August Bank Holiday Monday means Cultural Day at The Mill.

This year Chinese Day.  Cooking demons, the Lion Dance,

story telling, Tai Chi etc. etc, plus workshops for children.

I decided on printing flags, on a Chinese theme of course!

I had to bone up a bit on this one, discovered that Pagodas

originated from Bhuddist Stupas, amongst other facts.

Obviously dragons feature a lot, as do lions.  Since I was

cutting the stamps I thought these would prove a little

tricky, and then remembered it was the Year of the Rabbit.

Oh, we did have fun - over fifty flags made by children

from 3 to 12.   All a bit frantic so no photos.   

Before I put all the workshop stuff away I though I 

should print off a few of the stamps

which are still useable(!) for my record.

Spots ready for colouring

Bamboo also turned in to palms trees!
There were three stamps for the leaves,
only one left with a missing leaf, still it
gives an idea of the whole

Nose and whiskers optional

Moving on

The summer dyeing workshops are over for this year.

Except for an Indigo Weekend in September, 

although I guess that comes under Autumn!

For the next few weeks I will be taking stitching

workshops all over the West Country, and then

I will have time to catch up on my own work.

October/November usually means India.  Oh,

I am getting itchy feet, but will have to wait until

February.  The good news is that we will be

taking a whole month off!  Hurrah!

Yesterday I was a guest tutor at an Embroidery

course.   Years ago I taught a short course C&G on

machine embroidery.   Old files, notes and samples

retrieved and dusted down. Subject - Thermogauze,

or, as we called it in the 20th c, Vanishing Muslin.

After revisiting notes, deciding there were enough

samples, I just had to get into the grove.

made of silk sari pieces, woven and laid on

Thermogauze, then stitched with the addition

of recycled sari thread.   It's very raggy!  A little 

block printing to complete the process.

a silky flag with gaps between the strips.

The stabilizer held it altogether for 

stitching, then it was gone.

my little Indian flag, to wave in the wind

The workshop was great, and as I left at lunchtime

I could see some amazing work being produced.

The season is slowly but perceptively changing.   The nights are 

drawing in and today, the last of the Summer Workshops for children.

Blue, blue, all is blue, including myself at the moment. Still have to

store the workshop equipment, including the indigo bucket. 

Indigo under a gazebo, as the white clouds covered the sun.  

So great revealing the magic of indigo cloth, and then the mad

dash to dip and discover.

I managed to grab a couple of pix during the mayhem.

Nice pieces of clamping and manipulation

I think these are amazing

two best friends managed to

produce matching t-shirts

My last indigo workshop at home this weekend.

Never mind, there is always next year!

a package has arrived for me

so many labels

wrapped in blue plastic

and it's taller than me

but what's this?

explosive materials?

no, it's only silk velvet and muslin - I think!

perhaps I should take it out into the garden

and prod it with a long stick.  Ha, ha!

indigo harvest

the 'bunch of grapes' after a dip in the indigo vat

ne-maki, or thread bound circles

both these pieces are now on their way to Australia

bon voyage

my photographic session came to a swift end,

a goodly dollop of rain.  However, I managed one

more shot before I had to dash inside

a smallish piece surfaced from the indigo basket

another dip in the vat lost the white   I like this 

effect - dark blue with lighter blue - might have

a special use for this particular piece

shibori harvest time,

ripe for the picking

hanging out

A small kantha from Dhaka, Bangladesh

You can enlarge the image.  


I first thought these might be ladies, note
the possible green bra.  There again, perhaps
 musicians!  On the left a dole drum, middle
looks like a percussion instrument.  Jury is
still out on the right hand figure.  

home again

A too short, but lovely break.   Very Cornish weather!

In the right order, it rained during the night and the

days were warm with amazing skies.

The view from the rooftop restaurant at Tate St. Ives.

Slightly moody, taken through glass, with reflection of moi!

The actual colours so amazing.  White sand going down

to a turquoise and bright blue sea.

Young Ben tucking into olive bread at

Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Watergate Bay.

A treat for me

A bit indigo, don't you think!

Busy days on the beach, watching boats in the

harbour.   The odd pastie or two consumed.

My big grandson Sam and his group opened

Falmouth festival.  Their first proper gig, and they

were fantastic - well I would say that wouldn't I.

blog break

Tomorrow I will join my men in Cornwall.

Where we are staying is more a 'not' spot 

than a 'hot' spot.   A few days to wind down,

a bit of beach combing and looking in rock pools.

The shop will be open for business on Monday.

Meanwhile the elephant lilly

It looks like a helicopter, waiting to take off.

Five more flower heads emerging, slowly. 

 I'm impressed.  Note to plant, please wait

for the full display until I get home.