works in progress

Two lovely pieces from Saturday's Kantha workshop

Karen's elephant

Sarah's spider

Monsoon Elephant  - a wall painting from Junagarh Fort, Bikaner, Rajasthan.

Streaks  of lightening, and a many 'trunked' elephant?  Looks like bad weather ahead.

We have had too many monsoon type days here over the last six weeks.  Now, as

September comes to a close, amazingly blue skies, sunshine with temperatures to match.   Just what we need.

The last workshop here on Saturday.  The gazebo will be erected, as as a sunshade this

time, so if/when the conservatory gets too hot, we can sit outside, stitching kantha.

It was an ominous start to the day.   The heavens opened around 7 am.

It got better.    We assembled, myself and six students under the green

marque, ready to start the indigo weekend.   A lot of stitching, pole 

wrapping, clamping etc.  cloth being prepared for the vat in the

afternoon.   The sun came out, lovely.  It wasn't hot.  The vat was

insulated with newspaper.  Beautiful blues.

Oh dear, it got worse.   Monsoon rain during Sunday night, Grey skies

first thing.   We decided to decamp to The Loft, only three flights up

the old Mill.  We could have been at the Ritz!   The facilities were

100% better that outside.  It was dark in the tent, and still it rained.

Everyone busy getting cloth ready to dye.   Timing was the thing.

It was cold.  It was still raining, but the vat had to be made.   Oh, what

fun!   Finding enough hot water, and then the deepest puddle!  

Rearranging tent to get vat and washing line inside.  However,

come 2 pm the dyeing session declared open, and, hola, the

sun appeared.   Although a bit soggy and damp, more wonderful

blues produced.   A snippet of pixs

lovely pole wrapping

a very old silk wrap.  originally peach, pink,

and a bit of blue.  now look at it.  I want one

I think we deserve an Indigo Endurance Medal.

So, thanks to all for sticking with it.

This morning was spend sorting soggy things.

Clothes pegs sitting in about an inch of water.

The vat and pipes are still in the garden waiting to

be cleaned.  Think I'll wait until the sun comes out!

I found this on the path

a sign of autumn for sure




Comment - Celia has a post on the workshop, through a students eye.
You might like to visit her blog.

blue into green

  

Still here, too busy to blog, and not a lot to blog about to be honest.

The month is full of workshops, so lots to prepare.  Last week we had

a taste of winter - cold, dull and rainy.  The nights are drawing in;  I had a birthday,

and thoughts of the end of summer made me a tad introspective.  

This weekend a two day indigo workshop.  We will  be rust dyeing. A few new

samples made - above indigo over dyed with iron water.  Colour stripping 

indigo back to white with printing blocks, or whatever comes to hand.    

I'll be teaching at the Mill  during the Create weekend.  Lots of makers and

demonstrations.     Too many wonderful things, I think feel a little retail 

therapy coming on.   

details of Banjara belt

Banjara panel

colours by Frida Kahlo

stitched on indigo dyed linen, using threads to hand

having just read an article on the artist I seem to have

unconsciously picked up  a Mexican colour theme.  

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.