For three weeks this Summer Selvedge will take residence at Chateau Dumas. Set on a hill in peaceful, rolling countryside, less than an hour north of Toulouse international airport, Chateau Dumas is a 22 acre private estate with a large pool and glorious panoramic views.
The first of our three courses this summer will be with the highly-accomplished Swedish designer Lotta Jansdotter. Lotta will be helping us to experiment with print and dye techniques in refined and exciting new ways and gain insight into the secret behind her international success. No background in printing or design is needed to join the week, merely a desire to play and have fun. You will be given all the guidance you need to uncover your own sense of what makes a good textile motif or print and the tools to bring those images to life.
PRINT AND PATTERN PLAY, 30 JULY-6 AUGUST
Our second week long course with Jane Callender and Denise Lambert will begin by experimenting shibori techniques including itajime (fold and clamp) producing versions of the ‘asa-no-ha ‘or hemp leaf pattern. We will learn ‘bo maki’, including the ‘arashi’ (cylinder wrapping) technique and several binding methods such as ‘ne-maki’ shibori, thread resisted rings and ‘chikuwa’ shibori, bamboo resists, both of which can be combined with ‘boshi’ – or capping methods.
SHIBORI WITH CALLISHIBORI 13-20 AUGUST
And lastly, we'll also be hosting a week long workshop with the textile artist Mandy Pattullo. During our third workshop you'll learn the techniques and processes behind Mandy's signature style and how old quilts and garments are unpicked, cut up and darned then layered, worked on and hand-stitched in place with embroidery and appliqué. Utility patchworks and quilts made by women in domestic settings are a particular favourite and Mandy's own collages bring together precious fragments to form evocative compositions.
THREAD AND THIFT 20-27 AUGUST
We hope that in August Toulouse will be beautifully sunny, with average temperatures ranging from 25°c - 34°c and slightly cooler evenings. We'd recommend light linens and cottons with a few warmer layers just in case.
Take a look at our online events page to see if there's a course for you.
www.selvedge.org/events