Blog posts – Page 14 – sue orton

Weaving Diploma: project 3

I am taking for my brief for this next project: A woven textile collection to modernise a geologists study: including window treatments, soft furnishings and upholstery. Her particular interest is in the geology of metamorphic and sandstone especially the formations found in the Canyon Lands of western USA. Bryce Canyon is a favourite. These are Hoodoos!

In my research I came across June Swindell who runs Salt consultancy – she focuses on how light filters through fabrics into spaces etc .. quite beautiful.

Mentoring at BIMM

I’m enjoying reconnecting with Brighton Institute of Modern Music (BIMM) to support students studying for their teaching qualification.

Catch up with BIMM news here.

Eat Oranges!

The Age of Absurdity

It is shocking and profoundly regrettable but, apparently,
sales of oranges are falling steadily because people can
no longer be bothered to peel them!

As soon as I read this I began buying oranges more
frequently….
Now, I peel an orange very sl.ooow.ly
De.lib.er.ate.ly.
voluptuously
above all
DEFIANTLY
as a response to an age that demands
war without casualties
public services without taxes
rights without obligations
celebrity without achievement
sex without relationships
running shoes without running
course work without work
and sweet grapes without seeds

From The Age of Absurdity: Why Modern Life Makes it Hard to be Happy
by MIchael Foley (Simon & Schuster).

Braided twills

I had great fun working with Braided twills for project 2 of my diploma. They are difficult to thread but it has meant that I am so much more confident at the technical side of putting a warp on the loom. Here are some of the results:

Barbican Project

I’m loving being on the Handweavers Diploma in London and recently completed my first project. The Barbican was our design inspiration. Here is the poem that was at the heart of my mood board. Also one or two pictures of the swatches in the collection.

Now is then and then is now
now is then and then is now,
relentless soul-less grey,
tingled alive with flashes of joy and colour
memories of you here, mingle with finger tipped geraniums on the flats

now is then and then is now,
steady studying summer-school,
heart pricked, such laughter and tears
shapes oozing remembered days, swamped by solid blocks of stuck-ness

now is then and then is now,
solid blocks surrender
leaking light, space, ideas for colour and design
gathering slowly, I warm to my task, my weaver and your artist joined.

(I last visited the Barbican in 1980 with my mother artist and sculptor who died 23 Oct 2013

journey sticks

made with found drift wood and wrapped and decorated with love. There making draws from ancient traditions of native peoples making talking sticks and totems.
help to gather energy and courage, mark transitions, celebrate and offer thanks and encourage story telling.
mark the seasons, a birth, a loss or a transition, make visible achievements or challenges met,
celebrate and offer thanks, for journeys made or to be made, they focus meditation or healing and represent the joy of making.
gather colour energies from healing traditions and chakras

Contact me to make one