Talk of creativity and 'flow' on Monday reminded me that I went to a weaving day at Cowslip Workshops years ago and still have the table loom to prove it, carefully strung and holding an unfinished morsel of a masterpiece with which I was well pleased... and then the usual thing... I haven't picked it up since. The fun of the day was learning a new craft with an inspiring teacher in a room full of other learners whilst being so in that moment that the world oustide almost ceased to exist. Suddenly, when faced with my solitary loom, propped up on my solitary kitchen table, the attraction didn't seem so exciting, the piece not quite such a masterpiece and so there it has stayed, for about the last six years or more.
Now I look at it again I can recall the immersion of that day and the enthusiasm flickers again anew. I could probably turn it into something Orkney-ish I'm sure, and so I am going to revive it and weave onwards and upwards. The biggest danger might be to spy a proper table loom...or even a free-standing one down in the sale room for £10ish. I wouldn't be able to stop myself, this I know.
So a visit to the Hoxa Tapestry Gallery at St Margaret's Hope on Orkney was very high on my list of priorities while we were there. I had dispatched the Tinker there on his last island visit and he had brought me back a copy of weaver Leila Thomson's book which has been a treasure ever since...
But there's no substitute for the real thing and in such an inspirational location too...
We were a bit early for Sunday afternoon opening (I told you I was keen, we'd barely been on Orkney a day) so we all trooped up to the very well-placed and very welcome Hoxa Tea Rooms for lunch and just sat and stared at the most amazing views from our table...
Whilst it was 'No Photos' in the gallery itself I did ask if I could take one of the shop for you..
and it was lovely to meet and talk with Leila while I was there.
Not suprisingly I came away laden with cards and prints, and with the images of the 'real thing', giant tapestries, etched in my mind's eye and replete with the most glorious array of colours.
In the end I think Echoes was my favourite, sadly not available to see as it now resides in Australia...
And on the subject of weaving, I hear news this week (bless the Twitter and thanks to @stjudes and @PineHillNotes for the heads up) of an excellent exhibition, Weaving the Century at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh. This is the largest collection of tapestries ever exhibited in the UK, the Knit Angel has already been and waxes lyrical. I am just going to have to visit vicariously for now and perhaps try to catch it at Compton Verney later in the year because how I would love to see Edward Bawden's Farmyard tapestry.
Any weavers or would-be weavers out there ??
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