Hue & Dye

Bonfire Night

2012-01-24T13:44:00.001Z

I'm planning to use some of these photos for my sketchbooks. Fireworks (when you can capture them!) are an obvious choice for interpretation into textiles but the photos of the bonfire have some fabulous movement, texture and shade that I think will be very interesting to explore.

This one was just for fun! I think it's called the frog - but it was very funny!

And one of my lovely niece and great-niece (none of my nephew as I couldn't catch him!)

And the grown-ups - yes, we got sparklers too : )

October Clubs - Jack O'Lantern

2012-01-23T10:14:00.004Z

A warm and spicy shade for Autumn!

Shetland humbug...

And alpaca/nylon sock...

Northern Quarter Art

2012-01-22T10:39:00.002Z

On a wander to meet the lovely Tracey for a bit of retail therapy (and an essential stop at the Sugar Junction, naturally), I spotted this...

Isn't it fantastic?

Hydrangeas in Bloom - September club colourway

2012-01-20T16:46:00.000Z

Keeping up the momentum (and nearly up to date!), September's colourway was "Hydrangeas in Bloom".

By September a lot of our flowers have finished and we’re busy deadheading in the garden. However, we are still enjoying the lovely hydrangeas. I find it quite fascinating that colours can be changed purely by altering the quality of the soil. I use my alum mordant to get the blue-y purple shades in my garden as these are my favourites (and it’s a good use for my buckets of mordant water!).

And here is my interpretation of our hydrangeas, a lovely Merino Superwash sock yarn.

Making books, boxes and journals!

2012-01-20T10:20:00.001Z

Can't believe I nearly forgot to post about this!

This was one of the highlights of the Guild calendar for me last year. Although we are essentially a Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers we like to mix it up occasionally with something a little different. Judith Fearnley is a lovely lady who makes the most awesome journals, handmade books and boxes. I had a fantastic day making books with her in 2010 so I was delighted to hear she was visiting again in 2011.

This is how the day started (note how tidy and organised we were)...

A couple of hours later - not so organised but Julia and I were having a great time...

My work in progress - this will be a sketchbook for my OCA course

And our completed project for the day - cute boxes covered with old maps!

And two finished projects from Judith's last class..

August clubs - Wheatfield at Sunset

2012-01-19T13:47:00.000Z

Mmm, that glowing sunset is making me feel warm despite the cold weather!

Clubs for August were Superwash Bluefaced Leicester/nylon sock yarn

And a lovely Whitefaced Woodland roving....

I don't mind the winter because it brings its own beauty and without it we wouldn't enjoy the lovely plants and flowers and landscape that we do but seeing that picture does make me think "Roll on Summer"!

Club socks courtesy of Susanne : )

2012-01-19T08:47:00.000Z

A special thank you to Susanne who came to my rescue in the hunt for the July colourway!

Here are some fab socks she knitted with her parcel...

Thanks so much for the pics, Susanne and love the socks!

Club pics July, sort of - Scots Pine

2012-01-12T11:30:00.000Z

The observant among you will notice the absence of July yarn and fibre pics (!). Not only do I not know what happened to the pics, other than knowing that the colourway was Scots Pine, I have no recollection of what it even looked like! What I do know is that the inspiration was my trip to Summer School in Edinburgh and that this was the photo-inspiration...

and this is how I described the colourway...

"The Scots pine is a particularly beautiful shade of blue-green, and is, as I discovered, quite elusive to capture in a dye. I have used a merino/tencel yarn to create the reflective quality of the pine needles and gentle combinations of dyes to give a subtly variegated colourway".

So club members, if you have a photo of your parcel, please do let me know, and for everyone else, I'm afraid I shall have to leave it to your imagination!

(And I do have photos for the rest of the year - I have checked!).

Dyeing across the Pennines

2012-01-10T13:08:00.000Z

More trips across the M62 in November for dyeing workshops at Baa Ram Ewe in Leeds and Spun in Huddersfield. (It takes a lot to keep a Yorkshire lass in Lancashire for too long!).

Getting busy with lots of laughs and richest rainbows in Leeds....

And creative fun and the best ever use for disposable plastic beakers in Huddersfield....

Thanks for two great days, girls - I do like to end the year on a colourful note!

And if you're feeling inspired by all these colour-filled adventures, you can catch me at Purl City Yarns in Manchester this Saturday (14th)

Year-End Gig Round-up!

2012-01-10T10:02:00.001Z

Bit of a theme to gigs towards the end of 2011. As you know Pete and I are big fans of the King Blues (vis a vis the link. The King Blues' style is quite upfront so if you are not cool with bad language or you have youngsters nearby, you may prefer to give the link a miss).

