It had to be done

Tidying the conservatory.  Left over dyes from 

Wednesday.  Two long silk vests - cream.   Why waste

the dyes?   So here we have a bundle of dyed

threads, two vests in a tray, and a hat!

A mix of blues and a little magenta

A unknown mix - result a terracotta with light mossy

green, pale yellows and blues, rather like verdegris.   

The mystery is where did this colour mix come from?  

Probably the pot I throw small amounts of dye to

 make 'murk'. As 'murks' go this is a good one.

Much better, I feel I can lurk unseen around 

the fishing boats.   Jury out on the hat.

Back to the clearing up.  Of course, I now have more

mess then when I started.

May Journal Quilt done!

Tick - the colour could 
be toned a bit to a rich 
magenta, but you
get the idea.


Tiny shisha, stitched and 
over stitched patches.
There are bits of 
screen printed and 
painted fabric.  A good
project to while away
the time at the exhibiton.

Holiday stitching, the
June J/Q of course, then I will be
all up to date

Time to smell the roses

It's been a busy six 
weeks, filled with 
workshops and Dorset 
Arts Week thrown
in for good measure.


Yesterday a Shibori 
workshop with a 
fabulous group of 
ladies.  I have to
say it was good to 
get dyeing again.


Father in law, now a 
frail 92, with dementia
kicking in big time, is 
off to a respite home
for two weeks.  


We are escaping to a Greek Island for  much needed 
break.  24/7 alarm clock switched off - hurrah.


In the meantime, clearing clutter, finishing off the 
May Journal Quilt and then I think packing might 
be high on the agenda.


There is Summer School to look forward to at the
beginning of July.  Later shibori and indigo 
workshops in the conservatory.   No need to pack and unpack 
all the essential workshop 'ingredients'. Raw Talent exhibition goes 
on 'tour' to Bridport in August.  In theory all ready to go!  We shall see.


In the meanwhile time to relax.

A different view

My table/demo space.   Looking at wonderful greenery and plants.

My three indigo hangings.  The first one on the left, 

pukka piecing, the second one raw edge piecing,

and the third totally raw edge and hand stitching.

I love the feel of this quilt, it is calling for more of

the same to be cut up and made into a loose

Japanese style jacket.  In the background there

are barbecues and bags of charcoal.  Talking of

which, we have tandoori prawns on the go, just

about ready to enjoy - before himself gets

totally absorbed in the World Cup.  That will be 

me in the kitchen then!

still catching up

It's lovely being a bit busy, a bit lazy and just doing - for the moment!

I rediscovered these pix from the last indigo dyeing session before

DAW.  Velvet and muslin scarves mainly, plus a little batik.

As a treat I bought these fab long handled tjantings.

Sparkling copper bowls, three different shaped

spouts, plus a double spout.  I doodled.

Here's the piece again on the line with

muslin scarves - third dip.  You'll have

to imagine!

Scrunchy marks on velvet.

I will be having Saturday Indigo days in August.

For more information, mail me, if you live

close by.

Must go and tidy myself up.   Open the dressing up

box for a suitable Indian outfit.  Giving a talk on Indian

textiles and a hands on dyeing session to teachers

as a Creative Twilight Session.

Well, hello.

Dorset Arts Week(s) finishes this weekend.   Been pretty busy, 

setting up, meeting and greeting, just being there over the weekends.    

Good fun though,and exhausting.   A couple of workshops thrown in 

for good measure.

A highlight of last week, you will have to indulge me here!  My son 
Will brought young Ben down for a stopover.  His first visit to 
Dorset.  The weather glorious and we found ourselves on the 
beach at 7.30am.

Ben's first paddle 

My turn.  Sandbanks and Shell Bay looking fabulous.

Only a few dog walkers at this time of day - later it

will  be crowded.

There are dolphins out in the bay.

This is the nearest I can get today,

the base of a Poole lamp post.

Drain cover

Sunny drain cover!

and finally, back to the dye plot to replenish 

dyed yarn.