Give Fleece A Chance

Give Fleece A Chance
Today wool enthusiasts Amanda, a.k.a. AmandaSainsbury, and Ann from TheTeaCosyShop bring the challenges facing British and international farmers to our attention and encourage us to give fleece a chance.
The Campaign for Wool was launched earlier this year by HRH The Prince of Wales in order to highlight the advantages of using wool in fashion, interiors and construction. The campaign aims to present wool as a fashionable, eco-friendly and durable alternative to synthetic fibres. Today marks the start of the first ever National Wool Week.

The event hopes to highlight the plight of sheep farmers around the world and in Britain, where the cost to shear a sheep now outweighs any profits from selling the fleece. Certain fleeces can be worth as little as £1, resulting in a great number of farmers loosing money. Today's leading producers of wool are Australia and New Zealand where prices are at a 50-year low. This price collapse in wool production began in 1966 and has continued in a downward trend since, sadly forcing many of the world's sheep farmers out of business

Wool isn't just for Christmas sweaters!
Far from it, wool and woollen textiles are increasingly seen by designers and makers the world over as one of the most luxurious and stylish fabrics.
Most hand-knitted yarn comes from the Australian and New Zealand merinos and cross-breeds, whereas wool from commercial breeds in the UK has traditionally been used in weaving, upholstery and carpets. However, there are now large and small scale manufacturers who are transforming British wool into beautiful home-grown yarn.From piano hammers to nappies and duvets, wool has hundreds of applications that are diverse as the sheep themselves. Pure wool garments are highly absorbent and hard-wearing, becoming the ideal protective wear for fishermen, hill-walkers, fire and rescue crews, and workers in chemical production facilities. Wool does not burn like synthetics and is specified for use in aeroplane upholstery and carpets. Perhaps best of all, wool is warm and soft, and it doesn't do that weird static thing with your hair.


Ecotastic
As naturally grown fibre, the eco-credentials of wool are immense. It generally lasts longer than artificial materials and can be grown with minimal use of pesticides and fertilisers, unlike many other natural fibres. Wool can be produced on a small scale within small holdings and even in back yards. It can be reused and recycled easily and is a great insulator for the home and the body.
The disposal of synthetics can cause huge problems, whereas a natural wool fibre only takes a few years to fully decompose. Most synthetics are extremely slow in this process which has helped increase man-made textiles in UK landfill to more than one million tonnes in recent years. By comparison, wool decomposes so quickly and safely that you can even pop it in your compost bin.

Wool in the Designer/Maker Communities
Independent makers and designers have been at the forefront of new design for generations, and with a renewed incentive for keeping traditional crafts alive, crafters and artisans have a huge part to play in the revival of wool. The tailors of Savile Row are also making an immense effort to keep the trade of this luxurious textile from collapsing.

We can all do our bit! From the smallholders raising traditional native sheep breeds to the spinners and dyers providing amazing alternatives to mass-produced yarns, UK-based Etsians are finding new and gorgeous ways of using wool in just about every way imaginable.

Wool Week runs from October 11 - 17, and to kick off the event, Savile Row has been closed, greened over and made into a temporary home for Exmoor Horn and Bowmont breeds of sheep — be sure to drop by for this amazing sight!

The Covent Garden Piazza will also be holding The Sheep Parade hosted by Lyle and Scott tomorrow (October 12). Look out for more promotions and events from world famous brands who aim is to make wool something desirable to own and use. Let's pull together and shout about an incredibly valuable crafting industry this week. Viva wool!


http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/uk-edition-give-fleece-a-chance-10889/?ref=fp_blog_title

The Campaign for wool

From Etsy.com

Recycled Paper Circlets

Isn't it wonderful what rainy weather can do for your creativity. I just bought a load of millinery flowers for a mass hat making session but instead of using them my brain turned towards some books that I had been planning get rid off. Now before anyone panics they were pretty common or garden childrens books, The City and Gold and Lead being a prime example. I've had it for many a year and have yet to find no's 1 and 3 in its trilogy so had decided to (late) spring clean my bookcases.

I've made paper garlands before, I have some over my bed and although my immediate thought was to make some to decorate the shop I had a secondary idea which was much more enjoyable.
Like any create person I have boxes and tins of *stuff*. Sweetie jars full of buttons, a box full of 4" pieces of lace and ribbon, a mix of seed beads and one off ribbon bows to name just a few. So I took out my scissors, cotton and a handfull from each of the above and set to work.

An hour or so later I had a delightful selection of recycled paper fancies, perfect for hair clips, brooches, ect..... The only trouble is I dont currently have a use for them, as I said to my sister who asked what they were for, "I only make them"

They would look sweet as table decorations come to think of it

Mixed Media Lavender Dolls

These lovely little dolls were inspired by some enchantic paper little doll pendents in Belle Armoir.
Originally they were simply going to be art dolls small enough to go on a dressing table or to decorate a mantle but my original sketches turned out so sweetly I thought it was a shame for them to be simply decorative.
I know you can buy expensive, scented washing treatments but they tend to involve chemicals and frankly unless you want to waft around smelling of the unlikely combination of tropical plants and semi precious stones you're left with fresh air and chamomile which, nice as it is can become a little insipid. I'd been gifted with a load of dried lavender so I popped a couple of teaspoons into the lambswool stuffing so these enchanting little ladies can now be popped in your lingerie drawer to give you sweet scented linens and lace.

That is of course if you can bring yourself to shut them away out of sight.

Artweeks 2010- A Midsummer Nights Dream

Photographs from my Artweeks 2010 exhibition

Lace Scarves

A new selection of Art Scarves from RoseOak Studio

These beautiful pieces are made from machine lace fabric adorned with extra lace, hand cut lace flowers,vintage and retro buttons, organza and handmade flowers and gold printed insects.

Camera - Found!! and Selvedge Magazine

Thanks to the sages I have found my camera. It turns out that there is a split in the lining of the sofa underneath the cushion and it had slipped under there. The camera is undamaged and the batteries are still working so I was able to take a photograh of my latest commission, a Pale Knight top in bamboo yarn
On another subject an email arrived from Selvedge magazine informing that the handmade craft fairs that I am involved in running is just what they want for their new feature. They want photographs, dates and general information so that has been sent off and hopefully it will be n an upcoming edition

Fabric Angel Collages

I ran across this belightfull little blog. These beautiful little angel collages that the artists makes are really inspiring especially in the winter minths when we all need a little cheer
http://kcwillis.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-have-guardian-angel.html#comments

Disaster in the image department

The title says it all. I have managed to loose my camera. Not only is a it a royal inconvenience but it means I cannot upload any more pictures of new products onto my website.
I last saw it the monday before last when I was preparing to go out. I saw it on the bookshelf and was considering taking it and decided against it. I needed it a couple of days later but it was no longer where I had left it. I have taken the house and studio inside out and emptied every box and bag I can find but it remains undiscovered.
I have some dress designs that I hope to start on in the new year and I cannot even post up sketchbook work unless I recreate it using my computers software.

back from the depths of the workshop

Goodness me it seems a long time since I last posted on here. The craft fair in Horsath was a wonderful success, everyone who had a stand sold and we had a steady stream of customers throughout the day.
I sold Pheonix a wonderful ribbon yarn jumper knitted from cherry tree yarn and several other smaller pieces.

Our second fair in Milton was not as successful and our side trip to Ray Montblanc's next door resturant to advertise the fact that we had the fair next door ended up in us nearly being throw out by the receptionest for daring to suggest some of the customers might like t ocome and see what we had to offer.





Hre are some pics from the second Milton fair