We took the opportunity to see them in Manchester at the Academy 2, then found out that they were one of the bands playing with Billy Bragg as part of his Leftfield in Motion tour back in my home town of Leeds so we got a second bite at the cherry, notwithstanding seeing Billy Bragg, too!

What a great gig! So, one way and another we started and ended 2011 with a King Blues/Billy Bragg sandwich.

Not forgetting Kate Tempest and fellow Londoners Sound of Rum who are another great band, well worth seeing if you get the chance.

Oh, and I get my official groupie award for having my copy Billy Bragg's new CD Fight Songs

...signed by the man himself! Yeay!

Onto June Clubs - Forest Fells

2012-01-09T10:00:00.001Z

Apologies, only seem to be able to find one pic for this month!

June 2011 Roving Medley Club - Forest Fells

Soft merino blended with lustrous tencel

Not sure what happened to pics of the Sock and Fibre Adventure Clubs so if anyone has any piccies (of the originals or what you made from them - please let me know!).

Clubs catch-up - May 2011 - Stained Glass

2012-01-08T15:12:00.000Z

Hot on the heels of April's offering, I give you May club piccies -

Stained Glass...
(sunglasses recommended for the delicate of vision - or those with large, hi-res monitors!)

Roving Medley - Falkland roving

Sock club - Superwash wool/nylon

Fibre Adventure Club - Falkand roving, baby alpaca fleece (I could curl up and hibernate in this stuff!) and silk hankies.

Club catch-up pics - April - strawberrry truffle

2012-01-08T14:16:00.000Z

As I am making way for what is arguably the most embarrassing blogpost ever, I'm going to get busy with a series of quick posts to round off 2011....

Clubs for April - Strawberry Truffle

Supersock Medley - Alpaca/nylon squooshiness

Roving Medley -70% natural champagne alpaca/30% organic merino - softness to dye for!

Fibre Adventure Club - Alpaca/merino roving, Exmoor x BFL fleece and baby silk/camel blend.

(and the embarrasing blogpost? Well, you'll just have to wait - but it involves designing...)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2012-01-05T11:31:00.000Z

I hope everyone had a lovely break! We had a few day's rest and relaxation, spending family time together, catching up on a 97% full hard-drive of recorded tv (!), eating more chocolate and cake than was strictly healthy and generally taking some time out.

2012 looks set to be a busy year with workshops and shows already filling up the diary - look out for details on the website soon. Writing on the book re-commenced as of yesterday ( 6 8 spreads written so far!) and some OCA sketching. We've also got an awesome new video camera so watch this space for news of some exciting developments on the teaching front!

I have a couple of posts to round off last year then it'll be full steam ahead for 2012. I don't really do New Year's Resolutions but I have got lots of ideas to share with you and I do have a couple of "old faithfuls" that will be on my list this year (more exercise, better diet, more early nights - sound familiar?). How about you? What's on your list for 2012?

Looking forward to reading your blogs, meeting up with you wherever/whenever possible and generally sharing our goings-on!

Debbie
x

Club piccies!

2011-12-06T12:20:00.000Z

More pics of this year's clubs....

March...Teal Green Agate

Fibre Adventure - Some lovely Merino roving, Romney fleece and some very interesting (and rather nice to dye) Chitin fibre.

Roving medley was a swirl of squooshy Merino

And for Sock Club members, my custom-spun Merino twist

Day 5 of the Christmas Countdown!

2011-12-05T16:59:00.000Z

Visit the Countdown Christmas tree and click on the bauble for Day 5 to see what today's special offer will bring!

On a related note, a couple of people have asked whether they can order their Countdown goodies and wait to have them all shipped together later to save on postage.

Absolutely! If you don't want to miss out on the day's offer but are waiting to see what's still to come, that's no problem at all. Order as normal on promotion day then when you get to the payment page on Paypal there's a box for message to merchant (it doesn't appear until right before payment). Just type in there that you'd like me to hang onto your order and combine the postage (or email me) and I'll keep your goodies until you're ready.

Simply drop me an email when you've finished shopping and I'll parcel up all your goodies and you'll only pay the postage for the total combined order. (Excess postage will be refunded via paypal when your parcel is posted).

U is for...Updates

2011-12-01T15:26:00.000Z

...sock and fibre club updates to be specific.

