2024 Programme
Birmingham & District Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers meetings are held at the Friends Meeting House, Watford Road, Cotteridge, unless specified otherwise.
Meetings are from 10am - 4pm on the second Saturday of the month. Unless stated otherwise in the programme, workshops start at 10:00 prompt (and finish at 16:00) and talks start at 14:00. Where it is a half-day activity we still meet at 10am for skill-sharing, coffee, chat and whatever craft activity we are working on - and you don't have to be a member to join us.
The entrance fee for members is £2 and £6 for visitors. Workshops are an additional cost and must be booked in advance (more info below).
Meetings are from 10am - 4pm on the second Saturday of the month. Unless stated otherwise in the programme, workshops start at 10:00 prompt (and finish at 16:00) and talks start at 14:00. Where it is a half-day activity we still meet at 10am for skill-sharing, coffee, chat and whatever craft activity we are working on - and you don't have to be a member to join us.
The entrance fee for members is £2 and £6 for visitors. Workshops are an additional cost and must be booked in advance (more info below).
Overview
13 January - 11:00: Summer School & Shetland Wool Week Talk from members; 14:00: Annual General Meeting
10 February - 14:00: Talk from artist Imogen Morris about her art practice using nails and thread
9 March - 10:00-16:00: Workshop (Additional Cost) - Embroidery silk dyeing workshop & historical silk dyeing talk with Deby Robertson of Dyelution
13 April - Informal Meeting, bring along a project and craft in company
11 May - Annual Open Day & Exhibition (free entry; all welcome)
18 May - 10:00-14:00: Knitting and Crochet Guild Birmingham are hosting a talk and workshop with Alison Ellen, 'Shaping Knitwear Talk, Circles and Squares Workshop' at The Curzon Building, Birmingham City University, B4 7BD. WSD members are welcome to attend (small fee for talk attendance; places must be booked for the workshop)
08 June - Textile Tasters day. Take part in a number of free informal skill sharing drop-in 'workshops' from fellow guild members.
13 July - 12:30-15:30: Workshop (Additional Cost) - Modern batik with Shirlyn Low of Batik Ying
August - No Meeting
14 September - Birmingham Heritage Week public meeting and demonstration (Alternative venue; location TBC)
12 October - 10:00-16:00: Workshop (Additional Cost) - Bias weaving with two, four or eight corners in watercolour paper with Averil Otiv
09 November - 14:00 Talk from Joanne Stubbs of Second City Yarns on running a yarn business
14 December - Christmas Party with bring and share lunch, and Show and Tell by members
10 February - 14:00: Talk from artist Imogen Morris about her art practice using nails and thread
9 March - 10:00-16:00: Workshop (Additional Cost) - Embroidery silk dyeing workshop & historical silk dyeing talk with Deby Robertson of Dyelution
13 April - Informal Meeting, bring along a project and craft in company
11 May - Annual Open Day & Exhibition (free entry; all welcome)
18 May - 10:00-14:00: Knitting and Crochet Guild Birmingham are hosting a talk and workshop with Alison Ellen, 'Shaping Knitwear Talk, Circles and Squares Workshop' at The Curzon Building, Birmingham City University, B4 7BD. WSD members are welcome to attend (small fee for talk attendance; places must be booked for the workshop)
08 June - Textile Tasters day. Take part in a number of free informal skill sharing drop-in 'workshops' from fellow guild members.
13 July - 12:30-15:30: Workshop (Additional Cost) - Modern batik with Shirlyn Low of Batik Ying
August - No Meeting
14 September - Birmingham Heritage Week public meeting and demonstration (Alternative venue; location TBC)
12 October - 10:00-16:00: Workshop (Additional Cost) - Bias weaving with two, four or eight corners in watercolour paper with Averil Otiv
09 November - 14:00 Talk from Joanne Stubbs of Second City Yarns on running a yarn business
14 December - Christmas Party with bring and share lunch, and Show and Tell by members
Talks
There is no need to book for talks and no additional cost to attend (beyond standard entry and membership fees).
Imogen Morris (10 February)
Birmingham-based artist Imogen Morris will be joining us to talk about her art practice, creating art using nails and thread.
"My practice challenges the boundaries between craft and fine art, by putting a contemporary spin on thread as a material that we can view in both fine art and craft spaces.
I see thread as my pencil or paintbrush; exploring the versatility of thread, in ways that means it intrudes into other mediums. I push, pull and stretch the line of thread to draw. I build up layers in colour to create form, light, and shadow. I morph thread into tangible, 3D forms to push the work into the sculptural realm.
My love for thread happens in the process of making. The nails are a means to an end – they merely act as anchor points for the thread. My excitement comes from building up layers of thread, to witnessing the facial features coming together, and the emotion behind those faces becoming apparent."
https://www.imogenmorrisart.com
Joanne Stubbs of Second City Yarns
Jo will be talking to us about her Birmingham-based yarn company, and hand dyeing yarns with colours inspired by Birmingham.
www.secondcityyarns.co.uk/
Imogen Morris (10 February)
Birmingham-based artist Imogen Morris will be joining us to talk about her art practice, creating art using nails and thread.
"My practice challenges the boundaries between craft and fine art, by putting a contemporary spin on thread as a material that we can view in both fine art and craft spaces.
I see thread as my pencil or paintbrush; exploring the versatility of thread, in ways that means it intrudes into other mediums. I push, pull and stretch the line of thread to draw. I build up layers in colour to create form, light, and shadow. I morph thread into tangible, 3D forms to push the work into the sculptural realm.
