Textile designer Jane Deane has a ready supply of silk to create her work – she raises her own colony of moths in the bath at her Devon home!
Jane from Tavistock uses the tub to house a number of different varieties of moth including the Bombyx Mori, which is recognised as producing the best quality silk - but she also has a variety of wild silkmoths that she uses in her creative work.
All the moths are allowed to complete their short life cycle and it is the discarded cocoons, from where the silkworm caterpillars emerge as moths that Jane uses to make a variety of textile products.
Jane’s passion for silk moths began when she had the opportunity to attend a 10 day course with the leading artist weaver Sue Hiley-Harris.
“Moths are quite extraordinary creatures and I became fascinated with the way they begin life in an egg the size of a pinhead, emerge as a caterpillar and then spin a cocoon in which to metamorphasise into a moth, “ said Jane, a resident artist at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity in Princetown.
“It is such a short life as they immediately mate and lay eggs for the next generation before dying. It is a quite magical process though and even after all these years of keeping silkworms I still find witnessing their life cycle as awe inspiring as when I first saw it.”
By spinning the silk instead of reeling it, Jane can ensure her moths are able to live out their natural lifespan. Reeling the silk would involve using the cocoon before the moth had emerged as it requires the single thread from the cocoon to be unwound intact.
To spin the silk, Jane removes the protective gum the caterpillar excretes to harden it by boiling it in soap flakes with a little washing soda. She then stretches the softened cocoon over a plastic pudding basin and allows it to dry before dyeing it and then spinning a thread.
Alongside her own products, which she creates using natural and synthetic dyes, Janes offers talks on the silk moth processes and workshops in spinning, weaving and dyeing. All these are her main disciplines, she also does paper-making, batik, embroidery, knitting and braiding.
She was recently invited to join the Society of Dyers and Colourists and is also a member of Frayed Edges Weaving Group, formed in 2004 for the graduates of Bradford College of Art and Design, which exhibits nationally.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios. Anyone wishing to find out more about all the workshops on offer should telephone the centre on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can be found.
Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creativity. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Monday, 23 November 2009
MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM AT LATE NIGHT FESTIVE SHOP
The Duchy Square Centre for Creativity is getting in the festive spirit with a late night Christmas shopping event where scores of creative gift ideas will be available for purchase (Thursday 26 November 10.30am -8.30pm).
More than 100 people turned up to the recent launch of the Moor Presents exhibition, and Thursday night marks a wonderful opportunity for visitors to the Princetown centre to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.
All the gifts are one-offs and have been created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.
A whole range of present ideas will be on display, including, furniture, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.
Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “Visitors will be able to shop at the centre right up until Wednesday 23rd December, but this Thursday marks the only date dedicated to late night shopping, so we are expecting a busy night.
“It is a great opportunity for visitors to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”
Late night shopping will be followed by a fundraising coffee morning Saturday 28 November (10am -1pm) in aid of the Help for Heroes charity then on Thursday 3 December (5pm -7pm) by a festive filled Christmas singsong by pupils from Princetown Primary School around the Xmas tree at the centre.
The event is an opportunity to thank villagers and local traders for the support they have given Duchy Square over the year and there will be plenty of minced pies and mulled wine on offer.
There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.
For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can also be found.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.
WEBSITES:
www.duchysquare.org
www.integria.net
The Duchy Square Centre for Creativity is getting in the festive spirit with a late night Christmas shopping event where scores of creative gift ideas will be available for purchase (Thursday 26 November 10.30am -8.30pm).
More than 100 people turned up to the recent launch of the Moor Presents exhibition, and Thursday night marks a wonderful opportunity for visitors to the Princetown centre to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.
All the gifts are one-offs and have been created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.
A whole range of present ideas will be on display, including, furniture, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.
Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “Visitors will be able to shop at the centre right up until Wednesday 23rd December, but this Thursday marks the only date dedicated to late night shopping, so we are expecting a busy night.
“It is a great opportunity for visitors to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”
Late night shopping will be followed by a fundraising coffee morning Saturday 28 November (10am -1pm) in aid of the Help for Heroes charity then on Thursday 3 December (5pm -7pm) by a festive filled Christmas singsong by pupils from Princetown Primary School around the Xmas tree at the centre.
The event is an opportunity to thank villagers and local traders for the support they have given Duchy Square over the year and there will be plenty of minced pies and mulled wine on offer.
There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.
For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website www.duchysquare.org where contact details for all the artists can also be found.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.
WEBSITES:
www.duchysquare.org
www.integria.net
Friday, 6 November 2009
‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE ARTY WITH MOOR GIFTS TO CHOOSE FROM
Christmas is coming early to the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity where visitors can enjoy a whole variety of events in the run-up to the festive season, beginning on Saturday 14 November.
