October Happenings

My last Summer 2015 workshop 'Messy Day' also known as Chaos Printing.   I like the sound of that.    It is messy, but in a creative way!    Stamps were made from thin foam, potatoes and found objects.

evidence of potatoes and foam printing blocks

printed papers using a variety of tools 

it was a great day

I dyed up a special order for threads - a little different than usual

Earth tones

the colour palate

the threads

loved the results

meanwhile

fish are swimming

a little kantha stitching for quiet moments

see how the needle is bending nicely!

Mr. Ben and the Larmer Tree Festival

my boys and Mr. Ben are having fun at the Larmer Tree Festival this weekend

camping gear packed  

 

the sun is shinning

perfect

 t shirts dyed for Mr. Ben

high viz

and one for hiding in a summer field

It's May - really?

Time flies, and today I thought it was next week .  I missed the appointment with my hairdresser this afternoon.   Another one made for Friday thank goodness.   I vaguely thought it was well due for a cut!

A couple of Summer workshops taken, another one this Saturday

During quieter moments the scrap indigo quilt stitched. 

messing about with the gelli plate in a free form manner

very satisfying

stitch stitch

replenishing my stock of threads

just when I thought I had enough they fly

dye pots still at the ready to dye more gorgeous colours

there are a few packs of Jewel, Aqua and Sorbet available on the website

stitch stitch

then there is the garden to enjoy now that the weather is warming up

the green gym beckons     

up and down to the compost bins   pruning and weeding

sowing and planting  

life is good

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!

annual outing

Summer Blast at Walford Mill ( walfordmillcrafts.co.uk).  A fabulous range of workshops for children, and I get to take the dyeing workshop.

first I upgraded some patterns

bulls eye

                                                               accordion pleats

swirl

it was chaotic and colourful fun 

In the morning there were nine eager students.  T-shirts and squares of fabric were bound, tied and pleated ready to be dyed using  dozens of elastic bands and handfuls of chickpeas

The afternoon I set up a small indigo vat.   A different pace to this workshop.     Eight students this time who spent an hour preparing their t shirts and fabric.   Then the magic of the indigo vat was revelled.    The enthusiasm was amazing.   I explained how to use the vat.    They listened, and then just splashed away!  Rivulets of indigo, bubbles in the vat.

There was also lots of smiles and laughter plus a very impressive line of blue cloth.

A little bit of the washing line.   The t-shirts have been bound using large stones gathered from round and about.    I can tell you that the shapes emerged were wonderful    The now blue stones were returned from whence they came.

Sadly no other pics - too involved in dipping and dyeing.    I have to thank Jazz my very able assistant, and the children who were marvellous.   Maybe some of they are wearing their master pieces today!

chasing my tail

The two weeks since my last post have passed very quickly.     

The session in the green gym turned into a four day marathon.    The glorious weather made the task a delight.   Pruning back shrubs, weeding borders, edging the lawn (a task the head gardener manages to avoid).      Lastly clearing the (long) drive of weeds and old leaves.   It all looks fantastic now.   That was only the front garden.  I'll get to the back garden eventually.  It's looking lush with all the April showers we are having.

a mass of forget-me-nots and lillies of the valley

a mixture of daisy type plants, happy in an old sink

and the veg plot cleared for planting

I planted chard in the autumn the plants didn't

do too well but I love the red stems

An Unexpected Delight

In our lovely light lounge the previous owners decided a brick wall would enhance the room.  It is horrible, especially in the winter.   Dark and gloomy.   For years I have been been trying to persuade my man that it had to go.    Now it has!    HURRAH.

Fred called round last Wednesday to have a look.    No problem he said.    Skip delivered on Saturday.   Work started on Monday morning, not knowing how it was constructed we were

in for one or two surprises.

Mid morning and half of The Wall has gone.   We thought we might discover breeze blocks, but, no, the wall is plastered, the coving and ceiling pattern intact.  The lower section gave up a couple of secrets.    A call from Fred to turn of the electrics.   Wires in one socket had not been sealed properly all could have been 'live' behind there.   Scary.    A empty packet of crisps with a competition, closing date, 26th January 1982, which just happens to be my youngest son's birthday.

Tuesday the plaster was rendered.   Job done by 2pm.

Lovely shaft of evening sunlight!

I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to gain order out of chaos.    This is upstairs, and we have an open pine stair case.  Major dust incident.  Furniture dragged back into position.

Dust sheets (cream muslin curtains) and other dusty textiles off to the washing machine.

The huge piles of books and boxes of stuff recovered with clean cloth. Windows washed,

goodness me!   Carpet Dysoned.   Repeat procedure downstairs.   Shower, hair wash and clean clothes closely followed by a gin and tonic, to clear the dust you understand.

To look at this now wonderful wall filled me with delight this morning.   There is, of course, the decorating to consider amongst other things.    We brought back two bed covers from India, white on white reverse applique.   These will be the new curtains, the old might just be recycled via the dye pots.

Heaven knows when we will get round to sorting this lot out. I can live with it for a while.

