News from the Archive - Warner Textile Archive

News from the Archive
The Warner Textile Archive Newsletter
April 2014
www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk
Issue 22
Welcome to April’s edition of the Warner Textile Archive’s newsletter. March was another busy month
at the Archive, and we were pleased to host a morning of creative sewing at our Suffolk Puffs workshop (see
below), as well as our first Invitation to View group of the year. Invitation to View is a programme running
across the UK, working to open the country’s historic houses and treasures for specially tailored tours. Visits
are held at the Warner Textile Archive throughout the year.
Please visit www.invitationtoview.co.uk for further details.
Local author Liz Trenow will be speaking at Braintree Town Hall from 1pm on Saturday 5th April, discussing
the inspiration behind her second novel, The Forgotten Seamstress, as well signing copies of her books. A
few remaining tickets will be available from the Archive Shop on the morning if you would like to attend.
We hope you find something to interest and inspire you in this edition. Enjoy.
Textile Fair Newcomers 2014
We are delighted to confirm that John Gillow, Stockwell Ceramics, Warnes Books,
The African Fabric Shop, and many others will be returning to the Textile Fair for
another year, but look forward to seeing some new faces at Braintree Town Hall on
Sunday 11th May:
Sue Foster Textiles—Sue Foster makes contemporary digitally-printed textiles,
drawing inspiration from historic wallpaper and textile designs including museum
collections. Her textiles are made into eye-catching accessories and homewares (above, right).
Fibres Exotica—Nikki is a knitter and dyer with a passion for strong and bright colours; she will be selling
luxury fibre yarns, acid dyes, knitting needles, crochet hooks and patterns at Braintree Town Hall.
Textile Techniques— Handmade textiles, tools, clothes and jewellery sourced on Jim and Diane Gaffney’s
travels across Asia; don’t miss their talk at Braintree Museum on Javanese batik
traditions.
Jen Patola—Jennifer sources jewellery and vintage textiles from villages in India,
including woven, embroidered and hand block-printed items, created by small
businesses and families, (right).
Textile Fair tickets are available now from www.wegottickets.com for £5.50, or
can be purchased at any of the Archive’s open days. Tickets will be available on the day for £7. Admission
to all three sites, exhibitions, talks and Store Tours is included in the ticket price.
Working for Warner’s
Recollections by Jan Weavers
April was the start of the wedding ‘season’, and we held a collection for anybody at
the Mill getting married. This took place on Friday mornings, and just after lunch the
bride (or groom) would go into town to go shopping with the pair who had organised
the collection. Their present would be on display in the canteen during the
afternoon’s tea breaks.
The real fun began when they left the Mill that evening – if they cycled to work (as many did), we used old
paper Christmas decorations to trim up their bikes – thank goodness no health and safety rules existed
then! It was then left to their friends to escort them through the town, and ensure they made it home safe
and sound before their big day.
Spring Woods
(1974)
Warner Textile Archive
@TextileArchive
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News from the Archive
The Warner Textile Archive Newsletter
April 2014
www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk
Issue 22
Spring Woods
Monthly highlights from the Collection, selected by Archivist, Kate Wigley
Imagery and motifs inspired by nature have been
synonymous with design throughout history. Designers and
artists have continually looked to the natural world for
inspiration through structure, colour and habit. A number of
Warner & Sons’ collections were deeply influenced by the
traditions of nature and as the company grew, it developed a
distinctive and celebrated style which exposed its
established clients to modern trends reflected in a
traditional manner.
Warner & Sons later worked very closely with a US-based
company called Greeff Fabrics and collaborated on designs
and collections. As both companies grew closer, Warner &
Sons not only designed for Greeff, but printed and
distributed its collections in the UK alongside its own fabric
ranges.
An example of this partnership can be seen in Spring Woods
(pictured right) designed by Warner & Sons in 1974 and
launched under the Greeff name later that year. The fabric
was part of the ‘Woods and Meadows Collection’ which
proved hugely popular, both at home and in America.
Designed with wild Alpine strawberries and springtime flora, Warner & Sons printed the design on dark
ground cloths to add drama to its pretty cameo. It was such a success that this screen-printed cotton is still a
favourite with visitors to the Archive today.
The Folk Art of Suffolk Puffs
We were delighted to welcome a lovely group of ladies to the Archive on 15th
March for an enjoyable morning of sewing, as Jill Beard uncovered and
demonstrated the technique behind creating Suffolk Puffs—small fabric circles,
skilfully gathered to make decorative puffs.
Participants selected a charming variety of fabrics and embellishments for a
truly unique collection of scented heart decorations. We think Suffolk Puffs
make lovely home decorations for the Springtime, but could easily be used to
add new interest to bags, hats, or clothing.
Thank you to Betty McCarthy and Anne Harding (above and left) for sending us
pictures of their completed decorations—they look fabulous! We would love to
see any other photographs from the day—please send them to us at
[email protected].
Details about other workshops and talks taking place at the Archive in 2014 are
available on our website—www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk .
Spring Woods
(1974)
Warner Textile Archive
@TextileArchive
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