A Beautiful Scarf

Paddy Younge came to the Duchy a couple of weeks ago to do a day's textile design course with me. We worked on her chosen picture and did some simple exercises and Paddy was so enthused she wanted to come back straight away and dye a warp. She made her warps (two) at home and brought them into the studio, we dyed them, steamed them and Paddy went home to weave them up. This is the result - stunning! The photo on top of Paddy wearing her scarf is the chained warp dyed.

This afternoon Paddy, Sarah, Val, Sue and I had great fun at the start of the dyeing course (Thursday afternoons, 13.00-16.00). We have room for a couple more, if anyone is interested...

Call Duchy Square on 01822 890828 or visit the website.

Jane

Meet Larry!

Jacqueline Welby is a resident crafts maker at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown, Dartmoor.

Hi sorry I have not been around for a few days but it is a very busy time for us on the moor, what with Widecombe Fair and the horse round up I have needed to catch up on my sleep.

I would like you to meet Larry he is 6 years old and not far off his sell by date, he came to Watergate when he was 1 day old and our human mummy had to bottle feed him 7 times a day until he could eat grass.

He is looking very smart after his fleece was taken off in the summer, 1/2 went to Mary for felting and the other 1/2 went to Jane for spinning, when you are next up at the Duchy Centre pop in and feel the quality.

It is time for my beauty sleep now I will introduce you to some more of my friends in the week.

Luv to all

Dave.


Telephone Jacqueline on 01364 631221
Mobile : 07881456608
Email : moorsewing@yahoo.co.uk
Website : www.moorsewing.2day.ws

Click here for more information about Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

Christmas Events at Duchy Square.

Christmas may seem a long way off, but it will be with us once again before we know it!

Please find below some brief details about our planned Christmas schedule at Duchy Square.

Friday November 13^th - Christmas show launch - “Moor Presents” - 6.30 - 9pm - light refreshments available

Thursday 26^th November - Late night opening - Christmas shopping 6pm - 8.30pm - Mulled wine and mince pies

Thursday 3^rd December - Christmas evening - carols around the tree 6pm - 8.30pm - Community invite

Moor Presents at Duchy Square

We are looking to have a series of evenings with a festive atmosophere.

The first of these is on November 13^th when we open the first part of our Christmas exhibition. We will also have a wine tasting and some other local producers with their wares available on the evening.

For the festive season at Duchy Square we are putting an emphasis on quality presents at a range of prices.

We hope to have something for the collector and the casual buyer and anyone just interested in contemporary art. This will be a great opportunity to experience a range of affordable works and make purchases in time for Christmas.

Open to our own Resident Artists and those Artists within the immediate Dartmoor area. We hope the exhibition will show a high standard of work at a range of prices

Everything, from furniture to Christmas decorations smaller stocking fillers to larger must have items to enhance your home.

On the 26^th November we will be keeping our doors open late until 8:30 to provide, with a festive flair, still further opportunities to purchase that special gift or piece of art.

To say thank you to our local community we will have our second ‘Tree’ party on the 3^rd December with some carols and Mince pies so we may welcome in our Princetown neighbours with some Christmas cheer.

For further information, please visit our website or tel : 01822 890828.

Meet Dave!

Jacqueline Welby is a resident crafts maker at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown, Dartmoor.

Jacqueline would like to introduce you to Dave!

Let me introduce my self ; my name is Dave and I am told that I am a Kune Kune pig.

I was born in September 2003 and my mummy's pig name is Rose, and my daddy's is Freezer.

When I was 10 weeks old I went to live at Watergate Chapel, which is the only home I can remember. I have a very nice Peggie home which is green with a floor, door and back window, and have lots of yummy grass, roots, as well as the fruit, veg, sugar beet and oats that my human family give me each day.

I have to go now as it is feeding time and I must get my share. I will introduce you to my friends later.

Dave.

Telephone Jacqueline on 01364 631221
Mobile : 07881456608
Email : moorsewing@yahoo.co.uk
Website : www.moorsewing.2day.ws

Click here for more information about Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

Studio Sessions in September / October

COME ALONG TO THE DUCHY SQUARE CENTRE FOR CREATIVITY AND MAKE YOUR OWN PIECE OF FINE SILVER JEWELLERY TO TAKE AWAY ON THE DAY!

PLT Designs,

Duchy Centre for Creativity

Princetown

07765512061

lisa@pltdesigns.vpweb.co.uk

TASTER SESSIONS - £35

Taster sessions introduce you to Silver Clay. You will have the opportunity to design, create, fire and finish 1 - 2 pieces of fine silver jewellery. Price includes 10gms clay, use of all tools and firing. Coffee/Tea, cake/biscuits.

(Findings such as chain, cufflinks and earring wires can be purchased at a small additional cost.)

Thurs 17^th Sept 10am - 1pm

Thurs 24^th Sept 5 – 8.30 pm

Thurs 1^st Oct 10am – 1pm

Thurs 8^th Oct 10am – 1pm

Fri 16^th Oct 10am – 1pm

Thurs 22^nd 0ct 5 - 8.30pm

Fri 30^th Oct 10am -1pm

PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN BOOK YOUR OWN TASTER SESSION TO SUIT YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS - GIVE ME A CALL TO ARRANGE!!!

COLD ENAMELLING - £65 NEW!! NEW!! NEW!!!

Add colour to your Silver Clay. Design, create, fire and finish a piece of fine silver jewellery which you will embellish with cold enamel. Practice your enamelling on pewter bezels – these make great pendants or keyrings! Price includes 10gms clay, use of all tools and firing; pewter bezel and enamels for two pieces. Cofffee / Tea, Cake / Biscuits. Local cafes serve great lunches or bring a packed lunch.

Sat 10^th Oct 10am – 4pm

Sat 24^th Oct 10am – 4pm

PRIVATE STUDIO SESSIONS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES ARE AVAILABLE TO BOOK. PLEASE CALL LISA OR CONTACT DUCHY SQUARE TO DISCUSS.

Anglo-Saxon Dyeing

This week I had an unusual experience in that I was asked to teach spinning and dyeing to two Anglo-Saxon re-enactors. This provided several challenges: the Anglo-Saxons apparently spun on low whorl spindles (English drop spindles). In common with many other spinning teachers, I much prefer to use a top whorl spindle. Additionally, there was a requirement to spin from a distaff - something I have often done with a wheel but not with a spindle. We manged, though, and by the end of two days, both students were spinning well.

The dyeing was most successful: we used madder and saffron, but not alum mordant as we weren't sure that alum was available. We modified the colours after dyeing with acid, alkali, copper and iron water. We also tackled woad, and got a lovely delicate blue - the delicacy of the colour being due to the fact that when I gathered the leaves in the morning from my one remaining plant, there was a huge slug enjoying my woad for breakfast!

I have uploaded the madder/saffron pictures above - who says natural dyes are dull?!

Jane

www.duchysquare.org