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A new Home
The Mulberry Dyer has a new base in Leeds! It’s a wonderful location in the centre of town at Fabrication 2. In an old warehouse building, fascinating in itself, Fabrication 2 is an award winning Social Enterprise supporting local artists and makers and I’m working alongside some very talented artisans. I have my own space for working with my yarns. As you can see I’m still settling in! There are currently 2 Fabrication retail outlets – 1 in Leeds (Albion St, near Waterstones) and 1 in York (19 Coney St), however there will be a 2nd opening in Leeds before Christmas, in a prime spot, more info soon! So happy…
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The Dyehouse is on the move
Firstly I would like to wish all my readers, followers, customers and friends a Happy New Year – may it bring peace and happiness and what you desire. “The time has come”, the Walrus said or actually I am saying – it’s a New Year better continue with the changes. You probably remember I had a pacemaker fitted in 2019, I was warned then not to lift anything really heavy – it could cause serious damage to my heart if the leads get pulled out – so the decision has been made not to dye cloth or large hanks of wool any longer. They are just too heavy! Combine this…
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Ethel Mairet
One of the earliest books I bought was a little hard backed copy of Ethel Mairet’s A book on Vegetable Dyes. I love this book – her recipes may not be as environmentally friendly as we would like them to be these days, but her depth of knowledge and the effort she put into all her work has my total admiration. This year Barnstaple is celebrating the life of The Partridge family – Ethel, Fred and Maud, who were all talented artists. Fred and Ethel in particular being members of the Arts and Crafts Movement, living and working in Chipping Campden at the Guild and School of Handicraft. Each had…
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Francesco, Niccolo and Agnolo
The building may look a little in need of some repair, but you can see it has had status! I adore this building in the city of Prato, Italy. It was built back in the 14th Century by a gentleman called Francesco di Marco Datini. All it’s history is still within the building – the open doorway takes you inside the Palace … The artwork on the walls is fabulous – imagine what it must have looked like back in the late 1300’s when all was beautiful and new. The display boards at the side tell you about the man who had the palace built and his work. So, why…
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The Colour of War
In 2013 I started researching Khaki ready for the commemorations of World War 1. I wanted to know how they were producing the colour – was it natural or synthetic? Here’s a summary of my research, originally written to be an article for the Journal in 2016, they wanted to make too many changes so I’m sharing it here. On the 4th August 1914 war was declared and thus a requirement to clothe over 6 million soldiers in British Army Uniform began. The story begins by looking back to the Victorian era and changes in Industry and the army uniform. The British Army was famous for its red coats (dyed…
