summer tie dye

Two workshops this month as part of Arts Week organised for the school holidays.     Last year I was overwhelmed with eager little dyers.     Forty t-shirts (in one day - but I did have a helper, thank goodness).     

First one is tomorrow.   I am gathering all I need today.    Loads of t-shirts in different sizes, old shirts and rubber gloves to ward off spilt dye - plus advice on putting feet firmly under the table.   Well, we don't want dye on posh trainers do we?!!!

a few essential ingredients

chickpeas, rubber bands and sponge brushes

pots of dye ready to go

I've been taking children's workshops for years.   Over time the workshops been refined - hints and tips to myself!    The children have no fear of colour, love splashing painting on the dye, and, if time permits there are always squares of cloth to make flags. 

however, there is something new to consider

the loom band monster!

hello world

Paint pots and brushes filed away, along with all the decorating necessities.    A little way to go get before we are totally straight.   Curtains and sofas on the shopping list.

Meanwhile

tribal chair against white wall

love the white wall!

  peace lilly and yellow wall

the elephant cupboard is back in place along with

the Rabari hanging - such a lovely piece to wake

up to, all those little shiny mirrors

looking out of my window the garden is blooming

Last Saturday I took a workshop with Croydon Embroiderers' Guild.    It was great, but I forgot my camera and there were some lovely pieces of Indian mirror work.    Tomorrow

there is the experimental block printing day here and next Saturday the first indigo vat

this summer.    I am so looking forward to taking that workshop, and the weather looks

to be just perfect.

so, where am I now?

Or rather, what have I been doing over the last three weeks?

It's been hectic.    Two workshops at the beginning of the month.   Shed loads of paperwork and admin to deal with.    Prep for my summer workshops, and gathering all the bits and pieces for the two workshops I am taking at the Quilters' Guild AGM in two weeks time.

basket of bags - part of the student's pack

and I cannot possibly say what is inside!

a surprise package from the postman

a package from Australia

way back in November I was asked to submit

an article on shisha for the World of Quilts - India.

which is included  with the Down Under Quilts magazine

 thank you!

Not a lot of stitching going on, one or two pieces sort of on the go when I have a spare minute or two!   The dye pots are busy dyeing yarn, cotton and felt.   It's heads down for

the next week, and then I will resurface and serious get stitching again.

lastly, I just have to post this

I love travelling on Indian Rail.   Overnight trips are great - interesting fellow passengers, or not.   In the morning you are woken to cries of chai, chai, or coffee, coffee.   The country side whizzes by.  If you are getting off at the end of the line no problem, if not, keep your eyes peeled lest you miss your station.

This time we travelled to Mumbai from Ahmedabad, no stopping train for us, but the Duronto Express.   We left just before midnight and arrived at our destination by 6.00am

The coach attendant handed out the Laundry Bag to passengers.  Crisply ironed sheets and pillow case (or 'face towel')  together with a bottle of mineral water.  Bed made up with a cosy blanket on top made for a perfect night's sleep.

Thank you for following my Indian adventures.   Some might have found them tedious!   Since we now seem to find ourselves out in the wilds far away from Internet access, and it takes some time when I get home to sort out the blog, I am thinking I might just set up another blog  just for my travels.

flying the flag

First workshops of 2013 start this week,    Half term activity time, 
mini Art Workshops held at two different schools, and they are 'drop in'.   
A bit of a shock to the system!

I spent most of Monday in preparation, having to guess how many children
would participate.   Tuesday I found out!  It was non stop, dyeing fun.
Amazingly, not too much mess.     

On a rough count 60 plus children went home with their little bundle of
dyed cloth, washing instructions and a flag stick.

I had three patterns to choose from as, from experience, too much 
selection causes confusion and a great deal of thinking what to do. 
To keep it simple, the fabric is folded to produce the different designs.

flag 1 - pleated and bound with rubber bands

 flag 2 - a swirl

flag 3 - flag fold

an orphan flag

wrapped in paper, unnamed and unclaimed

it's gorgeous!

I was so tired after my six hour stint I left all the messy pots

and sponge brushes until this morning.    I've repacked, ready

for another workshop tomorrow.

about time

I'm in the process of updating my website.   There's big quilts,
little quilts and Journal Quilts to add.

Today I have published
my Summer Workshop
programme.







I'll will be fiddling and tinkering with the website 
all this week.  Right now, I must spruce myself up.
I have a lunch date.