Hello and welcome to the August issue of the HotHive Textiles newsletter. We have some very exciting plans this month with a photographic exhibition of portrait photographs by Mark Ingram highlighting the people behind ethical brands Liv Organic and Piccalilly. The striking portraits were captured on a trip to India, visiting the different stages of the supply chain and give a taste of how fair trade practices have radically improved the lives of these people, so are well worth a look if you are in the area. You can find out more below!

We also have a very interesting article by Jenny Lewis looking at the practice of African Textiles and a great opportunity for the felt makers among you to get involved in an international exhibition – read on to find out more!

Don’t forget to keep in touch with the team here at HotHive Textiles to tell us what you’re up to as we may well be able to feature you! We are always open to suggestions for stories and articles to publish on the website and have lots of opportunities for artists, designers and makers to sell their books, DVDs and kits through us – so do get in touch! We can be reached at the usual places – by email at textiles@thehothive.com or by telephone on 01386 760406. We look forward to hearing from you!

Best wishes
Sara
Editor of HotHive Textiles (www.hothivetextiles.com)

Bookstore sale ends soon
	As all good things must, it is soon time for our HotHive Textiles summer bookstore sale to come to an end. However don’t despair as there are still a couple of weeks left to take advantage of our extra-special offers on over sixty titles, with some priced from as little as 50p! Whether your interests lie in traditional textile crafts or more contemporary design, there are a wide range of books available covering subjects such as fashion design, beadwork, batik, embroidery, felt making... and many more! It is definitely worth having a look at our bookstore sale to seize these summer bargains while you can! The sale ends on 21 August so visit us now at http://www.thetextiledirectorybookstore.com/acatalog/Sale.html Take me to the Full Article

Fair trade in the frame
	An exhibition of portrait photographs by Mark Ingram highlighting the people behind ethical brands Liv Organic and Piccalilly is coming to the Art House Café in Worcester later this month. This fabulous exhibition was first launched in London in May this year and HotHive Textiles have now teamed up with Liv Organic to bring it to the Midlands, giving people in the area a fabulous insight into the work involved in producing a fair trade garment. The striking portraits were captured on a trip to India, visiting the different stages of the supply chain and give a taste of how fair trade practices have radically improved the lives of these people. The exhibition is launching on Wednesday 12th August with a networking evening at the Art House Café from 6-8pm and we would like to invite anyone who is interested in learning more about fair trade and the products produced by Liv and Piccalilly to join us. Tickets are limited so if you would like to come along then please call HotHive Textiles on 01386 760406 to register your place. Take me to the Full Article

Join our textile community

Take a listing in HotHive Textiles to get in touch with the textile community and be sure your work will be seen by the people who matter!

A basic listing in the directory is absolutely free and there are some fantastic low-cost packages available for those of you who would like to promote your business even more.

To list yourself today please click here or for more information give us a call on 01386 760406

Mothers for All
	In Botswana and areas of South Africa charitable organisation Mothers for All is training groups of women to make stunning, eco-friendly beads from recycled materials – and joining in the ongoing fight against HIV/Aids at the same time. In order to support the many thousands of care-givers raising Southern African Aids orphans, many of whom have very little support themselves, Mothers for All is teaching trainee ‘mothers’ new handicraft skills which they can then pass on to others. As the income-generation groups grow and develop Mothers for All will introduce HIV and Aids education and awareness programmes to ensure that progress continues to be made. Included will be courses on living positively and making safer choices; overcoming stigma; food gardening and horticulture; and life skills counselling. Take me to the Full Article

African Textiles
	By Jenny Lewis Africa is a vast and often politically troubled continent wracked by poverty, famine and hardship. The colours that we associate with India or Indonesia are generally not found in Africa and the whole textiles ethos of Africa is mirrored in its landscape and culture. The vibrant colours used in African textile work are often reflections of the brown earth and deep blue sky. However, adornment is of prime importance and beadwork, shells, necklaces, bangles, headgear and anklets add that personal touch that gives a nation its identity. But what of the weavers, dyers and textiles artists? Cloth has indeed spanned this diverse continent in an amazing range of styles. African peoples have woven textiles to cover their nakedness, unlike Western countries who have frequently created clothing for pleasure, in an over-indulgent excess way beyond their need. Take me to the Full Article

The Climate is Changing!
	The Climate is Changing is a new exhibition organised by the International Feltmakers Association to help promote the art of feltmaking. It presents an exciting opportunity for textile artists to have their work included in an exhibition that will travel across three countries. The exhibition is a collaboration between The International Feltmaking Association, Filz-Netzwerk from Germany and Coordinamento Tessitori from Italy. The exhibition will be inaugurated at Feltrosa 2010, the annual Italian feltmakers meeting, which is now in its fifth year. The exhibition will open on 7 May 2010 in Prato, Italy before moving to Germany. It will then come over to the United Kingdom to continue touring until 2012. Take me to the Full Article

