Blog
Two days of Amuzga culture at Saber Fazer
It was a very special two days indeed, when we welcomed Gabina Valentína, an Amuzga weaver from Xochistlahuaca, and Inês Queirós from the TuYo Foundation (responsible for bringing her to Europe), to spread the word about their culture and the Mexican backstrap loom weaving technique. Gabi has only been to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Porto during her first European tour, so it was a real privilege to have her here!
Teaching about Portuguese wool in Vimioso
The previous weekend was spent in Vimioso, at PINTA (Vales de Vimioso), leading a 2-in-1 workshop dedicated to Portuguese Wool and Woolworking.
Walk on Wool - The most epic workshop of the year
The day before the start of this Masterclass led by Ana Rita de Albuquerque, I announced it on Instagram as preparation for the most epic workshop of the year here at Saber Fazer, and I wasn't wrong. Three days of training were planned, which ended up being almost five, and they proved to be physically demanding and extremely technical. Fortunately, that's exactly what we like to offer here!
Intersections
Here are some images from the Felting with Portuguese Wool workshop that Ana Rita de Albuquerque taught here last Saturday. We had a full house for a workshop that was a first for Saber Fazer, but will be the first of many.
Learning to weave with the King
Fantastic and intense was the Introduction to Weaving Workshop with Fernando Rei that we had last weekend, January 13th and 14th.
The Flax long course - final day
We sowed, saw it grow, harvested, rippled, retted, dried and ground our own flax in a two and a half months time. This was the easy part of flax growing, the hardest one was yet to come and that is the one that demands us to scutch, comb and spin our flax.
Breaking the flax
After retted and dried, it was time to take the flax we grew at Parque da Devesa to be ground.
Learning about Portuguese wool - May 13, 2017
Here are some images of the set-up for the very first workshop on Portuguese wool, which also happened to be the very first workshop given in Saber Fazer's new home.
Shearing at Quinta de Serralves - 2017
Another year, another brilliant shearing by Martin at Quinta de Serralves. The more I learn about wool and the more shearings I see, the more special I think this moment is that we are lucky enough to offer to the Foundation's public.
Learning to grow flax - the beginning
It was beautiful, last saturday, spending the morning with more than 20 people eager to learn how to grow their own flax and process it into linen. This day was the beginning of our flax production course, that will last until mid July, and that I'm coordenating thanks to the support of Vila Nova de Famalicão city, through the Museum of the Textile Industry and the Parque da Devesa
A first in felting
Here are a few images from the Felting Workshop that Ana Rita de Albuquerque gave at Serralves last October.
The spring workshops are over
Spring is over and so are the workshops dedicated to teaching how to grow and process textile fibers from the ground: Sheep Shearing, Silk Reeling and Flax growing and processing were taught in Serralves using the fibers grown right on the farm
HOW TO PRODUCE FLAX: Practical workshops and demonstrations at Quinta de Serralves
At Quinta de Serralves, this is the second year of cultivating a flax field with the goal of teaching about its production and processing using only locally produced fiber.
HOW TO PRODUCE SILK - practical workshops and demonstrations at Quinta de Serralves
On Saturday June 11, Saber Fazer brings to Serralves a day entirely dedicated to silk fibre and its small-scale production, with demonstrations, experiments and guided tours of silkworm rearing, which is taking place for the second year running at Quinta de Serralves.