It was the first of my Summer Workshops on Saturday - great time had by all, including me

Will and Ben arrived for the weekend and left on Monday morning, but not before Ben 'helped' Fred throwing a few bricks into the skip.   What a noise!

So, all is quiet for a while.  I am preparing for the Dorset Quilters' day on 10th May, followed by a talk to the Marlborough Embroiderers' group the following Monday. At both events my Indian Shop will make an appearance.  Dyeing up a load of threads today and tomorrow it will be fabric.

The good thing about the upheaval in the house, I can ignore total housework for a while!

If you are in the Wimborne (Dorset) area on Wednesday 7th May, A Talent for Textiles event is taking place at Deans Court, Wimborne (BH21 1QF)   Lots of traders, antique textiles,

linen, lace etc. 10-5.   Apart from gorgeous textiles, you can wander around the lovely garden.     I'm taking the morning off - see you there!

shibori

there are a couple of places left on the Shibori/Procion workshop Saturday 26 April

if shibori is not for you, you, come along and do your own thing

colour

a litte basket of dyed threads

colour under grey clouds

community of dyers

Moving on to Jodhpur for a couple of days, we were introduced to a family of dyers.   Fortunately by now I can do a sort of slither and hop!

lots of children 

Turban cloth hanging out to dry

Dupattas fresh from dyeing

piles of muslin ready for packaging

Bhandani cloth being dyed

screen printed turban cloth on the roofs

the washing machine that has seen better days

Painted threads

Yesterday I spent time using up dye stock, couldn't possibly throw it down the sink!

High on my list for 2014 is to revisit my website.    Sadly neglect this year, it is in need of a complete revamp.    

When out and about this year I was often asked if I sell my threads online.   The packs of threads on the website sold well.   As to individual spools, I hope to devise a page showing the (almost) solid colours.   The description of the variegated threads might need some imagination!   Some standard mixes, plus one offs.     That will be a colourful occupation for

dull January/February days.

the week

has been spent mostly dyeing up threads and generally stocking up my Emporium for the Canford Needlework Festival on Sunday 22nd September.    Do come and say hello!

noticing the changing of the seasons

and a great day out at the Dorset Agricultural Show

just love the rust coloured Suffolk sheep

and the magnificent clouds that floated happily above

Summer Workshop

Yes, it was a proper summer day!   Just right.

In the morning tie dye t shirts.    I was kept busy with eight eager children.    Thanks to my helper Jaz, it was such fun.     Busy hands folding, twisting for swirls and binding chickpeas.
Dye pots to the ready.   At the end of the morning session lots of lovely coloured packages.

Usually there is no time for photos, although I managed to take a couple of work in progress.   Ellie had spend most of the time tying chickpeas and beans on her t shirt.  Even before dyeing it looked amazing.

there are interesting things happening on the back too

there was just enough time for Ellie to dye a swirl

Indigo in the afternoon

a different pace

time to prepare t shirts for dyeing

the excitement of the first dip, patiently counting

revealing pattern after final dip

flag folding cloth and pleating socks

t shirts and socks

flag fold

a great day had by all

glorious mess

At last the dye pots are out again, and I have had fun.   The last time I did any dyeing
was at the end of October.   A colourfest required. 

A beautiful sunny day, but oh, so cold!    The conservatory/wet room is like a freezer, spent just enough time out there to make up my dye stock and soda ash solution.  Next up covering my work table ready for dyeing.    Today a bunch of threads, to add to my depleted stock.

the scene at lunch time - bundles of dyed thread wrapped

in cling film to batch under the table by the radiator

nice colour combo 

using the dribs and drabs in the palette

All is tidy and put away.   Now to carry on quilting listening

to the play on the radio - and tomorrow morning the

unwrapping of the bundles

Revisiting

Another three weeks have whizzed by without blogging.   I must have
been a) enjoying myself, b) really busy, or c) refining my juggling skills.
A mixture of all three really.

My workshops for the year are now finished.   Two shibori/procion days
extremely colourful.    The final on kantha stitching very quiet and calm.

I will be taking a Shibori in Colour workshop
on 20th January 2013.   For details contact
Walford Mill  Wimborne, Dorset





End of year tidy up - all those files, samples and notes redefined.   They
multiply through the year!    I am finding I do have space in cupboards,
once the 'on longer required on journey' stuff is discarded.

Paperwork almost done, and I can see surfaces again.    

To maintain some sanity I had to have some stitching to hand.   Of course,
on the wall is Blue Moon, a quilt I finished on New Year's Eve, 2009! 
It is constructed from recycled white fabric, gathered over months.  Dyed,
mark making with soy wax and over dyed.    Lack of time required machine
quilting, which I always intended to hand quilt.  It's time has come!

hanging on the wall along with Nic's illustrations

for our family exhibition Raw Talent 

from this

to this

via this

I am so enjoying the result.   This might be my winter project!   There is a

lot of stitching yet to be done.

Nic is on tour with The Paper Cinema's production of the Odyssey until

the end of November.    It could be coming to a town near you!