Author: Rose Prince

Categories
Ann Sutton OBE

November

November with Ann Sutton OBE

04/11/2024

Today we finally started working on some art! I have enjoyed the build up to this moment, but am so glad it’s here! We were experimenting with various materials and seeing how the paints worked with them.

I have realised that one of Anns work doesn’t take ages to make, it just has a lot of thought behind it. She was saying today how she now wants her pieces to be simple and effective. This means she is sourcing alternative materials, instead of weaving everything in the studio. It’s funny because now we are seeing that makers are finally getting that understanding from others that work can take a long time. We all laughed about how Ann is doing the opposite and wanting pieces out quickly. She also explained that she has so many ideas, if they drag on for too long they often get forgotten about and are never completed.

We always have lovely conversations about her past etc. Today she mentioned when she cut and painted on her woven samples, a tutor spat on her because it was so against the grain and not something that was done. Funny how times have changed. Now we are all pushed to think of things no one has done before.

11/11/2024

Today Ann mentioned about me working an extra morning with her in the week as work is now on a roll. I was very excited to hear this, I knew there was potential for her to ask so it’s nice to confirm this.

We continued experimenting with the piece from last week. The acrylic paint was slightly tacky and chipping when you touched from when we had painted on the material, so wouldn’t last long term. We added some acrylic varnish so shall see how that looks next time.

Ann has also decided she wants to look back at her old ways of working. So is going to start using a frame loom again. This is super exciting to me.

We often have many chats, one of which today she explained that the care home doesn’t provide enough art sessions. I have already been toying with the idea of asking to complete sessions teaching weaving there, so this has come in good time.

By everyone weaving a small square I shall be able to piece them all together to create a beautiful piece of art showcasing how creative, integrated and collaborative we are as a home! I am really excited. By running these sessions I shall be able to learn how I teach and gain confidence in an environment that I am familiar with.

18/11/2024

This week was less productive than normal. My initial task was to transfer scowls of plastic yarn into cones. I am quite familiar with this task from working with Rebecca at Dobby and Rose so thought I would complete it quite quickly. However, a lot of the scowls were tangled and kept sliding off each other when being wound. This meant the remainder of the session was spend trying to untangle and wind the yarn. It was very frustrating as we had planned to complete many other tasks. I have taken some of the yarn home to continue untangling so that next week can be more productive.

Despite the annoyance, we all had such a laugh today. Chatting about Christmas meat, teaching and the general care home chit chat. ..‘Chicken bullets’. Ann was very complimentary about me. It was very sweet. She said I had done so well speaking in front of everyone last minute. She said wouldn’t say she was impressed unless she meant it. She also mentioned how I had a good understanding on the world. I really appreciate it when she says things like this. I know Ann genuinely means it which is what makes it so special.

25/11/2025

Today was very productive. I had felt a bit flustered starting the day as there was a lot of traffic on the way. I never like being late but it was going to be close with the extra 20 mins it was adding to the journey, so I felt all over the place today.

However, despite this it was very productive. I completed a lot of experiments for upcoming projects. Tried a new yarn on the knitting machine… it didn’t work as the yarn was far too thick. Ann also kindly gave me one of her books. There is also going to be someone coming into the studio in the New Year to film some content for a secret project which is exciting.

Categories
General Reflection

Book List

  • Squiggly Career by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis
  • Sister Outsider Audre Lorde
  • The selected works of Audre Lorde
  • The most beautiful job in the world by Giulia Mensitieri
Categories
General Reflection

DPS Notes Autumn Term

07/10/2024

General Meeting

  • 5000 word report describing and evaluating the placement
  • presentation in June which forms grade
  • Squiggly Career
  • 31st May earliest to end placements


14/10/2024

My Blog

  • Be reflective
  • Photos, drawings, bullet points, diary entries, how you feel, strengths and challenges, new/ developing skills, readings, podcasts or videos etc.
  • Research is KEY
  • How will your blog COMMUNICATE the KNOWLEDGE you have gained through the PROCESS of ENQUIRY that has allowed you to REALISE your goals.


