August 2024 - the year so far

I’ve had a busy and beautifully varied year so far. I had the joy of taking Illuminating Weaves to three wool shows - The Wool Monty, Wool@J13 and Yarningham. All three have a unique character and it was great to talk weaving with everyone who came along to chat and weave.

In April I had a brilliant couple of days at The Haynes Conference Centre weaving with a group of WI members from Derbyshire and beyond. A great time was had with this creative bunch of weavers.

May saw me back at St. Cuthbert’s on Holy Island for a week. I set up “Illuminating the Shadows - The Journey Continues” and facilitated a weaving quiet day and a weaving workshop. As always, it was a privilege to come alongside visitors to the island.

In between these lovely events I’ve been running workshops in the studio and in the community both here in the Midlands and in Scarborough as part of Scarborough Fair’s Affordable Art Trail - it was lovely to collaborate with Crescent Arts, Tamworth Castle, and the Hope Foundation. I’ve loved it all and am forever grateful for all these opportunities to share weaving and other creative arts. Let’s see what the second half of the year holds!

End of year round up 2023

I feel amazed that it’s a year since I updated this page but that might just be that it’s been a fabulously busy year for me at Illuminating Weaves. I seemed to spend the summer packing and unpacking my car!!

I am ever grateful for all my weavers, regular and new, and the weaving workshops I’ve led around the country. The joy that comes from walking alongside people on their weaving journeys is real.

I had the privilege to be involved in a project with Crescent Arts and the community in Scarborough. Two days of weaving with people from the local community and The Blueberry Academy (a Personal Learning Group) formed part of the installation - an inclusive sensory room that encouraged people to feel “Grounded”.

I once again attended Wool@J13 - we enjoyed being in the sunshine and amongst everything “woolly”.

I took part in the leveling up project at Tamworth Castle introducing people to traditional crafts.

August saw me back at St. Cuthbert’s on Lindisfarne where my installation was “Illuminating the Shadows - the journey continues”. As well as visitors to the centre we had a driftwood weaving workshop on the Saturday which was great fun.

End of year update, December 30th, 2022

It feels ages since I wrote an update so when better than as the year comes to a close. It’s been a busy few months at the studio and with outside events. Several of my regular weavers have developed a love of weaving to wear, producing wearable art. It’s one of the things I love about creative weaving - creating a piece of clothing to wear knowing that no other person in the world has the same. I’ve had a mix of regulars and first timers in the studio and every workshop is a joy!

I’ve also had several outside events - The Whittington and Fisherwick Craft and Country Fair, Yarningham in Birmingham and the Lichfield Christmas Fayre. We (myself and a trusty helper, Jane) had great fun meeting people and introducing them to creative weaving.

Now I look to 2023, welcoming regulars and newbies to the studio and I have some special events booked already - school workshops, Community Workshops at an art space in Scarborough, Wool@J13 (which has a new venue - more to follow) and a week on Lindisfarne. I’m looking forward to it all!

Hopes and Fears: an installation of weaves and words at St Cuthbert’s on Lindisfarne - June 2022

I’m only just getting around to getting photos of my fabulous week at St Cuthbert’s on here! I’ll let the photos paint a picture…..

June 2021 update

How lovely it is to have weavers back at the studio! We may not be back to normal out in the world but within the walls of the studio we can enjoy weaving independently or in small groups again - it is a breath of fresh air. I’ve been busy developing my own range of weaving looms and I now have those for sale in the studio and hope to use them in some workshops too. I’ve also been having loads of fun weaving to wear. I’m hoping for a summer full of workshops!

THE STUDIO IS OPEN! 13/04/21

After a quiet 3 months in the studio it is great to be able to offer workshops again. I took advantage of the studio space during this latest lockdown to try out some new techniques and get lots of warping and weaving done. My hope is that the roadmap to unlocking goes smoothly and that I can be busy with workshops over the summer. One thing I am hoping to start when life is back toy some kind of normal is travelling workshops. If you live in another part of the country and there are a group of you wanting a workshop I will bring the looms and resources to you. All you need to do is provide the space.

