Saturday 30 April 2011

Indigo intermission

Uncovered - Banjara blocks, 
hiding in a basket.   


I just love these little pieces.  They are completely
covered in hand stitching, not a peep of foundation
fabric.   Top right is about 4" square, stitched with
chain and close herringbone stitch, with the
addition of tiny white beads.



Wednesday 27 April 2011

Pole wrapping

Indigo sessions still ongoing.  An hour or two every day, 
preparing cloth in between times.   The vat is a good one,
producing some very nice cloth.

Samples of pole wrapping


very fine


wrapped with hairy string


the back is interesting too


It's late afternoon, the vat is ready to go again and I just had
to prepare another piece for hairy pole wrapping.


off to the blue yonder





Friday 22 April 2011

Blue

blue flowers


blue vat


set up in the 'blue house'.   This morning was warm and bright,
then cloudy - would there be a thunder storm?  Just in case,
 I chose to set the vat under cover.  When I finished for the day
the temp inside was hot, hot, hot, and not a cloud in the sky.

at the end of the day



still doing their thing on the washing line

I have a pile of stitched, bound and wrapped cloth to sort
in the morning.  Also dyed were six damask table cloths,
plus two vintage linen cloths, with embroidery and lace.

I like this


One vintage cloth on the line.  The lace is over the line.
Nice image with the sun shinning through the cloth.

Despite trying not to get covered in indigo, I did, especially
my feet.  Will I ever learn?  Probably not.   Out with the
scrubbing brush, we have been invited out tonight.  





Monday 18 April 2011

e is for elephant


Last week I spent most of the time just stitching.
A small bag for a workshop in September at Hansons,
Sturminster Newton.  The first thought was machine
applique, though this could be a problem for students
not familiar with free machine work.  This little project
will take a while, and there is absolutely nothing wrong
with that, except  sometimes students want to go
home with a finished project.  Not possible!
Hours of enjoyment ahead.

Freezer paper applique, ages since I have been so
precise, really works well with this little elephant
shape.   The whole bag is covered in hand stitching,
one shisha makes an appearance and lots of sequins.
It's finished off with a strap and tassels. Ready to go,
but first I must write up instructions.

Next up stitching cloth for the Indigo vat.   The sun 
programmed to shine  and the temperature is perfect.
Must take advantage this week, the weather might
just change, after all we have Easter weekend, then
The Wedding, plus two Bank Holiday Mondays.
All events add up to a recipe for a downpour of 
the wet stuff.

On Saturday it was the first of the summer workshops.  
Last year students requested a workshop on getting to know
your sewing machine.   Such a voyage of discovery!  

Now to grab a length of cloth, needle and thread.


Sunday 10 April 2011

Spring


and with it comes the usual desire to clean and discard

It was a hard winter although, amazingly, the garden is bursting out
all over.   All the plants are putting on a grand show, maybe in 
celebration of the turning of the season.   The weather is fabulous,
too nice to stay indoors.   I spent most of last week weeding, 
tidying, enjoying the spring flowers, and noticing the new 
new growth all around.   Repotting my orchids, a job that
really needed doing - they are looking very happy now.

Then there are the car boot sales.   Grand to be sitting in a field.
 in the sun, selling 'stuff' we have inherited over the years.

There's the bone chine tea set that belonged to Keith's grandmother.
It lived in a cupboard, waiting for a special occasion.  Over the years,
in different cupboards, the tea set came to rest, in a cardboard
box, in our garage.  It has never seen the light of day, let alone
a splash of tea, or a crumb of cake.   It was bought by a
gentleman who is getting married in the summer.   The
reception is to be a 'Mad Hatters' tea party.  What a great
idea, and what fun for the lonely tea set.

The house and garage feel 'lighter' already.  I dream of
finding even more stuff to get rid off. Having said that, the
Big Shed has enough full cardboard boxes to keep us in
in car boot sales for weeks.

I am pleased to say that, thus far, I have only made one
purchase - a beautiful old garden trug.  That's not to say this
will be my only buy.   Trying not to investigate other people's
tables is a tough one! One man's junk is another's treasure etc.

So.......another sunny day in a field.