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SAMPLER PAC | SILK MESH DESIGN PACK

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The Silk Mesh Design Pack is designed using our Exclusive Silk Mesh Fabric in conjunction with our Silk Hankies and Bombyx Silk tops.  It’s a great way to obtain a variety of products to play with, all of which have been chosen around a central colour theme.

We have put together eight colourways for your designing pleasure: Tropical, Ghost Gum, Bush Tucker, Dark & Moody, Ambient, Obsession, The Melbourne, River of Blue.

Each Silk Mesh Design Pack contains:

  • Silk Mesh fabric in 3 Colour Harmonies, each piece is 25cm long x 114cm wide
  • 15gms of Silk Hankies in 3 colourways
  • 12gms of Bombyx Silk tops in 2-3 colourways

Developing a Sample Library of Natural Rhythms

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Developing a Sample Library of Natural Rhythms
2 – 3 day workshop by Nancy Ballesteros, Perth , Western Australia

We will work through a series of creative processes while developing a library of felted samples, exploring both linear and organic Natural Rhythms forms. Fibonacci’s principals will be used as a design tool to assist in developing creative sequences with sophisticated colour palettes.  The human brain finds natural rhythms created with these principals especially pleasing to the eye (no maths are necessary!!).

Using her 30+ years of creating colour, Nancy will present some of her practical ideas and exercises to design your own colour language. She has also developed some specific techniques for felting these natural patterns using newly developed wool handling and finishing techniques. Join us with an open mind and spirit ready to expand your felting skills. Our aim is to develop an extensive personal library of samples that will inspire your creative process for years to come.

Natural Rhythms in Colour Workshop

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3-5 day Nuno felting workshop by Nancy Ballesteros, Perth, Western Australia

In our world there is a natural rhythm that the human brain finds especially visually pleasing. This idea was discovered in medieval times by Leonardo Fibonacci, an Italian mathematician. We will utilise his principals in our workshop as a design tool for learning how to create stripe sequences with sophisticated designs and tasteful colour palettes (no maths necessary!).

Using her 30+ years of designing colours, Nancy will present some of her practical ideas and exercises to help you develop your own colour language. You will learn specific techniques for creating both “organic” and “inorganic” stripe patterns. You may choose to design a Single or Double Infinity Scarf OR with more time a “transformer garment” which begins as a dress but transforms into a cozy Cocoon. Newly developed wool handling and finishing techniques will expand your felting skills. Our aim is to create GREAT superfine cloth with Natural Rhythms in Colour!

SILK MESH NEWS FLASH!

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We have just discovered you can indeed ‘Snip and Rip’ our Silk Mesh fabric. Simply make a 2cm (3/4″ inch) snip. Then hold your hand approximately 25cm (10 inch) apart on each side of the snip and then just rip (pull hands apart)… I usually cut the last little bit left on the selvage with scissors so the last few threads don’t pull. Will little wonders never cease to amaze…Cheers!

NEW COLOURS | MERINO COLOUR HARMONIES | 2018

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Early in the new year we always find time to think about  creating NEW Colour Harmonies. We are excited to announce some of our latest creations. Living near the ocean is a continual source of inspiration for Treetops.  Many years ago after our first visit to the Southern Coastline of Western Australia, we created one of our favorite colour harmonies Southern Seas, which represents a slightly moody and more greyed ocean. Today we are presenting the Indian Ocean side of Western Australia with our new Colour Harmony Ningaloo (our World Heritage listed reef) which has a much lighter, brighter and fresher beauty.  Dryandra is our newest earthy colourway named after a rare Banskia species found only in the south west bush of Western Australia.  It’s colours appear as if they have been natural dyed from eucalyptus.

AUSTRALIAN WOOL MARKET NEWS 2017

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If you are interested in the Australian Wool market, here are some interesting current facts from the AWI (Australian Wool Innovation) and The WoolMark Company.

The previous 25 years has witnessed a radical shift in the make-up of Australia’s wool clip, particularly the increasing percentage of wool produced that is less than 19.5 microns. The proportion of fine and super fine Merino wool that is less than 19.5 micron has moved from representing 11% of the clip in 1991/92 to 42% in the last complete season of 2016/17. Of most significance though, is Australia now produces an extra 53,047 tonnes of Merino wool finer than 19.5 micron compared to the season 1991/92. AWTA key test data reveals that historically in 1991/92, 817 million kgs of Australian wool was tested in total, with just 97 million Kgs of that being Merino wool finer than 19.5 micron. In 2016/17, total wool tested dropped to 357 million kilograms, but Merino wool finer than 19.5 micron has actually risen to 150 million kgs in the same period. So, although the total clip volume has reduced over the 25 years, fine wool production has seen a roughly 50% increase in volume. Today’s situation within the Australian wool markets is thankfully a positive one, as wool growers are enjoying receiving some of the best clip returns they have had in decades.

Recent developments in next to skin garments have opened new markets for fine wool. This is particularly pertinent to cater for the upsurge of Merino wool demand used in the athletic, leisure and outdoor garment markets. Not too long ago, wool was sold at auction and it was often not known to the grower where that wool went and for what purpose. The industry today is in a somewhat tailored position to take advantage of the current consumer trends and meet the growing demand for next to skin products like never before. The situation in 2017/18 is far different and should breathe optimism into industry, as consumer markets and therefore demand aligns with the unique properties of wool and its provenance.  (excerpts from AWI Market Intelligence Nov 2017).