Looking forward to this next stage of the journey.

The run up to Christmas at Illuminating Weaves

I never anticipated being this busy but I’m loving the studio and everything that it involves. Covid 19 is certainly challenging all of us that have cabins at Grangewood to be creative! I’m still able to run small covid secure workshops at the studio and I have a couple of distanced workshops booked in the cafe. Also in the run up to Christmas I am attending several local outdoor artisan markets. Check out the events page on the website for more details. I look forward to seeing you over the next few months and am, like everyone, longing for things to be a bit more normal.

July News - The studio is open for workshops and we are now stocking a range of craft kits.

It has been wonderful to reopen the studio in a slow and safe way and see some new faces as well as some familiar weavers. I am excited to be stocking some lovely craft kits in the studio and to be taking part in Buzzards Valley Artisan Market on August 9th. Come along to check out the new kits and some woven items in the new purple gazebo if you get chance!

Beautiful looms and threads ready for weaving.

One of the pop up looms we are stocking in the studio.

Re-Opening Illuminating Weaves on Saturday July 4th.

I have been busy weaving at home during lockdown but am happy to be able to reopen the studio from July 4th. I will be open my usual hours (Th - Sat 10am-4pm) and I will be offering workshops from Thursday July 23rd. NB. THE STUDIO WILL BE CLOSED ON JULY 10th. Please contact me for details and to discuss your workshop requirements. I can’t wait to welcome you back.

I have put some procedures in place to help us all stay safe and be Covid secure including, but not exclusively…

• anti bacterial hand gel

• plastic baskets to collect your yarns from the yarn wall and to keep your resources together

• space between the looms

• looms will not be face to face

• Cleaning looms and equipment between users

• I will wear a visor if I need to be closer than 2m

• Touch free payment (preferred but it’s OK if you need to pay cash

• One use cups for drinks

• It will be your choice, at this point in time, whether you wear a mask in the studio. If you wish to wear a mask please bring one along.

Take a look in the gallery to see some of my lockdown projects.

** CANCELLED Illuminating Weaves is going to WOOL@J13 May 16th-17th, 2020

I am so excited to be having a stall at this lovely show. I’ve enjoyed being a visitor at WOOL@J13 for the last 2 years and can hardly believe I’m going back as an exhibitor. The show has a festival feel with great food and music as well as everything woolly.

Gift Vouchers for Mother’s Day

If you are looking for a unique and fun present for Mother’s Day how about buying your mum one of our Gift Vouchers that can be used for a range of workshops including Taster Workshops and our upcoming “Weave a Hat” Workshops. Pop in or get in touch with Ruth to arrange a Gift Voucher that suits you.

Great to see so many people at the studio's Grand Opening

So many people came along last weekend from experienced weavers to total beginners. Visitors had a go on one of the looms and when I unwound the weaves from the looms there was over 7 metres of beautiful cloth. Thanks to all who came for making it a joyous weekend.

Taster Workshop and Family Workshop

In the run up to the Grand Opening (Jan 31-Feb 2) I’ve managed to fit in a couple of workshops - lots of creativity, fun and relaxation.

Almost ready for the studio Grand Opening Weekend Jan 31st-Feb 2nd 2020

I’ve been busy the last couple of weeks filling up the shelves with beautiful yarns so the studio is beginning to take shape and look colourful - it’s going to be a wonderfully creative space. As well as being a weaving space I am hoping to develop yarn sales for those of you who want smaller amounts of yarn to weave at home. You will be able to choose from some of the yarns I have in stock and I’ll be able to wind what you need onto cones for you to take away. If I don’t have what you need in stock just ask and I’ll see if I can source it for you.

As well as setting up the studio I managed to find time to weave and do a bit of up-cycling.

Opening in February 2020

I am going to be busy moving in looms, yarns and warping equipment during January ready to open during the first half of February…….exciting times! I’ll be posting progress here. Looking forward to getting my new sign.