It was actually someone else who mentioned that I haven't posted any pics of my club yarns and fibres for absolutely ages and when I looked back in the archives (brushes off cobwebs and sneezes at rising dust cloud), I haven't done an update since January! My bad : (

Rather than crash everyone's internet with the pic-heavy post of the year, I'll do this tranches over the next couple of days. Starting with February then we had...

My Funny Valentine

(sock club inexplicably missing - if anyone has a pic, either the yarn or finished project, do let me know!)

Roving Medley - sproingy Corriedale

Fibre Adventure Club - Corriedale roving, Portland fleece, silk throwsters waste and merino silk roving

Red!

X is for,,,Xmas

2011-12-01T14:16:00.000Z

...Newsletter just out!

(Yes, a little predictable, I know, but it is quite true, the Christmas Newsletter is out today!).

There's still time to sign up and receive this issue's Subscriber-only Offer so if you would like up-to-date news of new products, what's happening and when, you can sign up on the homepage on the website at www.dtcrafts.co.uk or email me at subscribe@dtcrafts.co.uk.

If you signed up for the newsletter but haven't received it, it may have been captured by the spam filter. If it isn't hiding in your spam folder (or, shock horror, your trash can), please let me know and I'll check I have your correct details on the mailing list.

(And of course, I don't want to pester you with unwanted emails so any time you want to be removed from the list, a quick email to unsubscribe@dtcrafts.co.uk or click on the link at the bottom of any newsletter, and I'll action it straightaway).

W is for.....Woo Hoo!

2011-11-24T10:00:00.001Z

Ha ha, no, not wool! Any why? Because I had some fantastic news recently. I’ve just signed a new book and video deal! Squeeeee!

I’ve been bursting to tell everyone about this exciting new project but had to keep myself in check until I had confirmation that the book would be going ahead. As we've now got the green light I can stop feeling fit to pop and tell you all about it.

Back in the summer I was approached by Quarto publishing to see if I’d like to write a knitting book. But this was to be a book with a difference. Have you seen the little black patterned squares that are popping up everywhere? Apparently they are called QR codes and they allow you to scan the code (like a barcode) into your smartphone and then when you click on it, it takes you to the relevant website. So, the new book will have QR codes for each knitting technique and you’ll be able to go directly to a video tutorial which will show the technique in action – amazing, no? And I’ll be writing the words and doing the video tutorials!

After submitting the précis, Pete and I did a test shoot, complete with live commentary. We then went to London for a photo and video shoot with the publisher. It was very interesting to work with another photographer and see things from a different perspective.

The funniest part was then doing a voiceover for the clips. Rather than record live I had to record the voiceover whilst watching my clips. I had no idea how hard this would be! Even though it was my hands, getting the timing right with all the right words in the right places was quite the challenge. The best part was, having decided on about my 20^th attempt that I’d finally got it, I left it for Pete to review, only to hear him laughing his head off from the study as he listened to my dulcet Yorskhire tones. And what was the cause of all this amusement? The aeroplane flying over in full throttle part way through the soundtrack! I was so busy concentrating I was completely oblivious. Oops.

So here are a couple of shots from the day in London.

Lunch in Camden....

And a view over the lock...

A walk around one of my fave spots in London - Camden Lock's funky shops..

And in the studio...

I've been down to London this week for the first planning meeting so keep tuned in for progress updates...... : )

"W" was brought to you by the ABC meme

T is for....Textiles in Sussex

2011-11-23T17:11:00.000Z

Another lovely visit to Lewes for the East Sussex Guild’s biennial exhibition and sale. The members’ work was as beautiful as ever and we had an excellent time. We were rather busy so not much time to take photos but I did sneak off the stall for a few minutes for a bit of “retail therapy” ; )

And here’s a quick peak at my little stash of goodies:

Buttons & fasteners from Textile Garden

Nettle yarn from the Transrural Trust

Sari fabric strips from Janet at the Threshing Barn for my OCA course (you have no idea how long it took me to choose the colours, they were all so pretty!)

Threads from the Handweavers’ Gallery (also for the OCA course – I never bought anything this exciting for my Classics degree!)

And, the piece de la resistance, a Russian spindle and ceramic bowl from Ian Tait at IST Spindles. This one is being wrapped back up as it may yet be a Christmas present but I’m not sure if I can wait that long…..

Many thanks to the Guild for inviting us back this year and a huge thank you to all the members who helped us ferrying boxes in and out of the car, supplied us with regular teas, coffees and biscuits and even provided lunch orders to keep us fed and watered. Oh, and Pete says I mustn’t forget to mention the scrumptious homemade cakes : )

T is today's catch-up post for the ABC meme

Movember needs you!