My love for thread happens in the process of making. The nails are a means to an end – they merely act as anchor points for the thread. My excitement comes from building up layers of thread, to witnessing the facial features coming together, and the emotion behind those faces becoming apparent."
https://www.imogenmorrisart.com
Joanne Stubbs of Second City Yarns
Jo will be talking to us about her Birmingham-based yarn company, and hand dyeing yarns with colours inspired by Birmingham.
www.secondcityyarns.co.uk/
Workshops
Booking and fees
Workshop fees: £22 (+ £2 entrance fee on the day) is the ‘break even’ cost to the Guild, but members who would have financial difficulty attending workshops can pay a per workshop fee of £15. No evidence is required, and payment of the reduced fee will be treated confidentially. Guild members who can afford to pay more than £22 per workshop are invited to do so, to support the initiative. Non-members are welcome to attend workshops, if places are remaining, for £32 (+ £6 entrance fee on the day). Workshop fees must be received in advance to secure a workshop place.
Booking: Booking for workshops will open two months prior via email or in-person at guild meetings. Booking is via the programme secretary (Charlotte Powell; [email protected]).
Embroidery Silk Dyeing Workshop & Historical Silk Dyeing Talk with Deby Robertson of Dyelution (09 March)
We will be dyeing pre-prepared silk skeins using acid dyes and a steamer. These silks are 100% A Grade pure mulberry silks used for embroidery and can be hand dyed either using a dip dye process or hand painted directly onto the silks. Each participant will receive two skeins to dye, each skein is 3g in weight and 24 metres in length. All equipment and materials will be supplied.
Deby will guide you through the process and talk about historical colours of silk dyeing. From ancient civilizations to modern times, the art and science of silk dyeing has evolved, offering a kaleidoscope of colours that continue to captivate and inspire.
Deby has her own dyeing studio where she dyes a range of luxury fibres and is based in the Vale of Evesham. She mostly takes inspiration from her fond memories of time spent living in New Zealand and of nature around her. Deby has been involved with the Association of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers for a number of years, including most recently assisting in setting up a new Guild between Evesham and Redditch.
https://www.dyelution.co.uk/
Modern Batik Discovery Workshop with Shirlyn Low of Batik Ying (08 June)
What is modern batik? It's a brand-new kind of art which combines traditional Malaysian batik techniques with modern art. This fun and therapeutic workshop is suitable for anyone, even absolute beginners.
Through this afternoon workshop you will create your own batik art design while learning the basics of the art of batik canting.
What to expect:
Bias weaving with two, four or eight corners in watercolour paper with Averil Otiv (12 October)
Explore the versatility of fibre basketry techniques with Averil Otiv, working with watercolour paper to create plaited baskets, using various numbers of corners to create different shapes. By the end of the day you will have created baskets that are both decorative and functional.
http://averilotiv.co.uk/
Workshop fees: £22 (+ £2 entrance fee on the day) is the ‘break even’ cost to the Guild, but members who would have financial difficulty attending workshops can pay a per workshop fee of £15. No evidence is required, and payment of the reduced fee will be treated confidentially. Guild members who can afford to pay more than £22 per workshop are invited to do so, to support the initiative. Non-members are welcome to attend workshops, if places are remaining, for £32 (+ £6 entrance fee on the day). Workshop fees must be received in advance to secure a workshop place.
Booking: Booking for workshops will open two months prior via email or in-person at guild meetings. Booking is via the programme secretary (Charlotte Powell; [email protected]).
Embroidery Silk Dyeing Workshop & Historical Silk Dyeing Talk with Deby Robertson of Dyelution (09 March)
We will be dyeing pre-prepared silk skeins using acid dyes and a steamer. These silks are 100% A Grade pure mulberry silks used for embroidery and can be hand dyed either using a dip dye process or hand painted directly onto the silks. Each participant will receive two skeins to dye, each skein is 3g in weight and 24 metres in length. All equipment and materials will be supplied.
Deby will guide you through the process and talk about historical colours of silk dyeing. From ancient civilizations to modern times, the art and science of silk dyeing has evolved, offering a kaleidoscope of colours that continue to captivate and inspire.
Deby has her own dyeing studio where she dyes a range of luxury fibres and is based in the Vale of Evesham. She mostly takes inspiration from her fond memories of time spent living in New Zealand and of nature around her. Deby has been involved with the Association of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers for a number of years, including most recently assisting in setting up a new Guild between Evesham and Redditch.
https://www.dyelution.co.uk/
Modern Batik Discovery Workshop with Shirlyn Low of Batik Ying (08 June)
What is modern batik? It's a brand-new kind of art which combines traditional Malaysian batik techniques with modern art. This fun and therapeutic workshop is suitable for anyone, even absolute beginners.
Through this afternoon workshop you will create your own batik art design while learning the basics of the art of batik canting.
What to expect:
- Learn about the history of batik, how it is made, and the tools & materials needed for batik canting
- Learn skills for "tulis" batik by using hot wax and a special "tjanting" tool
- Experiment with mixing colours to produce the right tone and shade
- All materials and tools provided
- A beautiful piece of batik art to take home
- Get creative and immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Batik and create your own artwork that is bound to impress!
Bias weaving with two, four or eight corners in watercolour paper with Averil Otiv (12 October)
Explore the versatility of fibre basketry techniques with Averil Otiv, working with watercolour paper to create plaited baskets, using various numbers of corners to create different shapes. By the end of the day you will have created baskets that are both decorative and functional.
http://averilotiv.co.uk/