out of the baskets

A splendid workshop on Saturday, with wonderful enthusiastic students.

the baskets of Banjara work investigated

this one has a collection of dowry and envelope bags

in here a collection of stitched squares and small bags

the shiny piece at the top is a 'hair band' all jingly with

bells, mirrors and paise (old coinage)

I had no idea my collection was so large!

I have been gathering over the years

this piece was bought in Goa

it looks very dirty, but, in fact is is old

I think the threads were dyed with natural dyes and

over the years have faded    the brighter colours might

be from 'fast' dyes or, perhaps chemical dyes

the actual size of the piece is 34 x 24 cm

the stitches are so tiny a magnifying lens is needed

to really study them

amongst the treasures, this little piece

I spend the morning on Baga beach, Goa, stitching with

Anil, Laxmi and Rajeh - lovely memories

so a happy day was spent - after studying the textiles that spilled 

out from the baskets, each student worked on a piece of fabric

measuring 20 x 20c, taking inspiration from the colours,

stitching, and embellishments.

interesting work in the making  I'm looking forward to seeing

some finished pieces when next we meet

a lovely end to the Summer 2014 workshops

more blue!

in fact quite a lot of it.     Indigo workshop at home on Saturday, and then the very last one of 2014 with the lovely ladies of Sherborne West Country Embroiderers.

The vat was set up in the lovely grounds, with two very convenient trees for the washing line.

hubble bubble

dipping and dyeing

it was the best summer ever for indigo

autumn colour, a tad early - three weeks apparently

probably brought on by the lack of rain 

everything in the garden is looking a little sad

still, we can enjoy the Indian Summer a while longer

according to the weathermen  and I am not complaining

hello September

Of mist and mellow fruit fullness - we have mist, or rather the remains of smoke from a landfill site about four miles away.   Can't open windows 'cos the smell is awful!

The last two weeks of August were a combination of getting out and about,  enjoying the weather, sitting on very comfortable new sofas and finally giving the kitchen a good tidy, a scrub down and discovering the joy of clean cupboards.    So all spic and span, feeling very virtuous.  Decorating materials put away.

the Kurta quilt is on the wall

The last of Art Festival children's tie dye workshop on Friday.   I was swamped, didn't really have time to totally unpack.      At the end of the day I worked out that over two sessions I sent out into the world eighty seven fabulous t-shirts and with their happy makers.    Hoping I might receive photos of the finished t-shirts eventually.   With no fear. or preconceived ideas, there were fabulous colours combinations.     

print from dyed t-shirt on cardboard - love it!

On Saturday I did absolutely nothing, that is after I cleared all the dye pots and brushes and put all the workshop paraphernalia away.   

On Sunday we spent a very pleasant day at the end of Bournemouth pier, watching the Air Festival.   Posh fish and chips for lunch.  As we were high up and some of the planes were flying low, the pilots were visible as they whizzed by.     Blue skies and 20c, who could ask for more!

looking over towards Shell Bay - Poole Bay was full of boats of every description.

the fabulous Red Arrows

The Lancaster, it's huge!

thoughts of my father-in-law who was a Lancaster pilot, aged 23

Whilst I was dealing with the mini dyers on Friday, Keith took Ben to the

 Air Show.  First stop, the Birds of Prey area.    Here he is asking the Barn 

Owl to look at the camera