Thought provoking creative service this month based around Jean Vanier’s book ‘Tears of Silence’ which challenges us to overcome our fears and excuses that allow us to ignore those suffering around us rather than finding ways to reach out to others.
Category Archives: Creativity
Weaving Women’s Wisdom | Session 1
Today our group of Sikh, Muslim and Christian women shared stories of wise women from our lives and faiths – we found many common themes in our tales – the generosity and welcome of an house with an open door, the importance of sharing skills and wise words through generations, how to help others is to help God, stories of women of courage, strength and a positive approach in adversity, how God is always there to support us so never say never and just give things a go! We also shared inspirational stories about Khadija, Mai Bhago, Mary, Ruth, Naomi and other amazing women from our different faith traditions. A big thank you to the ladies from Touchstone Bradford for coming all this way to introduce the project and teach us these wonderful rug making techniques
Rada brought in some beautiful weavings to share with us made by members of her family in Serbia. Although they were made a long time ago it was amazing how contemporary they look!
Ruth and Jenny from Touchstone had brought in some examples of rugs in the process of being woven to show us the various techniques that we could use. They also gave us a goodie bag with some tools, wool and the base webbing for us to create our own rug with.
You can even create text!
We decided we wanted our design to contain an open door to symbolise the importance of being welcoming and generous to others, the flower or Maryam / Mary which is often used today to help women in labour as a symbol of strength in adversity, the names of the women who are special to us and a patchwork made of pieces of cloth that have a special meaning to women in the group. (Find out more about the amazing flower of Maryam here)
Next Wednesday we will begin to create our weaving!
Creative Retreat and Exhibition by Jaime Poole
ART EXHIBITION BY JAIME POOLE – 7th – 20th March 2015
Paintings inspired by the British landscape together with intricate colleges formed of poetry sit side by side in this visually stunning and thought provoking exhibition.
CREATIVE RETREAT – Saturday 7th March from 1.30 – 5pm
An afternoon of reflection and time to grow closer to God through art and poetry. The retreat will include times of quiet contemplation, creative worship and practical creative activities including making 3-D poem pieces.
There is no charge for the retreat – we will simply put out a bowl for contributions towards materials (suggested £1 – £3) if people feel they would like to pop something in it.
Please contact Ruth at [email protected] or call the Bishop Street Church office on 0116 255 4111 for details on joining us for this creative retreat day.
See more of Jaime Poole’s work on his website here: www.jamie-poole.com
Weaving Women’s Wisdom
WE ARE LOOKING FOR WOMEN INTERESTED IN . . .
Sharing stories from our different faith traditions.
Spending time together, building friendships.
Remembering Wise Women who have influenced us.
Designing and making a woven carpet rug.
Being part of a national project and touring exhibition.
CREATIVE FRIENDSHIP BUILDING PROJECT:
This is a creative national project to encourage new and existing groups of women from different faith communities to join together in weaving rugs. These will eventually be gathered together to make a travelling exhibition, “Weaving Women’s Wisdom”. Whilst they weave, groups are encouraged to have conversations around wisdom, remember wise women that have influenced their lives and faith, share important stories from tradition and scriptures and to reflect on the wisdom that they have both experienced and shared. The purpose of this project is to enable women and girls to have safe space to share their stories and to form honest and joyful interfaith friendships. The project runs from Sept 2014 to end of March 2015.
The national project is co-ordinated by The Touchstone Centre in Bradford. Touchstone, a centre for Methodist interfaith work is a ‘listening community’ with the vision of making safe places of hospitality where people of different backgrounds can listen to and talk with each other. Art at the Chapel is facilitating a Leicester group to be part of this exciting project.
TIMES AND VENUES:
You are welcome to join us for any of the sessions below. It is fine to ‘pop in’ and help during any of these times even if you can only spare half an hour!
WED 28th Jan 2015: 1pm – 3pm Bishop Street Methodist Church. An introduction to the project and chance to meet each other.
Wed 4th Feb 2015: 12:00 – 4pm Bishop Street Methodist Church: Starting to create our rug
SAT 7th Feb 2015: 11:00am – 2pm Bishop Street Methodist Church: Working together on our weaving.
WED 11th Feb 2015: 10.30 – 11.30 am Sharma Women’s Center, 39-45 Sparkenhoe Street, Leicester, LE2 0TD, 0116 251474
WED 18th Feb 2015: 12:00 – 4pm Bishop Street Methodist Church: Trying to complete our rug
WHO CAN GET INVOLVED: Women of all ages from all faith traditions.
