From the tailor's floor

Looking through old travel journals I found the one relating to our first 

and only trip to Kerala.  That was fourteen years ago.  Definitely

 time for a return visit.

First stop then was to the tailor's shop for some hand made shirts.

We had to go down the road to the fabric shop.  What a choice.

When Keith returned to pick up the goodies I requested that

he asked the tailor for off cuts, and he did, despite a few 

grumbles as he set off.  The tailor probably thought we we

mad, but I did end up with a bag of scraps.

I made this laptop quilt with every last little bit

of fabric.   Over the years it has been used as

a comforter on cold nights, or just 'because'.

Here's the back, it is tie quilted, which makes it

a very soft little quilt.   The backing fabric is

Madras cotton, a very fine muslin.  I had quite

forgotten about Madras cotton, must add

to my shopping list.   

So, cupboards closed, workroom shut down.

Time to pack.   Next post should

be from India.

So very 20th century

I found this in the magic cupboard.  
Tiny hexagons, roughly 1"/2.5 cm 
across.  I guess I dates to the early 
1980's and is made up with sample patchwork fabric squares.  The papers
and tacking are still in place.


Interestingly I can see I started a second row of blue, and the beginning of another motif.  Why did I stop?  Maybe I found out about cutting boards, quilters rulers and rotary cutters.  Who will ever know?

Another little treasure.  
A miniature Log Cabin Quilt.


Around the same date.   The blocks 
are about 2"/5cm square, with five
dark and light 'logs'.


And it is wadded and tie quilted.  At least this one is finished.

putting it all together

On Monday evening I took a short workshops on Indian Applique.

It was especially great as I had been invited along to Happy

Patchers in Wimborne.   So many friends I had not seen for

ages -  as much catching up as sewing.

I have started on my rag book of Indian Applique.

Page 1

Lots of samples in files.  Time to get organised.

I have a book on various methods of attaching

shisha, and also one on kantha work.

Talking India - visa, air ticket, tick.  Time to

pack bag and go.  Keith and I are off to

southern India for just over two weeks
No particular plans, except that I want

to stand on the very tip of India where

three seas meet.   I am so looking forward

to a break.  January is usually very quiet.

Time for 'research and development'.

Not this year.  It has been hectic.

I think I have found a stitching project for

the quiet hours - applique to go.

Quiet time

It's been a hectic few weeks, getting the exhibition up

and running, workshops, and I believe somewhere in 

between Christmas celebrations.   An absolute pleasure

to consider the January Journal Quilt.

I had a pile of mono printed, dyed and rust dyed

fabrics piled on my table - as you do - for a day

or two.  They were not talking to me.  Until 4 am

one morning, so I had dash into my room, make

notes and here we have 'On a Winter's Day'

It's a collage of silk, monoprinted

silk organza, net with 'dots' and shisha.

Textured with lots of hand stitching.

The edges, within and without frayed.

Here's a detail

Guerilla Dyeing

Yesterday a workshop with 'disadvantaged' children.  We had 

great fun.   Not only t shirts, but handkerchiefs, and a (small) 

towel were dyed.  The towel, not surprisingly, soaked up

 the dye.  A suitable candidate for The Apron.

Tomorrow I am teaching Tray Dyeing to adults, no chance

of a 'block print', might get a few splashes though.

Did I tell you I have a new car!!!   My beloved Peugeot 106

is no more.  We travelled the highways and byways for

twelve years.  Sun roof always a problem, warm 

showers in the summer and cold in the winter.   

Driving with a towel over my lap not a good option. 

In the cold of this winter, ice inside and out.   Now I 

have a new Peugeot 207, Special Edition, if you please, 

in Inari blue. No sunroof - no leaks, it's wonderful.

And there is a primrose flowering in the garden.

Makeover

Another little treasure found.   An applique cushion cover that has seen better days, faded in parts,  but I still like it.

Into the dye pot it goes. Refreshed and renewed in blue.

The Apron - Day 1

Yesterday was spent at the Mill.  The morning in the gallery 

to meet and greet.   The afternoon tie dye flags workshop 

for children. The first outing for The Apron.

Surprisingly it is relatively clean! We won't

mention my hands.

I particularly like these marks

Manipulated cloth spiral. 

When the cloth is dyed it is placed on newspaper.

The image left reminds me of a Charles Renee 

MacKintosh rose.  I have saved papers in the past, 

should consider using white paper.  This time I used

the wet cloth as a printing block.  Nice.

Nine children and my friend Imogen as helper.

No problem, except one seven year old boy who

suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

 Oh yes, he brought along his little brother. Chaos. 

Lots of dripping dye, rubber glove hand prints.

You get the picture. The Apron escaped - magic,

and protective.