Great Job Rebecca!

Textiles Student Wins National Competition
Congratulations to College of the North Atlantic student, Rebecca Edwards, Textiles: Craft and Apparel Design, who won Fabricville’s national “I ♥ Fashion” Sewing Contest. Rebecca won first place in the Costumes category of the contest with her dress ‘Undefeated’. The edgy yellow frock was created in Apparel class for an assignment to create a garment based on the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Prizes for the award have a value of $1250 and include a Brother sewing machine and Fabricville Gift Certificate. Check out all of the Textiles students creations when they present their graduation fashion show at Club One on May 25.

Courtney Loveless modelling Rebecca Edwards' award-winning dress "Undefeated".

Comfort and Joy

December 4 - December 19, 2010, 

Opening Reception, December 4

Craft Gallery, Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador

A juried exhibition of fine craft in a variety of media that interprets the festive season in function, form, colour and texture for your home and gift list.

'The Wren'

Stumpwork with natural dyes on silk and cotton. 

8" x 11".

Eric Walsh photo.

Last Chance

An Embroidered Mirror

     This 'Last Chance' mirror, embroidered using 17th century stumpwork techniques will be on display at the Craft Council of Newfoundland's 2010 Annual Members Exhibit.  The hand embroidery is done with naturally dyed silk and cotton threads on a ground of alder dyed hemp. Although not as labour intensive as much of my past work, I enjoyed creating this piece quite a bit. The imagery is made up of heather, wild roses and blueberries; all in various stages of the summer season.

     In the world of home decor, the last chance mirror is one that is hung by the door of your home. It is the 'last chance' to check your hair make-up etc before heading out into the world. For me, the motifs are a reminder that time is marching ahead and to remember to do everything that you want to do. It is equally important, in our short summers and brief lives; try not to leave anything 'til the last chance!

The Craft Council's Annual Members Exhibit runs from June 26th to August 15, 2010 at 59 Duckworth Street. For more information check http://www.craftcouncil.nl.ca/


Eric Walsh Photo

Trial Run

An exhibition of first year student work Textiles: Craft and Apparel Design, College of the North Atlantic, June 4th to June 20th, Third Floor, Devon House. Opening Reception, June 4th at 4-6 pm.

Photo: Southern Comfort by Dwayne Mercer

Gone are the days where a lady gets all dressed in her Sunday best from head to toe with an extravagant head piece. I wanted to bring that aspect of that look back not as a trend but as a reminder of days gone by where there was no cosmetic surgery or enhancement. It was pure class and an aura of being. I wanted to make a piece that was over the top and made people look twice saying “WOW”!

Tanja Berlin at the Anna Templeton Centre!

Internationally renown embroiderer, Tanja Berlin, will be selling her kits, materials and supplies at the Anna Templeton Centre for Craft Art and Design , Wednesday, April 14th from 7-9 pm. Tanja is in town teaching two workshops with the St. John's Guild of Embroiderers. This sales night will provide an opportunity for people not attending her workshop to buy embroidery supplies not available in the province. If you are unfamiliar with Tanja's work and product line, check out http://www.berlinembroidery.com/ . If you are interested in finding out more about the St. John's Guild of Embroiderers; why not attend a meeting? The Guild meets the last Tuesday of the month at 8pm at the Glenbrook Lodge. Beginners are always welcome!
The Hare is an example of Tanja's exquisite thread painting created during her studies at the Royal College of Needework.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! In the hopes of finding a hobby totally outside of my studio area, I got a spinning wheel for Christmas. I finally got a chance to get it together this week. Here is a photo of my first skein. Pretty 'arty', but I'm not in a big rush to perfect my skill...as always, I'm just enjoying the process! It is very relaxing and all the contact with the fibre is very soothing. I am desperately trying not to become to addicted and forget about real work. This skein is merino roving dyed with logwood and indigo. Going to try some acid dyed merino I have left over from a felting workshop, could be wild! Thanks to Linda Lewis of Baynoody for selling me the wheel and for guidance with my spinning. Check out her place on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoX-WgBRUI 

Operation Homespun Reprinted!

Collection of traditional NL knitting patterns available

for the first time since the 1980’s.
Almost 30 years ago a group of knitters, Craft Field Instructors and their students, gathered together a collection traditional knitting patterns. Hoping to inspire others to knit with pure homespun wool, the booklet of patterns also included information on the fundamentals of knitting and tips for completing socks, mitts, and sweaters for every member of the family. That booklet – Operation Homespun - became a valuable resource for all knitters.
At the time, it was feared that a child may grow up and never see anyone knitting mitts or socks. Miss Templeton organized Operation Homespun to preserve the patterns and traditions for future generations – and it is in this spirit that the Anna Templeton Centre for Craft Art & Design has reprinted this booklet.
The original booklet, with its introduction written by Miss Anna Templeton, is now available for purchase. It will be available at the Anna Templeton Centre’s Christmas Tea & Sale, Friday, 12-8 pm, December 11, and Saturday, 9 am – 4 pm, December 12, 2009. The booklet is $20 and the first one hundred sold also includes a skein of Briggs & Little homespun wool. All proceeds support the Anna Templeton Centre.