Here we are into June and there is a bit of a travel theme going on this month. You may recall that in the April newsletter, I mentioned that Sarah, our lovely member who circulates the newsletter to all our subscribers, was off on her travels. Here is her account of her journey to a remote and fascinating country.
‘A Weavers Trail’ in The Land of the Thunder DragonThis year I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to Bhutan (aka. The Land of the Thunder Dragon), on a textiles tour, organised by the company, Mountain Kingdoms. We were a group of 6, plus group leader, Sue Lawty, a renowned British weaver, and our Bhutanese guide and driver, who could answer all our many questions.Bhutan is a small, mountainous country, about the size of Switzerland, situated between India and Tibet (China). We were taken to lots of stunning Buddhist temples and monasteries and two amazing festivals, but for me the highlight was visiting weavers in their villages and homes.The level of complexity in ‘Kushuthara’ weaving (mostly supplementary weft) is knock-out and we had the chance to watch the women weaving on their backstrap looms, and to buy souvenirs directly from them. I can strongly recommend this trip for all textile lovers.If your group would like me to come and give a talk about my trip, with photos and samples, contact me, Sarah Cooke, at .
For more info about the trip – www.mountainkingdoms.com
Closer to home, I have just come back from Nimes in the south of France and was reflecting on the origins of denim in everyday wear. I have long believed that denim originated in Nimes – de Nimes being corrupted to Denim, but there is considerable evidence to suggest that this is not entirely true. Nevertheless, denim has continued to be strongly associated with this locality. Many textiles were given a toponimi, that is the name of the town where it was produced or to which, for other reasons it had become strongly associated. Nimes was often visited by English tourists, drawn to the sites of classical antiquity and the increased presence of highly skilled English expatriates also contributed to the French cotton weaving industry. Nimes, which was known for its silk textile industry, may have responded like many French towns by diversifying into the growing market for durable workwear materials in cotton cloth.
Denim Jeans have a diverse and fascinating history, from the essential wear of miners, loggers, farmers and labourers, and its early association with cowboys in Hollywood films.
Lord Byron favoured the wearing of narrow black Jean trousers for evening wear, sending a clear message that it was cool to imitate working class dress. By the 1970’s jeans had achieved the status of radical chic and satisfied the desire for modern individualism. Denim frequently appears in designer fashions and today’s commitment to recycling has inspired the alchemy of transforming worn denim into art form. Whether or not denim originated in Nimes, it has certainly come a long way from its humble and practical beginnings.Travel and holidays may be in the air but you don’t have to travel too far to appreciate traditional and contemporary craftsmanship, as there is much to enjoy locally.
The Harley Gallery has a contemporary exhibition – Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, RetainingUntil 28th June, free entry, featuring the work of over 60 of Britain’s most skilled basket makers, this exhibition showcases the beauty and surprising diversity of traditional basketry. There is an extraordinary legacy of basket making across Britain. They have been made and used for centuries to store, carry, transport and trap and the craftspeople of today are embracing and continuing this tradition. My own village was once a centre for basket making and there remains a cottage named Basketmaker’s Cottage and many of the Osiers (willows) remain in the surrounding countryside.There is a lot to see and do at the Harley Foundation. The Harley Museum is home to the Portland Collection of Art, created by the Dukes of Rutland and their families over 400 years, showing rare treasures and world class art – Currently it is showing Unseen Treasures of the Portland Collection open Tuesday to SundayThere is also an Art Trail, an easy 20-minute walk which explores the story of art from cave paintings in Cresswell Crags to new sculptures and interpretive panels. After that there is a shop and a café in the beautiful surroundings of the Welbeck estateThe Harley Gallery, Welbeck, Worksop Notts S80 3LW
Material Worlds, an exhibition of contemporary Art and Textiles continues at the Djanolgly Gallery, Lakeside until to Sun 31st August, open 10 – 4 Tues to Sat, 12 noon – 4 on Sundays, closed Mondays. Free entry.Material Worlds is an ambitious exhibition exploring how contemporary artists use textiles in surprising and radical ways. The artists in this exhibition share a deep awareness of the cultural significance of textiles, alongside a desire to test their potential as a medium for contemporary art. Expect the unexpected and the ordinary made extraordinary!!For more details go to the website https://lakesidearts.org.uk/exhibition/materialworlds/
There is still time to catch Strait Laced and Stitched up – at the Framework Knitters Museum in Ruddington until June 25th. The exhibition is a reflection on the Symington’s Corset Collection held by Leicestershire Museum service. Please note – check the museum website for availability as on some days local events mean the exhibition is not open.
Finally – A date for your diary The Festival of Quilts 2025 opens at the NEC Birmingham on 31st July until 3rd Augus.t As always there is so much to see and do at this, the biggest quilting show in Europe, and this year I am delighted to announce that the Quilt celebrating the life of Guru Nanak, made by the group at the Nottingham Gurdwara, has been accepted for the exhibition and will be judged on the opening day. Fingers crossed for a successful outcome! Tickets are on sale now. Thefestivalofquilts.co.uk
As we approach the summer solstice these long days and light evenings give us plenty of extra stitch time, as well as plenty to keep us busy in the garden.If you have news or events to share, don’t forget to get in touch and use the opportunity to reach a wider audience
Until it’s time for the next newsletter – Happy Stitching!
Maggie