GET IN TOUCH: If you would like to get involved or simply want to find out more.
Please contact Ruth at Tel: 0116 255 4111
Fabric Banner Making Tips
BISHOP STREET BANNER MAKING WORKSHOP PART 3
Chris Watkins from the East Leake Banner making group led our third workshop. With many years experience as a textile teacher and accomplished fabric artist Chris inspired us with a vast array of tips and techniques.
Some tips for making Fabric Banners
Written by Chris Watkins
Backgrounds
I would advise the use of woven fabric for the background. A wide variety of woven fabric available from basic calico to expensive jacquards- Woven fabrics are more stable. Stretchy /Knitted fabrics can be stabilised with interfacing but more difficult to work with and I would suggest only used for small areas, i.e. leaves, animals etc
Don’t allow the background fabric to overpower the design- ensure design colours standout. Ensure that the fabric is cut out on the straight grain- running parallel with the threads in the fabric – top to bottom and side to side. Allow extra fabric at edges to turn under or add backing. At least 6” or 15 cms. I have assumed that the final product cannot be washed so a variety of fabrics can be used. If it is intended that the final item may be washable then the fibre content of fabric and the products used is limited.[see Chris.]
Design
Keep designs simple: Templates shapes can be drawn or free designs from internet i.e. leaves, animals, people etc. Note Copyright- it is illegal to use a design unless it is offered as free or permission is granted by the designer. If a group of people are working on a Banner, look at being able to breakdown the design, so several people can work on the design at one time. Make a design of components and then put them all together.
Colour
The use of colour is very important – Background do not want to dominate. Design needs to stand out. Be prepared to move around and play with the elements to get the best result.
Chris brought lots of samples to illustrate her talk which included how to transfer photographs onto fabric.
Techniques
Applique: Cutting out fabric shapes and applying to a background, Quilting, stitching lines or a pattern by hand or machine through layers of fabric.
Embroidery: Cross stitch – using even weave fabric and embroidering a design following a chart. Bondaweb – fusable web used to stick shapes onto background using an iron. Can drawn on the paper side- REMEMBER to REVERSE IMAGE.
Fabric paint: Variety available- follow instructions may need to be ironed to set.
Transfer crayons/paint: Similar to wax crayons – design drawn or painted ono parer and ironed onto man-made fabrics – polyester.
Computer transfer prints: Special papers can be bought at good supermarkets and printed on home computer.
Your Photos onto fabric. – several methods ask Chris.
Lettering
Keep straight and look at spacing – measure accurately
Fabric: Cut out letters [use bondaweb [remember to reverse on paper backing] and then couch braid around the edge and stab stitch lettering or use blanket or chain stitch over edge of letters]
Printed letter blocks can be purchased or made from foam sheet
Painted lettering: Plenty of practise and a steady hand needed
Adding decoration
A variety of decorations can be used -beads, sequins, braid cords, tassels, etc Ensure that they are well attached. Use strong thread and sew on well.
Finishing off
Wadding: A layer of cotton/polyester wadding is added to the back of the design, to give extra support and body to the banner.
Backing: A suitable piece of fabric will need to be applied to the back of the Banner.
Bagging out: The backing fabric is placed onto he right side of the fabric and machined around the outside edge, leaving a gap big enough for it to be turned through to the right side. This gap is them hand sewn together. OR The edges can be Bound either using an edge binding or by bring the backing fabric over the edge and on to the front of the Banner.
Weighting: It may be a good idea to add some weight to the bottom of the Banner- this may be a strip of wood or metal which can be enclosed in the bottom hem.
Hanging
Tabs: Pieces of folded fabric applied to top of banner for a piece of wood or metal to be threaded through.
Sleeve: A piece of fabric added to the back of the Banner at the top for a piece of wood to be threaded through.
Poles: Made of Metal or wood- curtain poles can be used/
Further Help
General help with a project and Banner workshops
Contact Chris 01509 821536
Commissions: East Leake Banner group via Chris.
Chris shares an example of a ‘Prayer Flag’
Chris explains how the Banner the group created for English Martyrs was made.
This fabulous book is Chris’s contribution to our Inspired by the Psalms Exhibition currently showing alongside our Banner Exhibition.
The exhibition is up until September 24th 2014 so if you haven’t seen it yet why not pop in and grab a coffee at the same time.
