You’ll have seen them at events like the Moseley Folk Festival and now they have their own monthly meet in the back room of the Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath. Here’s the Facebook group.

Sonia Poli – BA Visual Communication

Helen Freeman – BA Fashion and Textiles

Francesca Prowse – BA Visual Communication

Hat tip to D’log

Needles and Hooks is the trading name of Sara Fowles, a designer/maker from Birmingham.

Working mainly in textiles and wool, I use traditional techniques to produce unique modern/contemporary handmade accessories and homeware items including purses, belts, bags, cushions, tableware and decorations. I am also a traditional dressmaker making bespoke womenswear and menswear from a range of my own designs and patterns.

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My influences and inspirations come from far and wide spanning the worlds of visual arts, graphic design, design fashion and architecture. I am especially influenced and inspired by music particularly minimalist and electronic artists such as Steve Reich, Phillip Glass, Glenn Branca and Rhys Chatham. I also have a passion for artists, bands and composers who have a DIY aesthetic and approach to their work. This DIY aesthetic and approach resonates in my work as a designer maker as I responsible for an object from start to finish.

Her work is available from People on Poplar Road, Kings Heath.

I came across her on the Friends of the Stars blog. They’re releasing an ultra-limited edition CD single with the sleeve handmade by Sara. As well as the physical objects Frequency of The Word Turtle will be released digitally on 28th August along with their long-awaited album Lighting and Electrical.

An exciting new group called ‘Midlands Textile Forum’ is set to launch in October this year, promoting textiles across the region.

The emerging group aims to provide a supportive network for members and a strong platform to showcase the wide breadth of textile activity taking place. It also plans to foster links with other textile groups both nationally and internationally.

Birmingham will host the launch of the group on Saturday 27th October 2007 at the University of Central England. The launch day will include a seminar, discussion groups, demonstrations and workshops by members, a trade fair and an open exhibition of members work which will run for 4 weeks.

The group will also be appearing at the Knitting and Stitching Show at the NEC in September to promote the launch.

Anybody requiring more details, tickets for the launch day or interested in membership of the Forum, which is open to anybody living in the east or west midlands with a professional or personal interest in textiles, should email midtextfor@aol.com or write to Annette Lucas at, Midlands Textile Forum, c/o UCE Birmingham, BCVA, Ruskin Hall, Linden Rd, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1JX. Please include an A5 stamped addressed envelope (first class 44p).

For anybody wishing to join and take part in the inaugural exhibition, the receipt of schedule deadline is August 10th with the receipt of work deadline being September 10th – 14th.

I’d been meaning to post about Kate Pemberton for a while now and seeing her High Church of Gaming (above) on sale at the Birmingham Open kicked me into touch.

From her site:

Kate’s practice addresses the cultural effects that technology has on society, by examining the influence of the machine and of digital technologies. Art pieces range from interactive electronic installations, to canvas based work and textiles. Ideas stem from the status of craft objects in an age of electronic consumerist culture. Crossovers are identified between computer graphics and craft techniques, these are explored in the creation of tangible art objects.

There’s also a nice interview on the BBC Birmingham site from 2005.

Personally I’m drawn to Kate’s work because it brings something new to pixel art and, above all, has a great sense of humour. She also understands her subject, as evidenced by the Cardboard Network piece which was exhibited at Flux in 2003. Kate was also one of the original IdeasFactory (now 4talent) Creative Class.

via D’log