KNIT- IN: Give purl a chance!

This is Purlesque knitting circle at the Bluecoat bed-in giving purl a chance!
(photo: Pete Carr)

We had a lovely time in bed chatting, knitting and creating our blanket for peace!

The Bluecoat bed-in event marks the anniversary of John Lennon's birthday and assasination by recreating John and Yoko's famous 1969 peace protest. Each day a bed in the hub will host a new action by performers, artists and others. For more information or to see who's in the bed right now! click on the link below:  
http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/index.php/events/view/events/828

We decided to spend our time in the bed creating a communal knitted/crocheted blanket that represented us as individuals (our different knitting styles, choices of colour, texture etc) and as a group (the finished blanket) to express our mutual appreciation of the peaceful art of knitting! 

The blanket is still growing! so we will post more photos soon!

Jane xx   

FATHOMING

www.tinctory.co.uk

Hello again!

I just wanted to tell you about a beautiful collection of textile jewellery we currently have displayed in the shop, a collaboration between artist Eva Fulinova and poet Rebecca Joy Sharp:

Fathoming - is a triptych of poems worked into individual smocked silk necklaces, each of unique design. Each poem/piece can be expereinced alone or as part of the series of three.

There is a thread of a story that runs through the pieces - half-glimpsed, it invites you to a chase and never fully gives itself away. Two voices seperated by time and the sea; memories and secret messages drift in on a breeze of shimmering silk; the promise of a return perhaps never fulfilled; echoes of Penelope at her loom, waiting for Odysseus.

The design of each piece reflects the tone of that poem and in turn tells the story. The object itself could have been a coded message from an absent love; a talisman or love token. The pieces were designed to have an antiquated look and feel, as though they may have lain hidden for centuries in a secret compartment of an old wooden chest.

The process of creating the series was reciprocal: the poems were written with the final outcome in mind, inspired by the very process of intricate smocking and delicate embellishment; the final pieces were crafted in such a way as to reflect the structure, content and mood of the poems.

To read the poems, on the page or within the silk, is to unravel their secrets. To wear each piece is to reveal its magic, while forever keeping some parts hidden, for only the bearer to behold.

www.tinctory.co.uk
www.rebeccajoysharp.com


For more information click on the above links or come and see the collection in the shop, they are even more beautiful in real life and will be with this until the end of January.

Jane xx

A MUCH NEEDED UPDATE!

So, so sorry we have not blogged for ages and ages! we are not very good at this, apologies, apologies we will try harder!

Well what have we been up to?

Back in June the knitting circle took part in Liverpool's Lord mayors and we had so much fun! dressing in sparkly outfits with big balls of wool on our backs! And Susan became our very own knitting queen! Many thanks to Liverpool Lantern Company who made our outfits they are amazing - check them out their Halloween carnival is truly awe- inspiring

http://www.liverpoollanterncompany.co.uk/

We've also been speending our summer months doing a lots and lots of fingerknitting and knit graffittiing all over North Liverpool!

We've been working alongside ART Valley a programme of arts activities for people living in Alt Valley, an area of North Liverpool that includes Clubmoor, Croxteth, Fazakerley, Norris Green and Walton (County & Warbreck).

Their role is to work with local community organisiations and with statutory bodies to increase access to the arts in Alt Valley through a year-round programme of activities

The programme looks to respond to priorities in each neighbourhood using the arts as a way of engaging people. For example they have designed projects specifically to tackle anti-social behaviour, isolation amongst older people and lack of confidence in young parents.

For more info:

http://www.thebluecoat.org.uk/content/art-valley-outreach-programme

Well I'm going to leave it at that for now, we have lots going on over the next couple of weeks: including making lots of new stock, craft fairs, a burlesque night and staying in bed and knit-in for peace at the Bluecoat!! so I will try my best to keep this blog updated and take lots of photos.


Jane xx

On the waterfront!

Purlesque will be down by the pierhead this weekend! as part of the Year of Health and Wellbeing with Feelgood fairs, lot's going on On The Waterfront and should be lots of fun, Come & join in!
CRAFT IS GOOD FOR YOU! 
http://www.culture.org.uk/articles/show/271?type=News

Landbaby, Purlesque & MAS would like you to join us for a celebration of craft and making at the Bluecoat:

18.06.2010 6-8pm
HITCH
an etsy global craft party
at the Bluecoat
school lane
liverpool


The event showcases the craft community at the Bluecoat:

connect: meet other makers
participate: live workshops & performance
join: the global meetup & make

http://www.meetup.com/Etsy-Craft-Party/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/craftparty/
http://www.etsy.com/storque/events/throw-an-etsy-craft-party-in-your-town-8083/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Landbaby-at-the-Bluecoat/89408539268
http://www.purlesque.com

MASworkshop have created the identity and concept development for HITCH
on behalf of Landbaby, the boutique store at the Bluecoat.
To find out more about MAS visit
http://www.masworkshop.com

Hope to see you  here,

Marie-antoinette says "Let them eat cake!"

NEW THINGS FOR SPRING!!!!

Here at Purlesque, we are longing for the spring! So we can take our knitting outside with us accompanied by the chirping of birds, the smell of cherry blossom, a lovely picnic in the park and maybe even a sneaky pint down at our local beer garden :)




So to evoke that spring feeling we have been taking inspiration from vintage fabrics from the 60's and 70's, making bunting, aprons, tea cosys, cushions and lots of other lovely gift ideas.....we hope you like!



Flower Power indeed!