More photos from my students’ exhibition

Deborah Barker’s Cross Box (oak wood box with fabric cross dyed with buckthorn bark)

Handmade books by Helen Gibbs

More books by Helen Gibbs

Dyed papers by Jane Ponsford

Vessels by Jane Ponsford and dyed samples by Susan D’souza

Ceramic vases with naturally-dyed collars by Katalina Caliendo

Vessels by Jane Ponsford, dyed samples by Susan D’souza and handweaving by Lottie Whyman

All photos by Katalina Caliendo

Another one-year course at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft starts in September

I am pleased to announce that I shall be teaching another one-year natural dyeing course at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft. 

The course consists of 12 monthly meetings, held on Sundays, and the first session is on Sunday September 29th 2019. Each session runs from 10am to 4.30pm and it is important that students are able to attend every session, especially the first session, which sets the groundwork for the course. 

For further information and details of how to apply, go to the museum website (www.ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk) and click on Get Involved then click on Current vacancies and opportunities and scroll down until you come to the course information. If you have problems with this, contact Lucy Jenner, the Education Manager. Lucy’s email address is: lucy@ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk

There are only 12 places available on the course and last time we had over 80 applications, so I hope those whose applications were unsuccessful last time will consider applying again this time. No previous experience or knowledge of natural dyeing is necessary.

Students’ Exhibition at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft

As the first one-year natural dyeing course at Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft comes to an end, the museum curators have put up an exhibition showing how the students have incorporated natural dyes in their work. 

 The exhibition gives an impression of how talented the students are and how many varied creative disciplines they represent, from weaving to book-binding.

The exhibition is part of the Ditchling Open Studios event and can be viewed every weekend in May for free. At all other times, the museum entrance fee will be charged but this gives entry to the current exhibition of Women’s Work: Pioneering Women in Craft, 1918 – 1939, which is well worth a visit. The exhibition features weavers Ethel Mairet, Elizabeth Peacock, Alice Hindson and Rita Beales; potters Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie, Dora Billington and Denise Wren; silversmith Catherine ‘Casty’ Cobb and hand-block printers Enid Marx, Phyllis Barron and Dorothy Larcher.

The following photos give a flavour of the work exhibited by the one-year natural dyeing course students.

From top left this shows work by Katalina Caliendo, Jane Ponsford and Ross Belton and from lower left work by Jane Ponsford and Lottie Whyman, with dyed samples by Susan D’souza in the foreground (Photo by Helen Gibbs)

This shows weaving by Poppy Fuller Abbott, basketry by Jackie Sweet and handmade books by Helen Gibbs (Photo by Helen Gibbs)

This photo shows weaving by Poppy Fuller Abbott and handmade books by Helen Gibbs (Photo by Ross Belton)

These naturally-dyed skeins by Mollie Barr give an indication of some of the variety of dyes and colours we explored on the course. (Photo by Helen Gibbs)

This photo shows some of the exhibits in the Wunderkammer. Details as below. (Photo by Ross Belton)

This photo shows the whole of the display in the museum’s Wunderkammer. (Photo by Jackie Sweet)

Top row: basketry by Jackie Sweet   

Second row from the top from left to right: work by Susan D’souza and Zuzana Krskova   

Third row from the top from left to right: work by Katalina Caliendo, Jane Ponsford and Ross Belton     

Fourth row from the top from left to right: work by Jane Ponsford, Lottie Whyman and Sarah Newland

In the foreground is the case showing work by Helen Gibbs and Poppy Fuller Abbott.