Spring has well and truly sprung here in Nelson. The kowhai trees are in full blossom and there is fresh growth everywhere.
This week I’ve been weaving some wash cloths in bright and fresh green colours. I love making these little cloths – and they make a useful gift.
Twill Textile Design will be moving on from this Railway Cottage studio at the end of the month.
It has been an amazing space to design, weave and teach for the last four years, but the lease has come to an end, so it’s time for a change.
The good news is that I shall still be working with Nester Prints from a new location – so watch this space – and you can always find us at the Little Beehive Co-op and on-line.
A huge ‘THANK YOU’ to all visitors, weaving students and the supportive community at Founders Heritage Park. x
ps. This large beaut computer-aided loom is now listed for sale on trademe. I shall miss my trusty work friend, but it’s time for me to downsize.
I’ve been working on a couple of new looms sizes recently.
The first one is a bit bigger than my usual looms. I’m hoping they will be good for blanket squares – and for weaving these – my new favourite and very useful cotton/linen dishcloths.
So far so good. And fun too!
I also made some tiny fine-gauge looms. They were a special order for a customer who wanted to weave very small squares using sock yarn. I’m going to grab some four-ply cotton and weave a few re-usable make up remover ‘scrubbies’ with mine 🙂
These should all be available in my Etsy shop soon but do message me if you’re interested in pre-ordering.
These winter months, I’ve been looking out across the water and up to the stars.
In celebration of our clear, sparkly nights and inky blue seas, I have woven and embroidered a set of small circular wall pieces.
Softly striped scarves inspired by snowy mountains nearby and a Sunday walk to the Whispering Falls just outside Nelson.
Textured whites, creams, greens, blues and greys – with a little sparkle here and there.
Twill Textiles is lucky be part of a guest artist pop-up shop at Guild Dunedin this month. And I have teamed up with three other crafty Nelson friends Nester Prints, Rosemary Horn and Tiny Pocket.
We often work together here at the Railway Cottage and collaborate on projects and products. Last week we sent a selection of handmade goodies to our friends at The Guild. We included our favourite hand woven and printed scarves, craft kits, art prints, cards, purses, bags, brooches and necklaces.
Plus a few new items that we have been making altogether for the last few months – including these soft velvet Huia bird Cushions.
A big thank you to The Guild Dunedin for hosting us all of July
If you’re down near the south of the South Island you can enjoy a visit this beautiful shop gallery at 45 Moray Place, Dunedin. Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Just over a year ago I (slightly nervously and excitedly) sent a large parcel to San Francisco. It contained four large hand woven panels – a special commission for a family who had visited me quite by chance when I first opened my studio here in Nelson.
I had received photographs of four locations in the world that were full of very special memories for them, and my brief was to interpret elements of these into cloth.
Lots of emails, sketches and photos went back and forth, we made plans, wove a few samples and finalised ideas. Then I ordered and hand dyed the yarn, got on to the loom and it all came together in quite a beautiful process.
This week I heard back from the family and received photos of the woven pieces. They have been framed in reclaimed wood by a local craftsman and are now hanging in their family room. I think they look beautiful and totally ‘at home’