25/10/2024

Positionality

  1. The social and political context that creates your identity AND
  2. How your identity and biases your perception of an outlook on the world.
  • Maslows Hierarchy of needs
  • Audre Lorde Sister outsider
  • The selected works of Audre Lorde (books)
  • YELLOW WORLD , social purpose at the centre
  • Fashion Minority Report, learning support
  • Unspoken rules, behaviours and expectations within the workplace
  • The most beautiful job in the world (book)
  • Positionality shapes perspectives
  • Critical awareness
  • Challenge and change

How do I experience the world?

Categories
Dobby & Rose

October

October with Rebecca Harvey-Browne

01/10/2024

  • Next weekend (12th-13th October) I shall be helping with the Maltings Craft Fair, I am excited!! I shall be weaving 2 scarfs using a honey comb design while Rebecca sells products.
  • One thing I have already really learnt: Selling textiles as art instead of products and cloth is where you make your money. Am eager to try making beautiful experimental pieces this year.
  • Continued weaving sections for the key fobs, I enjoyed doing this as Rebecca gave me free reign on the colours and designs.

08/10/2024

  • This week I set up the loom to use for the Maltings, Rebecca allowed me to choose the design for this project. I also was able to choose the colours. I decided on a honeycomb design, as I remembered she said people always loved textured pieces. I also chose a beige/ brown yarn for the weft as people love neutrals at the moment.
  • I also prepped a load of loom kits to sell. There was a lot of pressure not to forget an item in the box. I didn’t want to mess up. I remembered everything, however put the wrong stickers on some boxes. I wasn’t told there was a different sticker to use. I felt so bad, Rebecca said it was her fault but still thought I should have brought it up. I had thought it was odd, but continued as there weren’t any other stickers. Next time I should listen to my thoughts and double check if in doubt.
  • I hadn’t realised how much preparation goes into an event, it was useful to see.

12-13/10/2024

Farnham The Maltings

  • The past few days have been really useful joining Rebecca. I have never experienced a craft event on the side of the maker. It was a lot of fun, a little daunting chatting to people about weaving but, it built my confidence.
  • One man came up to me and said ‘Do you mind if I LOOM over you?’
  • He then said ‘you should have told me to SHUTTLE away’
  • Showed me how not every event is super successful, a lot of creatives were deflated with the outcome, with sales going down a lot since the year before.
  • Useful to learn it’s now always sunshine and rainbows
  • Met many other weavers etc, really nice to continue networking!

15/10/2024

  • Today I finished off the warp on the honeycomb design. I then started winding a warp for some scarfs going to be used on the countermarch loom. I started untying all of the peddles from the shafts before it was time for me to leave early to travel to London for the ‘Making it in Textiles’ event in Bradford.

22/10/2024

  • While I had been away on Thursday Rebecca had set up the loom as she had the time pressure of her next event. I finished weaving the first scarfs she had designed and then was allowed to design the next scarf.
  • I chose blue as the primary colour as the collection didn’t have that colour yet. She also suggested I used orange along with it. I wasn’t too sure on this choice as I thought there is a slimer amount of people that shall want those specific colours. Also, once I started weaving it was quite trippy on the eyes. I regretted continuing with this, however, Rebecca was happy the with outcome so it was only me that was being extra picky.
Categories
Lucy Rowan Weaving Studio

October

October with Lucy Rowan

04/10/2024

  • Today was my second day at my 3 month placement with Lucy in Worthing. I am really enjoying myself. Having a shorter day is nice on a Friday.
  • It’s been nice working in such a friendly setting.
  • Don’t believe I am going to gain loads in terms of weaving, but useful to learn about the weaving business. It shall be beneficial. The room looks out onto the sea, it’s beautiful.
  • This week I completed some tapestry weaving. Lucy wanted me to make a bookmark for a pop up Christmas shop that Colonnade House shall be hosting. This was the first time I had done tapestry weaving… I wasn’t a fan. It took way too long to complete that it frustrated me. I was just constantly thinking how can spending 4 hours on a bookmark be worth while. There is only going to be a certain point that people are willing to pay for a bookmark. It’s then not worth your time.

