Thursday 29 September 2011



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.


Monday 19 September 2011

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




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

Thursday 15 September 2011

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.   




Friday 2 September 2011


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.