Talks

The Beauty of Blue: From marauding picts to logwood piracy, this talk uncovers the amazing history of blue dye.  Whether you love yarns or fabrics or just wear denim, this talk will give you a new perspective on blue.

The Power of Purple: tells the fascinating history of the power, politics and pigments of the colour purple from earliest times.  Millions of shellfish died to produce this colour.  Find out how and why!

A Passion for Red: Discover the history of red dye as it travelled around the world.  Beetles as valuable as gold and a tree brought to the point of extinction - red has it all! 

Based on my personal collection of World Textiles, this talk explores the way different cultures have created and embellished cloth using the materials around them - from wool to nettles, raffia to silk.

Exploring Textiles in Peru: Peru has perfectly preserved textiles dating back thousands of years.  This brief tour covers the unique history, geography and culture which has produced luxurious embroideries, tapestries, complex weaving and patchwork.