Gunpowder, treason and plot

It’s curious the things we choose to commemorate, isn’t it?  This week is the ‘celebration’ of Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes night) in England, which is historical and political but not relevant to today, other than if the terrorist plot had not...

The ‘Polyanna’ approach

This week I was called a Polyanna.  It was meant as an insult, but I took it as a compliment and thanked the giver warmly.  A few years ago, when I first heard the term, I had to ask for clarification – I think it’s a US expression more than a UK one...

Deep Thinking

Weavers who go beyond recipe weaving tend to be quite deep thinkers, I’ve noticed.  They are not content with following what someone else has done, but they want to tweak the threading here, and alter the treadling there, or completely revamp the tie-up.  And...

How nature and jazz combine

I’ve been weaving several different pieces for two exhibitions over the last few weeks.  And while I weave, sometimes I listen to music on my ipod, and sometimes I weave in silence, letting thoughts run through my head. One of these thoughts was about the...