The central theme of this year’s festive calendar will be the Moor Presents exhibition, where visitors to the Princetown centre will get the opportunity to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.
It is a rare opportunity to purchase one off gifts created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.
There is something for everyone with a whole range of gifts on display, including, furniture and floristry, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.
Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “The emphasis is on quality presents available at a range of prices, which means there will be something for the casual buyer, the serious collector and anyone with an interest in contemporary art.
“Visitors will be able to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”
Alongside the Moor Presents, the upstairs gallery at Duchy Square will be hosting an exhibition to showcase the talents of members of the Tavistock Embroiderers Guild, which will be on display from 11th to 21st November.
There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.
There is a late night shopping evening on 26 November and December 3rd will mark a high point in the festive events as Duchy Square hosts a carols and mince pies evening to thank the local community for its support. There will be a festive singsong around the Christmas tree and children from Princetown Primary School will also be performing.
Visitors will be able to Christmas shop at the centre right up to Wednesday 23rd December.
For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.
WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/
The central theme of this year’s festive calendar will be the Moor Presents exhibition, where visitors to the Princetown centre will get the opportunity to buy unique gifts with an artistic and creative flavour.
It is a rare opportunity to purchase one off gifts created by the resident artists and creative practitioners at Duchy Square, as well as other talented makers living and working in the Dartmoor area.
There is something for everyone with a whole range of gifts on display, including, furniture and floristry, jewellery, paintings, weavings, textiles and quilts, with many at affordable prices.
Philippa Smith, Gallery Manager at Duchy Square, said: “The emphasis is on quality presents available at a range of prices, which means there will be something for the casual buyer, the serious collector and anyone with an interest in contemporary art.
“Visitors will be able to find everything from small stocking fillers to larger items created by some of the most talented artists working in the Dartmoor area.”
Alongside the Moor Presents, the upstairs gallery at Duchy Square will be hosting an exhibition to showcase the talents of members of the Tavistock Embroiderers Guild, which will be on display from 11th to 21st November.
There is also the chance to book places on a variety of workshop sessions to be held by resident artists and other creative practitioners based on Dartmoor. Sessions include a rag rug course, textiles, weaving and dyeing, silver clay jewellery making. Bauble making and a Christmas wreath making sessions will also be available to give the workshops programme a proper festive feel.
There is a late night shopping evening on 26 November and December 3rd will mark a high point in the festive events as Duchy Square hosts a carols and mince pies evening to thank the local community for its support. There will be a festive singsong around the Christmas tree and children from Princetown Primary School will also be performing.
Visitors will be able to Christmas shop at the centre right up to Wednesday 23rd December.
For full details of the Christmas events calendar and to book places on the workshops, contact Duchy Square on (01822) 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org/ where contact details for all the artists can also be found.
Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including The Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.
The artists and creative practitioners take part in workshops organised by the centre, but also stage their own sessions with smaller groups in their own studios.
WEBSITES:
http://www.duchysquare.org/
http://www.integria.net/
Monday, 17 August 2009
Beaded Jewellery by Alison Bickell
Well this is my first "blog". Hope it makes an ok read!!
I started about 5 years ago dabbling with making beaded jewellery. Now my hobby is my job and I love it. The Duchy Centre is full of great artists and really nice people. I am so pleased I took the gamble to take on one of the workshops - it's really a home from home.
I've been making regular sales with my bits and bobs, it's keeping me ticking over nicely!! I have started to notice now that I am getting lots of requests to make a certain design in a certain colour on the day. This is always exciting and I'm pleased to say that so far everyone has gone away with a piece of jewellery that they think is better than the original idea that they gave me. I have started doing mail order as well and have found repeat customers through this medium.
I don't have a website as yet, but may do in the future. Until then I regularly post photos onto my facebook group - Treasured Forever. Take a peek. It's like window shopping without the crowds!!!!
Thanks and hope you have a great week.
Duchy Square Centre for Creativity
I started about 5 years ago dabbling with making beaded jewellery. Now my hobby is my job and I love it. The Duchy Centre is full of great artists and really nice people. I am so pleased I took the gamble to take on one of the workshops - it's really a home from home.
I've been making regular sales with my bits and bobs, it's keeping me ticking over nicely!! I have started to notice now that I am getting lots of requests to make a certain design in a certain colour on the day. This is always exciting and I'm pleased to say that so far everyone has gone away with a piece of jewellery that they think is better than the original idea that they gave me. I have started doing mail order as well and have found repeat customers through this medium.
I don't have a website as yet, but may do in the future. Until then I regularly post photos onto my facebook group - Treasured Forever. Take a peek. It's like window shopping without the crowds!!!!
Thanks and hope you have a great week.
Duchy Square Centre for Creativity
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