IT’S BATHTIME FOR DESIGNER JANE’S COLONY OF MOTHS!

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.

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

Enjoy Arts And Crafts

If you are looking for a way to enjoy a little relaxation or perhaps to spend a couple of hours with friends, think about making arts and crafts a part of your life, here at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity, in the heart of beautiful Dartmoor.

It is true that arts and crafts is a broad, non-specific thing. But that is the beauty of it. Basically, taking time to explore new arts and crafts means you get to be creative and have fun in any way you want to.

One of the best ways to learn new arts and crafts is to sign up for a class. There are many arts and crafts courses and workshops covering a whole variety of topics on offer at Duchy Square.

Are you interested in learning how to paint, knit or weave? Or maybe you would rather learn to make your own jewellery. Regardless of what kind of arts and crafts you want to explore there should be a class that fits the bill. If you have no idea what you want to do, perhaps it would be good for you to start exploring the world of arts and crafts by looking first at the classes that are offered and then simply choosing one.

Spending time doing arts and crafts of any kind is a great way to relax. We all know how busy work and home become. It is so easy to get swept into the routine of all that needs to get done that we forget to take time out for ourselves to enjoy something new and fun. Arts and crafts are a great way to sneak away for a while, and make something you will want to treasure at the same time.

Doing arts and crafts together with friends and family is a great way to spend quality time while doing something everyone enjoys.

Is there an important holiday or a special event coming up that you need to remember with a gift? If so, use arts and crafts to make the perfect present. Think about the person you are making the gift for and then use your free time to relax and enjoy arts and crafts. There is never a better gift than one that was made with love.

Click here to find out what classes and workshops are coming up at Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

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.

AUTUMN’S THE SEASON FOR GETTING CREATIVE

There’s a chance for young and old to get artistic at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.

The resident artists and creative practitioners based at the centre in Princetown have drawn up their Autumn programme of workshops, to give people of all ages the opportunity to unlock their creative flair.

The autumn programme follows on from the hugely successful summer series of events at Duchy Square, which included a special bunting day community workshop, when people helped give the centre a bold splash of colour.

Once again, the new programme offers a varied selection of artistic and creative disciplines and gives the people the chance to tap into the skills and knowledge of some of the centre’s creative practitioners.

There’s the chance to learn contemporary card-making with Doris Smith Rolli on Sept 18th, followed by a Big Draw Masterclass on October 10th.

Two mosaic making workshops, one using everyday objects people can find and bring in, are part of the ongoing schedule and there’s also silk painting, dyeing, precious metal clay jewellery making, weaving, printmaking, quilting and embroidery on offer. Get into the festive spirit too with a ‘Baubles for Christmas’ workshop.

Tracy Hill, South West Regional Manager for Integria Ltd – which operates and manages Duchy Square – said the workshop sessions had proved a popular way to help locals and visitors alike to feel part of the centre.

“There is a real buzz around Duchy Square at the moment and the workshops are really contributing to that buzz,” said Tracy.

“It’s a chance to learn a new creative skill, but also helps local people in particular feel a real part of Duchy Square and what we are doing to connect businesses and breathe new economic life into the village and surrounding Dartmoor.”

The one-day workshops cost from as little as £10 to £35 and will mostly be held between 10am and 4pm.

Opened in March and supported by a number of organisations, including 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.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the workshops on offer and to book a place should telephone the Gallery at the centre on (01822) 890828 or email gallery@duchysquare.org

WEBSITES:

www.duchysquare.org

www.integria.net

Tri-coloured Jade jewellery by Treasured Forever

Thursday at the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity for me, was a busy one. So many people passed through to view the centre and all were really nice to talk to. It was a pleasure, really it was. I think many will come back again and I look forward to seeing them.


So did I get any work done I hear you ask, yes I did is the answer. Not massive amounts, but with so many interesting individuals passing through it gave me a chance to natter!!!

However, I did make one necklace that I was really really pleased with. It is made using tri-coloured jade and filigree beads. I think it has a sophisticated feel about it. Well that's me for today.

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Click here to visit Duchy Square Centre for Creativity.