Z A G Woven Design

[zagwovendesign]

New purses are online! Love this one...almost don’t want to sell it! 

www.zagwoven.co.uk 

[zagwovendesign]

Close up of a cushion. Using traditional hand techniques. 

[zagwovendesign]

Did a photoshoot at the weekend of my new collection of handwoven cushions - here’s a peak! 

[zagwovendesign]

So last night I did a much needed clean up of my hard drive and files from uni - found some scans of samples I wove in 2nd year of uni and have just realised that they are really similar to a piece by the amazing Anni Albers (she was one of the well known weavers of the Bauhaus). I didn't know anything about the Bauhaus weavers at the time, but explored her work in my 4th year as part of my research into the evolution of the use of looms. My samples are on the left and right, with Anni Albers in the middle. There are some obvious differences (Albers is way better!) but the same use of hand techniques are seen - which I always seemed to explore in my early days of weaving before knowing much about traditional techniques. It's amazing to think we had the same concept for a piece of cloth - utilising both the looms capabilities and traditional techniques. Love Anni Albers and through researching her work in my final year I felt we have the same thought processes within woven textiles - which I can now see within the connection of these pieces of cloth. Ahh.....geek out over...for now!

[zagwovendesign]

Loom shadows and sunlight

[zagwovendesign]

A variation of bamboo reeds used in West African strip weaving. Love them! And so glad I got my own made for me when I was in Ghana. 

[zagwovendesign]

Some of my favourite past samples. A time consuming mix of techniques and methods to make these!

[zagwovendesign]

I Love working in the studio in the morning - such lovely sun! Really enjoying weaving these cushions - the mix between the supplementary weft and shaft patterning works really well with the grey warp. 

[zagwovendesign]

Working on some new cushions, will be combining the techniques I learnt in Ghana with the capabilities of using 16 shafts on the loom. Had a bit of a creative block recently but feel like I am back in the game again! 

[zagwovendesign]

A peak at some new handwoven items for interiors I am currently working on.

[zagwovendesign]

Beach walk in East Prawle, South Devon. Lovely clear waters! 

[zagwovendesign]

I’ve been featured on the Select a Maker website on the Member of the Week feature which explains a bit more of my weaving life! 

http://www.selectamaker.com/rekindling-traditional-hand-weaving-skills/

[zagwovendesign]

For the past few months I’ve been experimenting with trying out the hand techniques I learnt in Ghana on a monofilament warp. This was to highlight the structure of the woven fabric with the use of clear yarn - and I ended up with some interesting pieces! Since setting up the dobby loom I’ve continued exploring this avenue, making more similar pieces with added embroidery inspired by woven cloth from Mali and Guinea-Bissau.

I love the combination of using a clear warp with silks from Iran - a mix of natural and synthetic, traditional hand techniques mixed with utilising the capabilities of a 16 shaft loom and the added embroidery gives the piece an added layer cultural references.

Next up I’ll be making some cushions for sale, but will be definitely working on some more of these monofilament pieces too :)

[zagwovendesign]

40% off current stock at the moment! Hand woven purses with custom RIRI zips. http://www.zagwoven.co.uk/shop/

[zagwovendesign]

Loom setup yesterday, weaving today! 

[zagwovendesign]

Finally set up the loom! now to wind a warp and try it out! 

[zagwovendesign]

Working on new cushions at the moment. The green and blue are naturally dyed silks from Iran - they are super soft vibrant colours and have an amazing sheen which change in certain lights. Looking forward to getting more colours of this yarn!