August 2008

You may well have given up on me if you used to be a regular here. Alternatively, if you visited the site last month, perhaps you wondered if the doxycycline hadn't worked and Lyme Disease (and Miserable Little Ticks) had put a premature end to my ramblings. To the relief of many, perhaps.

But not so, and I think it's time for some explanations. If you read the May entries, you may already know that I have been studying an archive connected with Leeds and its dye history. There have been a number of developments with the research and since the beginning of July I have been working on it almost full time.

I have just spent a few days working in Leeds, and very fascinating it was. However, it seems to me that this project is of a very different nature from my studio work and I will not be publishing any more than the basics here.

There is an article of mine entitled "An Archive and Beyond" in the September issue of The Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers. Their website is here.

Finding a balance between developing new work, exhibiting, teaching and research is going to be tricky. But other people manage, and so shall I.

I have exhibiting commitments in Devon and over the Christmas period so it is important always to have some work on the go.

Berrimilla and the North West Passage

My brother Alex, with crew Corrie McQueen and Kimbra Lindus, have been sailing a West - East journey through the North West Passage in little Berrimilla. Berrimilla left Sydney on 10th April. The voyage has attracted a large following and some amazing people have contributed their help and skills along the way.

Berrimilla is now through the passage- but it's never over until it's over. They are currently sailing with icebergs in view. We look forward to seeing them safely back in port. If you've missed it, you can catch up here. But the real-time-blog-following has been gripping, informative, humbling and at times very moving, especially in view of those who went before in sailing ships, and didn't return. That's why I have included this sketch.

Originally I made it while thinking of all the ships that came into Liverpool, bringing all manner of things such as dyestuffs, and inhuman human cargoes.