February

Well, the biggest event surely this month was the birth of Isobel Lucie on Sunday the 8th of February. It happened quietly, and blissfull new mum Anna is still keeping very quiet, but she and sleeping beauty are well and send this photo. Can you see the edge of the Shetlandwool blanket Anna knitted in midwinter? And below you can see the Alpaca blanket Anneruth spun, wove, sewn and felted ready now too for Isobel's pram in spring. The needlefelted Alpaca is onion skin dyed and is truly lumionous in colour sheen: what a miracle Alpaca is! Thank you Breeze (that is the baby alpaca whom you can meet here too)

Babies and mothers was the theme of that week: Here is Alison making a fairy for her soon to be born nieceAnd here is Samantha and son trying out needle felting for the first time.

Helen has been asked again to provide input into the local nursery at Bellahouston, and she is doing it all by herself this time. Good on you, woman! You were the young mother last February, weren't you?! (we must get a new picture of them!)

Otherwise this month was mainly taken up with forward planning of our big baby: the woolcraft at Galgael group. We have tried our luck in putting a funding application through so that we can build a more solid base for proper outreach in the future. There is just not enough space and time, but the demand is clearly there, and it is so good to be a vibrant part of a vibrant Galgael, and to now be even part of the big Operational Plan.

We have started to take part a little in the Thursday evening drop-in sessions, which got kicked into action also partly because of our pesterpower. See more about them here.

However, the space we would need is not quite available on the Thursdays either... so we are still looking, and also thinking of making use of our local members homes and gardens :-)

Meanwhile, another big baby of the month:

The upright tapestry has been given space at Galgael! Hurray!

It seems that everybody wants a shot at making rugs of the tartan offcuts from the Isle o Lewis - but right now when to camera was ready to shoot - it stood just proudly waiting next to the other big loom in the foyer now:

planning a felting project with Plantation at The Portal

Galgael was asked by Plantation Productions in Govan whether we could facilitate a 2 month felting project as part of their mental health community network art project. Laryna and Anneruth went along to meet Angela at The Portal in 978 Govan Road to see the venue and discuss requirements.

It is a new project for Plantation Productions, and will be part of preparing for an exhibition at the beginning October, sourcing the material from 4 art projects: filming, animation, ceramics and felting.

We also the ceramic studio next door, called Deepfired and owned and run by Julia. It feels great to have a real craft workshop there right in the centre of Govan...

We have accepted the commission and are now getting our heads together to plan the project which will be launched on the 'taster session day', Wednesday the 30th June with a two hour introduction to felting which is to enthuse participants to sign up for the 8 weeks course starting on the 4th of August.


Gathering ideas, Anneruth was very pleased to be able to visit later on at home the Penicuik art in health group (remember the felting exhibition from May?) and see how they work their felting project. She learned that the brilliant big banners there ( see this and this) were done by one woman over the period of several months with just a few hours per week, mainly through needle felting upon a prepared wet felted basis.
It was good to see how quickly the women there had taken to needlefelting and learn about the foam cushion (see the pictures here) ! Anneruth went straight to Dunelm to get one for the taster session at Plantation!

planning meeting at Laryna's

We met for planning ahead, as well as looking back over the last half year or so.

and Flora brought the new name for our outreach and in-reach plans:
The Unbroken Thread

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copied from our minutes:
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The Unbroken Thread – Woolcraft at Galgael

A summary of recent activity and proposals for the future.

Summer/Autumn 2007
Hazel, Anneruth, Verene, Flora and Anna started gathering on a Friday morning to share woolcraft. We taught, learned and created by washing and preparing fleeces, carding, spinning, knitting, dying, felting and making rag rugs. Most of the materials we use would otherwise be thrown away. We recycle it into something practical and beautiful.

In November 2007 some beautiful precious Hebridean fleeces were given to the group (thanks John from Iona Hostel!) and these are being felted into quality rugs.

In January 2008 Heather and Laryna (re)connected with the group. Heather picked up the threads at the ‘Weaving the Clyde’ tapestry loom. Laryna was able to continue the work that Helen had started, bringing weaving into the local nursery. (Helen was unable to continue with this because of her new baby – congratulations). This year at the nursery Laryna has introduced “wet in wet painting” to encourage colour and form sensitivity. She built and taught peg loom weaving and then brought painting and wool craft experiencing together by “weaving the rainbow”.

“woolcrafty @ galgael”: We have also developed a craft group blog. This is still private as we develop it but the plan is to make it public so that anyone interested in the craft group (new participant or potential funders) can see what it’s all about.

Long Term Aims
* Development of the sail loft at Galgael for a craft learning centre.
* Certificated modules in wool craft.
* A productive creative working environment people want to participate in, including singing and dancing old and new craft community songs and tunes

The next steps
Weaving ourselves in and out of the Galgael base doing outreach to build interest in traditional woolcraft activities, and let people know they can join in also here at Galgael to build a resource base. This will include giving workshops at already established community groups in the area and by taking stalls and giving demonstrations at events. For this we need to develop a pack of display material, information and leaflets that can be given away and pieces of craft that people can have a go at.

We are now searching for people with songs and dances which can join up with us in integrated outreach venture called specifically: “The Unbroken Thread”.

The money from the sale of all things made at the craft group will go towards the sail loft renovation fund.

coming up in-house art and craft events?

Friday 25/1/08
Burns Day:
Heather was asking is anything happening?
he is planning to come through, and is hoping that at least the Glgl might have a do..


Friday 1/2/08
IMBOLC:
The great Celtic Festival of women power, of craftsmanship, of sailors and smiths, of weavers and midwifes... what are we doing this year?

Do you need to know more about the festival? Do a google search on IMBOLC, OIMELC and BRIDE or BRIDGET (goddes and/or saint)

Please use this facility to discuss via the comment section below
(or email me if you have probs, and I post it here for you)
thank you :-)