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.

In her recent book Rigmaroles and Ragamuffins, Elinor Kapp delved into the meanings of words that she became familiar with during her work as a textile artist. In the book she makes an important contribution to our awareness of the cultural importance of textiles and she is now transferring the same energetic style to talks about the subject.

Elinor is available to give talks to any guild or group, including quilters, lacemakers, weavers, embroiderers and felters – and she will tailor the evening to suit your particular group.

Elinor says, “I can enchant you with fluffers, spin you a yarn, find you a silver lining and turn your meeting into a gala occasion.” And one lady who can testify this is Sue Dane, honorary chairman of the Lace Guild, whose group had a visit from Elinor earlier this year. Sue told me, “Elinor attended our 2008 Convention and AGM and gave a very entertaining and informative talk after our banquet. Many of our members had an opportunity to talk to Elinor over the weekend and she is full of information relating to textiles and language."

If you would like to arrange for Elinor to come to your meeting then please email her at elinor.kapp@gmail.com or call her on 029 2039 7850. Why not grasp the nettle and contact her today?

To buy Elinor’s fabulous and entertaining book please click here.

With Autumn now upon us there is nothing better than sitting in front of the fire drinking hot chocolate and working on our favourite craft projects. HotHive Textiles has put together our favourite 15 books to get you ready for the cold weather.

 Whether you love knitting, crochet, embroidery, patchwork or jewellery we have found something for you. Projects include scarves, hats, homewares, necklaces, toys and many more, so why not treat yourself to some new ideas? For those of you who are very keen you could even start making your own Christmas presents!

To have a look through our selection please click here.

Stitching to Dye in Quilt Art: Colour, Texture and Distortion
By C. June Barnes 
Published by Batsford
ISBN:  978 0 7134 90701
£18.99
Reviewed by Sandra Wyman

I read numerous books on textiles, but rarely have I come across one as exciting as this; within minutes of opening it I was itching to get started on the techniques it describes.

June Barnes has won numerous awards as a textile artist.  In this book she describes the techniques she has developed in stitching and then dyeing fabric to produce vivid and unexpected colour-combinations and fascinating textural effects, including techniques not seen elsewhere.

The first part of the book contains a series of exercises which guide the reader through the various processes involved in producingstitched fabrics, then dyeing and overdyeing them for a variety of effects.  The second section deals with the effects produced by shrinkage of various fabrics and distortions achieved by combining these with items such as zippers and plastic shapes, which resist shrinking.

This book is exceptionally well-written – crisp, witty, to the point and engaging – and sumptuously illustrated.  Above all it is successful in opening up a wholenew area for exploration by art quilters and other textile artists.