11/10/2024

  • Today I set up the loom so I could make 5 coasters at the same time. Having learnt from last week that tapestry weaving was not worth our while with products such as coasters and book marks we decided to experiment with the loom.
  • The process was slightly faster, however, where I was having to change threads for each coaster it took longer than expected. I decided that it would be much quicker to create a thin warp where I could focus on one coaster at a time.
  • I was slightly disappointed, as I was meant to set up a loom today. However, with one of the looms already set up it made sense to weave with that.

18/10/2024

  • Today I set up some tools for a workshop that Lucy was going to be teaching at the Maltings on the weekend.
  • After I had completed this I continued weaving the remaining coasters on the loom. After I had finished, I proceeded with the wall hanging weaving.
  • I am worried I am not learning loads, I had expected that I would have been taught how to add more texture into the weaving etc. However, I haven’t and have just been practicing skills I already know.
Categories
Ann Sutton OBE

October

October with Ann Sutton OBE

07/10/2024

The sock machine saga continues… for a few weeks now Ann and I have been trying to get her old sock machine to work. We have tried various stitch lengths, yarns and continued using WD40.

14/10/2024

Today we completely cleaning the sock machine. Took everything apart and used a strong alcohol to clean EVERYTHING. It is still temperamental which is very frustrating but hopefully next week once the sewing machine oil has settled in we shall be more successful. After researching we realised the WD40 was one of the worst things to use as it’s a heavy oil. By also using too much it caused a mess and clogged up the parts.

21/10/2024

I really enjoyed this morning… my task with Rebecca (Ann’s assistant for 8 years) was to categorise some of her larger pieces that were rolled up. There were around 12 pieces that need to be unpacked and repackaged so the pieces were more protected. We found that a lot of the galleries hadn’t bothered to pack the pieces properly, some were stuck together, others had the hanging pole denting into it. It made me realised how important packaging pieces of work is. One piece had to be carefully pulled apart as the acrylic paint was sticking together. Unfortunately there were a few times it took the pain off which was devastating, however, nothing we could do about it.

I learnt that using the flat side of bubble wrap onto the work protected it better, and using string per scrap strips of fabric to keep the bubble wrap rolled was better than using tape. Tape can become sticky and therefore potentially ruin the work.

While Rebecca and I packed the art, Ann continued to play around with the knitting machine. However, it still wasn’t working, making a horrible noise when trying to turn the wheel.

28/10/2024

Today was a brilliant day! My first task was to get the knitting machine working… I did! Phew… I was so glad I was able to! I then kept knitting and knitting and knitting… Within a short time I had created metres of length. The more I used it the smoother and easier it became.

Ann also discussed the pieces that we would be working on. She is very ambitious and is up for a challenge. When I was asking how certain pieces would be attached, she would reply saying…

‘I don’t know… we shall just have to work it out!’

We then discussed various ways, some she hadn’t thought of. Mainly just bouncing off each other.

For the last part of the morning Rebecca and I continued unpacking and packing some art pieces.

It does amaze me how easily Ann comes up with so many amazing ideas. It really does come naturally to her.

Categories
General Reflection

My Positionality Statement

My name is Rose Prince, I am a young white, middle class female student that has grown up living a 2 minute walk from the beach on the South Coast. I have experienced city life in London for the last 2 years studying Textile Design at Chelsea College of Arts specialising in weaving, however, I definitely enjoy quieter environments. I favoured coming home and driving to placements for DPS as opposed to inflated city prices. This allowed me to take unpaid positions which have enhanced my skillset.

