high summer

slowing down, not rushing

enjoying warm (hot) days

picking courgettes and beans

then eating them for supper

at last Saturday's workshop on Indian Stitching we looked at

banjara stitching

kantha stitching

Indian mirror work

and little samplers were started

which might look like this

I've read The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey - strangely wonderful

next up,  Rumi The Fire of Love by Nahal Tajadod, the story of the great Sufi poet

 and creator of the whiling dervish    I am transported to 13th century Arabia 

today I revived my two week old indigo vat    it's not often in that this 

can be done 'outside' without the aid of a heater of some kind

another indigo workshop this weekend - forecast hot and humid, perfect

now to water the garden and harvest a handful of beans

postcard

On Thursday it is 'last day of term' with my friends at the Mill.    We all contribute something for lunch and it is a foodie fest - delicious.

A new challenge this year was a fabric postcard swap.    A little out of my comfort zone, which maybe is a good thing?    Remembered yesterday, and, with a chill wind outside this afternoon, I got stitching.

with apologies to Matisse

and a note to self book tickets for the exhibition

fabric backed with Bondaweb is not as easy as cutting paper!

happy day

The first indigo workshop on Saturday turned out, rather like the weather, brilliantly.    We were lucky to be on the edge of the thunder storms, so it was hot and humid after lunch, perfect for good indigo blues.    The gazebo was dusted down, just in case of rain.    We all reminisced about the last indigo workshop of 2013.    It poured with rain, but it was warm.   We huddled and dipped under the shelter of the gazebo.   Shrieks of laughter as the wind lifted the top to give us all an involuntary shower.    I should add 'a sense of humour and to expect the unexpected' to the Needs List.

a small bucket vat taken at a children's workshop last year

It was not until everyone went home I realised I didn't take any photos, and there were some lovely pieces hanging around the garden.      Deborah has kindly sent a photo of

indigo pieces on the washing line.

Deb's piece is the large pole wrapped cloth in the middle.   Well over a metre long and

wrapped around an industrial/office water bottle, quite an achievement!    A bit too big for a bucket though and I was reminded of my big bin vat, which was just as well. Pole wraps seemed to be the order of the day.

as I finished tidying up there were one or two big spots of rain

and  this splendid cloud formation heralded a downpour    it didn't last too long 

just enough water the garden and later dry enough to have supper outside

domestic stitching

The Indian bedspreads were taken to the cleaners, a little grubby and I didn't fancy the idea of washing and ironing the pair of them (290 x 290cm).   They came back sparkling white and have been sitting around for a week.

Yesterday was making the curtains day.    Fortunately I have two large workshop tables which made the task easier.

measuring and cutting first

measure twice, cut once - what was left after adjusting

the length  - enough for four cushions I think

Amazingly, although it is hand stitched applique I found

I could match the pattern (almost) perfectly.   I marvel at the 

skill of the makers, not only is the design pattern perfect, it must
have taken a great deal of time to complete each bedspread

the curtains were hung in the afternoon

creating a cool feeling in the lounge this morning

when outside it very bright and very hot!

this afternoon perfect for another indigo vat

the leftover joined hems 

three dips to go for a rich indigo blue

blue day

It's a glorious day,   Blue skies, 20c and all in all a perfect day for the Blues.

Emptied the remains of last year's indigo cloth from the basket to try out a new recipe.
I usually use sodium hydrosulphite.   Lots of students are really not keen on the smell, I like it!   So with some Spectralite on the shelf I made up my vat with that.  Success.

Another good reason is that Spectralite is easier to obtain than hydros.

A rack full of over dyed indigo.   Love the richness of the dark blue with the 

contrast of what was white, now mid blue and zinging against the dark.

All sorts of shapes and sizes, and patterns.   A quilt in the making to

stitch in the sun.

The block printing workshop on Saturday was brilliant and such fun.

We cut potatoes, fun foam, tried various found objects, and raided the 

garden for greenery suitable for printing.

For once the camera was to hand.   I took one photograph, after which

the camera hid itself.    So here is very clever Babs working away and

producing fabulous prints.

wish I had pix of the other students work

wonderful prints all round

note to self - put camera in a safe place!

Hmm, the vat is still happy, perhaps another dip or two.

It's good to be dyeing indigo under a warm sky again,

never mind the fact that I have a blue hand due to 

a hole in one glove.  A small price to pay

making

Warning - no textiles involved!

A step up stool from Ikea.  It fits nicely in the only empty

space in the room and means I can get to the top of my

cupboards without having to retrieve a ladder from the garage.

Oh yes, you can sit on it too!

Having heard horrible tales of putting Ikea furniture together

I was very proud of my first foray into furniture construction. 

A 3D jigsaw puzzle.  No need for cupboards at the moment, 

their construction might prove a little more head scratching!

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.