2011-11-23T14:36:00.001Z

My Mobro's (the DH and DS) have been taking part in Movember this month. If you haven't encountered Movember yet, you can find out more here. Essentially, throughout November guys grow Moustaches to raise vital funds for research into treatments for men's cancers and raising awareness of men's health issues.

As they go into the final week, the Mobro's would really appreciate some moral support (they are getting a bit fed up with having itchy fuzzies!). So, if you're on twitter, a tweet to @punkduck66 would be fantastic, or a comment here on the blog would give them a much-needed boost.

And if you have a 50p gathering its own fuzzy fluff in the bottom of your handbag/pocket or down a settee cushion, the team would be able to put it to good use for a great cause at their justgiving page. You can turn your fuzzy 50p into a valuable donation here at Team Moustaches of the Living Dead

Strangely, I'm getting rather attached to the facial fuzz so I'm kinda hoping it may stay, but in case it doesn't here's a pic of the "Mo" to date.....

Go Mo!

Bloggers block

2011-11-23T14:04:00.000Z

Not a lack of things to say, more knowing where to start and finding a few minutes to spare! I have been promising myself some blog-time so I'll get onto it today. Expect blog posts in no particular order - hopefully interesting if a bit random! (Well, more random than usual!)

And to everyone who has been kind enough to post comments recently, I am reading them and have been bad at posting replies but thanks so much - they are very much appreciated! I'll also be having a bit of a catch-up with the blogs I follow so I'll look forward to being able to return the compliment : )

Knit Now - Out now!

2011-10-19T11:19:00.001+01:00

...yes, that's me, the resident expert in the "Ask the Expert" column! Squeee! It's very exciting to be involved in the newest UK knitting magazine. You can find out more about Knit Now here and there's a great subscription offer, too. For a try before you buy preview, check out the online taster here .

S is for....Summer School

2011-10-18T18:40:00.000+01:00

... or the Association of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers Summer School to be more precise.

I was delighted to be invited to teach again this year and I had an awesome time. The students were fantastic, the organisation and venue brilliant and the inspiration provided by all the tutors' exhibition work and the work of their students was breathtaking. Seeing all the submissions for the various Certificates of Achievement was wonderful. It really was a great week.

A huge thank you to all my students, to conveners Doreen and Margaret, to Queen Margaret University and to everyone who participated - oh, and not forgetting my lovely other half who would have won an Olympic gold for washing yarn, setting up and running the trade stall, fetching and carrying and driving the van. What a superstar! (Erm, sort of wondering what I actually did now!)

There is so much more to see in the photo album so do go along and have a look at the fabulous work the students did, but here is a small selection...

Self-striping yarn - winding those long skeins!

Never let it be said that dyers aren't a resourceful bunch....

And painting

Aren't the results amazing?

Work in progress

Creating colourways

Taking advantage of the fire alarm for a quick team photo : )

Still busy!

My exhibition work

At the end of a busy week!

My right-hand man and all-round superstar in a rare moment with his hands not in the sink

And all nicely rounded off with a ceilidh : )

Phew!

R is for...."R & R"

2011-10-05T19:01:00.000+01:00

..."Rest & Relaxation" aka a quick holiday-related post....

Cornwall this year was fab as ever. We were hugely lucky with the weather and we stayed in the same house as last year so we had all our creature comforts (three large bedrooms and a shower/loo each!), nearby pub, best restaurant in Cornwall 5 mins away, our fave boarding beach and Padstow all within easy reach. Perfect!

I know photos of other people's hols are never as exciting as your own so I'll spare you the full album and share just a few of highlights of the week...

Clotted cream tea on arrival - nom nom : )

Dinner at the Journeyman - the best restaurant in Cornwall

Sandcastle #1 (the first of many!)

Poldark Mine

The Eden Project

A trip up the biome platform - very high, very hot, super-humid (but worth the three trips round the dome to see if it was open!)

Not one to do if you suffer from vertigo!

(Note my rather rosy cheeks!)

Labyrinth Circus at the Eden Project - awesome!

And the Juggling Skills Workshop...

(Also note the obligatory tongue sticking out - an essential aid to any act requiring concentration!)

The subject matter for my first "proper" watercolour - there may be a pic of the acutal watercolour later but it's a bit "rudimentary"

Caaaaake! (At Pauline's in Newquay) And that pic does not convey the scale of those pieces, believe me!

And for you texture/colour lovers out there, I've uploaded some of the plants/buildings/rocks etc. onto my Pinterest page but here are a couple of my favourites...