Stitch in WW2 - What do You Know?
	Lynn Openshaw, a student at Northbrook College near Worthing, has been in touch with us as she is appealing to all HotHive Textilers for some help with her dissertation studies. Lynn is studying stitch during World War 2 and is keen to hear from anyone who can shed any light on any embroidery or stitch craft used during the war years, or any stories, patterns and samples that might be relevant. She is particularly interested in hearing from anyone with stories of stitch craft being used as diversional therapy. Her interest in the subject stems from her discovery of an embroidery pattern produced by William Briggs and Co for use in service and civilian hospitals and convalescence homes by HM Forces during the war. She has also found out that the London School of Occupational Therapy and the British Red Cross were also involved in sending out craft kits to hospitalised service personnel and prisoners of war. Take me to the Full Article

New designer wins top award
	Melissa Selmin, a former student at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff UWIC recently exhibited at the New Designer exhibition in London and won the Graham & Brown design award, a prize awarded to the individual who most excites and inspires the wallpaper design company at the show. Mel received a £1500 cash prize for winning the award and is also given invaluable support and encouragement from the company as she starts her career. We caught up with Mel to find out why she thinks she won the award and what it means for her now. How did you come to be involved with New Designers? I was selected by my tutors at UWIC to go but it’s somewhere I’ve always visited and wanted to exhibit so it was a real privilege to get the opportunity to do so. Take me to the Full Article

Textile art on display
	The Arthouse Gallery in Sittingbourne, Kent, is hosting another exciting exhibition next month which will showcase 11 different artists. The exhibition will be showing some beautiful pieces of artwork in techniques including batik, silk painting, embroidery, felt work and stumpwork. Among the artists exhibiting at the event will be Cas Holmes, whose mixed-media wall hangings are a reflection of the natural and built world around us, batik by Marina Elphick, who uses pattern and symbolism to create unusual and life-like portraits and Bev Harris with beautifully embellished felt jewellery. The Arthouse Gallery is the newest addition to the Oad Street Centre, which is also home to several independent workshops in porcelain, furniture restoration and picture framing, as well as a restaurant and gift shop. Take me to the Full Article

Giveaway
	This month we have a fantastic giveaway for those of you who love jewellery making and beadwork as we have a pack of 10 assorted hand made beads from Mothers for All, who you read about in an earlier article in the newsletter. The beads were given to us by Chrissie Sherwood of Injabulo who sells them on behalf of Mothers for All in the UK. The pack will contain 10 beads of a variety of sizes, shapes and colours, which will be perfect for creating gorgeous and unique jewellery items. For your chance to win, simply email your name and address to textiles@thehothive.com with �beads� in the subject line. The competition closes on 31 August and we will announce the winner in next month�s newsletter. Good luck! We would also like to congratulate Christine White from Newcastle who was the lucky winner of the beginners' spinning kit offered in last month�s newsletter. Your prize is on its way to you! If you weren�t successful in last month�s competition but would like to find out more about spinning, then Sarah at Spinning Wheel will be happy to help. You can find out more at www.spinningweal.co.uk.

Natural Dyes.
	Natural Dyes By Judy Hardman & Sally Pinhey Published by Crowood Press ISBN: 978-1-84797-100-5 Price: £14.99 Reviewed by Jenny Lewis This neat, practical, hands-on book is an invaluable source of information for the enthusiastic yarn dyer and will appeal to beginners and experienced alike. In whichever part of the UK you live, you will be sure to find quite a large section of the 55 common garden and hedgerow dye plants named in the book. Each plant is accompanied by a beautiful full page illustration to help in its identification plus a small photograph of each plant ‘in situ’. The text describes the interesting history of each plant, methods of dyeing and the colours each plant produces – ranging from palest yellows, deep yellows, oranges, greens, khaki, buff, grey, pinks, lilacs and sadly only one blue. Dyers will need to use synthetic dyes to produce a true blue colour if that is the look they are after. Chapters one and two cover the equipment required for home dyeing including safety precautions, preparation, mordents, fixatives and dye baths, etc. Chapter 3 is a guide to dyeing fibres for felting. All the chapters are illustrated. The appendices are invaluable and have a dye plant index, conversion of measurements, glossary of terms and a list of suppliers. There are plans for five garden layouts for growing dye plants, so that you will always have plenty of natural coloured dyes at your fingertips. If you enjoy dyeing and also have green fingers - this lovely little book will appeal to you. Click here to purchase

Diary Dates
15-16 August 2009	Bobby Britnell Open Studios � Moor Hall Farmhouse, Bettws-y-Crwyn, Newcastle on Clun, Shrops. SY7 8PH
15 August � 14 November 2009	Trowbridge Textile and Weaving Festival � Trowbridge Museum, The Shires, Court Street, Trowbridge, Wilts. BA14 8AT
20-23 August 2009	The Festival of Quilts � Birmingham NEC
28-31 August 2009	Chilterns Craft Show � Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames
30 August 2009	Prom Art � Grange-over-Sands Promenade, The Lake District
1 September 2009-1 September 2010	Professional Development in Textiles with Hilary Bower � Bankfield Museum, Boothtown Road, Halifax HX3 6HG
1 September-26 November	Textile Art Exhibition � Arthouse Gallery, Oad Street Centre, Oad Street, Sittingbourne, Kent

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