavers, the Crypt, Adult action. It took a lot of persuasion Education Classes or Summer School on her part to get me to join the and the Guild would be decimated. Committee. Later she decided that Melanie’s knowledge of our three I would be the organiser of the 50th disciplines is extensive, used to its full Golden Anniversary. My immediate at the Annual Competitions, where reaction was ‘I can’t’, but at her she has commented on all entries; insistence and, with Aase Walker’s complimenting, giving constructive help, I did. Last year towards the end criticism or asking the process used of her term as President, I understand in the making. Melanie sets herself that Melanie was instrumental in the highest standards and encourages suggesting me as her successor. Again others to do the same. I said ‘I can’t’, again I did. Melanie, Seven years as President was but thank you for pushing me into tasks the last of Melanie’s posts; prior to I felt incapable of fulfilling, but in this she was Chairman, Mid Week hindsight, I have thoroughly enjoyed. Secretary and Exhibitions Officer to I am sure that many more members name but a few. Who can forget the feel the same. ’93 and ’95 Exhibitions held at the As I take on the daunting task of Globe Theatre whilst building work following in your footsteps Melanie, was still in progress. Never to miss may I, on behalf of all the members of an opportunity, Melanie borrowed the Guild, give you our sincere thanks the workmen’s wheelbarrows and the for your immense contribution to the bundles of reeds, ready for thatching, continuing success of the London as props for the exhibits. Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. Although Melanie’s time as President coincided with her move to Daphne Ratcliffe Norfolk, she never lost touch with the Page 4 the handweavers studio & gallery ltd JUNE 17/18 & 24/25 LOOM WEAVING I & II (4 days split into two weekends, ideal for beginners) Wide range of Fibres, Fleece, Yarns, Equipment, Dyes, Russell Dyes and Books, Educational Discounts. Send stamp for mail order catalogue. Better still, call in and see our stock. We will not be at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace this October 2007. We are still in Haroldstone Road, busier than ever. Novelty Yarns, Rayon Yarns and Merino Wool Tops are still available at 50p. The Silks are still £2.00. Send us snips of yarns and colours that you would like. We will miss seeing you in person. Open 10 am - 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday Closed Sunday and Monday 29 Haroldstone Road London E17 7AN 020 8521 2281 E-mail address: [email protected] Web site: http://handweaversstudio.co.uk Warp and Weft Issue 226 Brenda Gibson On accepting the nomination for Chair of the Guild at the AGM I must offer on behalf of us all very sincere thanks to Brenda who has held this Office since March 2002. During these five years she has firmly held the reins of the committee and I know it will not be easy to follow efficiently in her footsteps. Brenda, of course, has been so much more than our Chairman, having set a great standard as Editor of Warp and Weft up to 2002, she has also set up and developed our web site and thankfully will continue as Webmaster sending us news items, reminders of events and encouraging us to enjoy the electronic version of Warp and Weft in full colour. The Committee has indeed benefited much from her input and I hope will continue to do so. Jenifer Midgley Page 6 June 2007 Meeting reports with her history of silk weaving, use of inlay and tapestry techniques to September 2006: Sue Hiley Harris embellish scarves and garments and - My own work it was fascinating to hear how she then progressed to three dimensional Our meeting in September 2006 gave forms. us an up to date account of the work After years of weaving with silk, of Sue Hiley Harris. Those of us even to the extent of rearing her who have been taught by Sue or have own silkworms and taking an Open heard her speak before are familiar University science degree, she then turned to other fibres including linen, Caption hemp, paper, copper wire and also nylon monofilament. Early days in Queensland teaching the principles of perspective drawing have influenced her more recent work. A number of small pieces were produced for an exhibition of miniature textiles in France and later in Brecon larger pieces were produced involving even more elaborate folding, twisting and interlacing of the woven elements. Sometimes the twist of a singles yarn, particularly with hemp, allowed the piece to adapt to the nature of the yarn. Occasionally colour was introduced by using indigo and cochineal. The exhibition in Brecon could have been spoilt by the lack of natural light from covered windows but clever lighting allowed these pieces to throw shadows which enhanced many of the displays. A smaller exhibition in Stroud was displayed in a darkened room where the hanging forms, mostly woven with reflective yarns, shone brightly again with clever lighting. Considerable time is spent at the planning stage, immaculate drawings are made and a paper model produced before embarking on the weaving. Page 7 Warp and Weft Issue 226 Caption This work is much in demand for and we were so privileged to hear Sue exhibitions around Europe and relate the stages of her career with also in the USA, she is soon to take very welcome tit bits of advice, i.e. work to a linen festival in Quebec. how to deal with the ends of warps Collaboration with other artists is when with a complex structure and another feature of her work and also listening to Radio 4 or story tapes to to displays in the open air. Coming keep the mind from wandering . How to Cardiff for “Craft in the Bay” is a and where will her weaving go next, joint display of her work with sculptor we hope she will be back once more to Richard Renshaw.