Corris Uchaf, Wales
Posts tagged textile
Celtic Knotwork designs (1)
Aug 26th
I have a commission which I have worked on bit by bit over the past few weeks. As you all know only too well, design for another is an iterative process, especially when locations are far flung.
Anyway, the idea was to create a celtic knotwork inspired quilt top, with a post-modernist fairly strict geometric pattern with quite vibrant colours.
So here are some of my initial ideas in chronological order:-
celtic knotwork - design idea 1
celtic knotwork - design idea 2
celtic knotwork - design idea 3
Progressing from the initial design brief into something rather more complex and thence morphing into to what might be regarded as a Roman mosiac but trying to show knotwork geometrically and with at least some sharp colour.
Being an ongoing process, the design concepts continue …
But, do the ideas work for you?
The builders commeth
Dec 13th
On a cold, damp, blustery day in our craft centre in Corris, Mid Wales, the builders commeth.
They have removed the whole of the front to our craft unit and are in the process of fitting the frame for the new front. Very cold at the moment, we are struggling to do any quilting as the fingers freeze on the needles. But this should be over soon.
Hopefully by the weekend you will see a nice new shiny shop front with lots of glass to let in the light to help us sew and to better display all our textile products and our quilting fabrics.
Lets hope this proves to be the end of our ram raiding nuisence.
Our Quilt shop in Corris
Aug 2nd
Seems a long time since we looked at our quilting workshop at Corris Craft Centre.
We have recently said some goodbyes, we have tried to send some designs to Canada (no luck as far as we know) and we’ve been at Carno.
Does that mean that we have deserted our quilt shop in Corris, or our Wednesday fabric stall at Machynlleth market?
No, not one bit. We still, somehow, find time to do our patchworks and quilts in our workshop. We continue to entertain our visitors (or more often than not the visitors to King Arthurs Labyrinth).
We have had some enteraining and interesting visitors who have an interest in quilting and fabrics. Too few, but those we have had have been a joy. Today’s highlights were a lady from Canada and one who is going to add rug ragging to her many textile skills. A pleasure to meet you both.
Sales also have been better than ever. Still not enough to pay our Landlord with takings from the shop, but an improvement from this time last year.
It suddenly hit us that on 12th July we had an anniversary. One year since we commenced trading and crafting within our little unit in Corris. Wow, so much has happened between the two 12ths of July. Cannot believe that we have been here one year (plus a bit now).
Where has all the time gone?
A full summer season, the dreary winter months when we saw virtually nobody from one week to the next, and now the visitors are here in droves again.
Must be getting old…. Are we enjoying it?
Part of us says yes, and part no. We enjoy the camadarie with the other crafters. We don’t like the politicing. We would love to know where the centre is going, we would love to work with our Landlord rather than be in the dark. We would love to see more people interested in crafting (and especially textiles), we would love to be able to say at the end of the week that we had made any money.
Financially, the enterprise is a nightmare and a real worry.
The constant juggle between our mortgage and the rent due on the shop. The hope that someday we may be able to have a holiday and unwind.
Its a very stressful life being a crafter in rural mid Wales.
But does anyone else care?
You don’t dear Reader, the council doesn’t even know we exist, the Welsh Assembly cares even less (it having no time at all for the lot of ordinary people in rural Wales).
But we care; we care for crafting, we care for traditions and we care for our local Welsh community and all those within it that struggle to make ends meet every day of the year in the face of official indifference.
We try to make a difference and we try to improve the lot of our fellow locals and our tourist guests.
We’ve been creative….
Jul 23rd
With what?
We have designed a new range of cushions. So what, says you.
One is based on our Welsh flag and the other is based on Owain Glyndwr’s emblem. We have taken some poetic and artistic licence with them, but saying that both of these new ranges are original and are our own work.
Bumble Bee Quilting remains at the forefront of Welsh patchwork and quilting both as an art and also as a skill.
Neither are replicas or copies, but both of our new designs demonstrate a portrail of two similar themes. Actually we are quite pleased with them and we look forward to you viewing them at our shop in Corris.
We are trying to put something back into rural Wales and its peoples, heritage and, although in an original form, to Welsh textiles and Welsh art even though we are just two individuals.
Our basic quilts continue their processes by machine and by hand. These works in progress can also be viewed at out Corris Craft Workshop. You might be in time to see stiching and quilting in action here if you hurry.
‘n ddedwydd ben-blwydd (not Corris Welsh, sorry)
To Alex Jones – Bumble Bee Quilting extends a heartfelt Birthday Greeting and we wish you and all your family much cheer and love.