I have worked in a care home specialised in dementia for the past 4 years. While it’s an extremely hard and demanding job, I feel incredibly privileged to have learnt from and cared for this demographic. This has influenced other areas in my life, for example, my textile projects.

I acknowledge that my perspective is shaped by these privileges and may have limited my comprehension of other people’s experiences. I’m determined to examine my own prejudices and approach placements with an open mind so that I can gain insight from viewpoints that differ from my own.

  • Caring … Why Ann was also drawn to me ‘you’re a carer and weaver all in one!’
  • Wanted to stay local to home
Categories
Personal Projects

Spinning Wheel Project

08/10/2024

I just keep getting lucky! Some family friends were on an evening walk, when they found an Antique Ashford Spinning Wheel on the side of the road ready for bin collection the next day.

They called me up asking if it was of use to me… of course! I have tried spinning some yarn briefly before, it was an area I wanted to explore.

Once it was home we discovered the flyer, bobbins and leather was missing. I started looking online for other parts, however, the flyer alone was nearly £100 which I couldn’t afford to spend.

I popped a note through the door of the house it was outside of thanking them and asked if they had any other weaving or spinning bits they were going to get rid of.

I received a message soon after:

I then decided to post on the Hampshire Guild of Weavers Spinners and Dyers asking if anyone had a spare.

Two ladies replied and were very helpful. They were selling one for £4! They suggested I came to the next meeting to collect it.

I had heard from multiple people that the Guild was quite unfriendly however, I went in with a smile on my face and asked loads of questions and found that everyone was more than happy to help. They suggested I come back again as they sell lots of spinning and weaving equipment for a very good price.

I feel really proud of myself for reaching and putting myself out there. A few months I probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to. It’s so nice to think I have another network of people that know all about weaving and spinning.

More updates soon, I just need to get the last bits!

Categories
Conferences & Events

‘Making it in Textiles’ Bradford Conference

16-17/10/2024

I was super fortunate to be given the opportunity to attend the Making it in Textiles conference in Bradford. I joined four other students at UAL to learn all about the weaving industry and network with students from other universities.

I was nervous to attend, speaking to all of the Industry and Livery representatives was really daunting.

However, once I arrived and was caught up in the moment and wasn’t overthinking. I chatted to loads of students and representatives, it was absolutely incredible. I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to attend. I feel as though I shall enter third year with a much wider breadth of knowledge.

I spoke to experts such as:

  • Philippa Brock
  • Andrew Hogley
  • James Gaselee
  • James Bagley
  • Lucy Knights
  • Elliot Barlow
  • Professor Sheila-Mary Carruthers

On the second day I visited Marton Mills, based just outside of Bradford. It was amazing to view the large scale process of making the fabric. The design stage was a lot quicker than at university which I hadn’t expected. I had never considered the possibility of working in a mill, however, after this visit I definitely want to get some experience during my DPS year at a mill. I believe this shall help clarify if working within a mill is something I could want.


Categories
Conferences & Events Dobby & Rose

The MALTINGS: Festival of Craft

12/10/2024

Rebecca was attending The Festival of Crafts at Farnham this weekend, she offered me the opportunity to join her and weave on a Louet Jane Table Loom while speaking to customers.

I immediately said yes! I had never attended an event like this so was eager to see how it was in the eyes of a craftsperson.

I loved speaking to everyone, there were lots of amazing stories. It was fun watching everyone trying to work out how I was weaving also. Once I had explained what I was doing everyone seemed to appreciate the products being sold a lot more. I realised how little people know about how cloth/ fabric is made.

I also witnessed how deflating an event like this could be. So many craftspeople were saying what a let down it was. It was invaluable seeing this side of the industry. It’s not always a positive experience. I would find it hard to pick myself up after a less successful event. This made me reflect on if this side of making is something I would want to do.

I think I crave stability and consistency. So maybe working in a business with others would suit me better?