The Inspiration behind the Creation Collection

A Creative Journey
The ideas reflected in the designs in this exhibition have been informed in part by icons and patterns from centuries ago. I have researched the patterns and realise that even the most modern of interpretations come from many centuries past, repeated throughout the ages and are still in use today.

The Paisley Design.
I have long wanted to weave cloth using this famous and iconic pattern. Most people would hazard a guess that this comes from Paisley in Scotland. In fact it was in use in Babylonian times where it represented the growing shoot of the date palm. It then appeared on shawls worn by men from Kashmir in the 17th century. The pattern arrived in Britain in the 18th century. It was brought back by soldiers and administrators of the British East India company when they returned home with presents for their loved ones.

Paisley in Scotland probably started producing woven Paisley shawls during the 1800’s and the production continued for a century or more.I have taken the shape and managed to reproduce it using the equipment in my studio. (For the weavers reading this: I used a 24 shaft compu-dobby loom, and modified huck lace technique.)

Draft as illustrated in the weave program.

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I realised a repeat needed to be arranged onto the cloth. This is the final result which looks very like an original design I came across in an old book. But only after I had produced my own version!

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Finally a piece of woven cloth!

The Ogee
Ottoman, Persian Indian, who really invented this? Here is a beautiful Ottoman one. I love this shape,not a perfect circle, lends itself to a repeat or just a stand alone tile.

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This is relatively easy to draft for a woven piece.

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Woven as a complete circle or just a lovely curve. 

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Then you can make different things such as applique!

Other Icons
Again from ancient to modern, tile shapes and variations.