Image by Tracy Munson Photography Story by Jane Chrysostom
It all started with an exercise for branding potential promotional materials for the Harvey Hall. Working on bold graphic designs, capturing the essence of the Hall’s character and architecture, considering its surroundings and purpose, and‒ especially important for eye-catching attraction ‒choosing colours. That was the work to be done.
It all started with an exercise for branding potential promotional materials for the Harvey Hall. Working on bold graphic designs, capturing the essence of the Hall’s character and architecture, considering its surroundings and purpose, and‒ especially important for eye-catching attraction ‒choosing colours. That was the work to be done.
As volunteers and committee members sent emails back and forth submitting ideas, sharing concepts and continuing to brain-storm, this sparked a timely flame for a local weaver who suggested that the colour choices and their significance to the Hall sounded like a design for a tartan! And off she went...
The Harvey Hall social media page reached out to ask community members what colours they would choose for a tartan design and what significance those colours would represent for the Hall. It was interesting to see how the Hall came to life in a tapestry of colour suggestions and how it was seen through the eyes, and in the hearts and minds, of those who know the building.
The Harvey Hall social media page reached out to ask community members what colours they would choose for a tartan design and what significance those colours would represent for the Hall. It was interesting to see how the Hall came to life in a tapestry of colour suggestions and how it was seen through the eyes, and in the hearts and minds, of those who know the building.
Image by Jane Chrysostom With all the suggestions and coloured pencils in hand, the weaver got to work with graph paper and began to draft a twill of warp and weft that would soon be threaded on an old weaving loom.
Satisfied with the design, the next step was arranging the cotton threads‒ enough for about eight metres of cloth to be about a half metre wide. Nearly 400 threads would then be measured and wound onto the loom and each one threaded through the eye of a heddle, across four harnesses, and then again through a reed. Once all the threads were tied on the front and back of the loom, the actual weaving could begin!
Image by Jane Chrysostom The process was captured on the Harvey Hall Facebook page and folks followed its progress. As the cloth grew in length, row after row, shuttle throw after throw, cotton tea towels were made available for sale, the proceeds donated entirely to the Hall restoration funds.
The significance of the colours:
The significance of the colours:
- Two different shades of green for the surrounding forest and the fertile agricultural land.
- Blue for the expansive sky that the Hall's tower reaches toward.
- Orange for the blazing sunsets and yellow for the dazzling sunrises the Hall has met since 1884.
- Brown for the muddy river flowing past.
Image by Jane Chrysostom
The work continues for the Harvey Hall’s restoration, and the weaving is still ongoing with a wait-list for the next tea towels to be woven off with the official Harvey Hall Tartan labels attached. With cold days of winter soon ahead, the enthusiastic weaver is considering warm woolen Harvey Hall tartan blankets woven with everyone’s favourite and familiar New Brunswick’s Briggs and Little wool‒let’s see what happens!
Jane Chrysostom of Alma has been weaving for over 30 years and has been delighted to share this latest project through her commitment to support the Harvey Hall. www.cleveland-place.com
The work continues for the Harvey Hall’s restoration, and the weaving is still ongoing with a wait-list for the next tea towels to be woven off with the official Harvey Hall Tartan labels attached. With cold days of winter soon ahead, the enthusiastic weaver is considering warm woolen Harvey Hall tartan blankets woven with everyone’s favourite and familiar New Brunswick’s Briggs and Little wool‒let’s see what happens!
Jane Chrysostom of Alma has been weaving for over 30 years and has been delighted to share this latest project through her commitment to support the Harvey Hall. www.cleveland-place.com
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