The beginnings of a something new...

Last few weeks, a few months actually, were steeped in uncertainty and then anxiousness about the uncertainties! Thankfully these have finally been creased out. The change is beginning to sink in now. What marks an end of something only marks the beginning of something else. So after a mini roller-coaster of unnerving waiting and inevitable necessary decisions, a new era has started in my life...

What started as an un-ignorable curiosity, became a passion which then inspired a lifestyle philosophy. Now its time to put it into practice. All the ideas and plans made for a future further ahead, have been given a opportunity to be realised in the present thanks to the circumstances that surely the Universe must have conspired for!

I have been busy however. I found these samples I made last year which unfortunately had a few moth holes in them. Which only stressed the need to have a proper cabinet for my work. But I thought they'd look nice put together as a scarf or a wrap or something. And I finally have a decent cabinet for my fabrics. I was a tedious job to paint it but now that its done, its totally worth it! And I'm really glad I found the perfect door pulls.

It has taken much thought and a bit of planning but a beginning of a collection is emerging. Overall I feel quite positive, almost looking forward to this terrifying and exciting "starting something of my own" thing. Taking the plunge into the big bad world!

Wish me luck. Nothing is going to be same again. But that's the idea!

I'd been playing with folding techniques (in my mind of course) which I've finally tried out and I must admit, I'm quite impressed with it actually! now the challenge is to make all the pieces look like it belongs in the same collection but keeping each piece unique. I have to say though, it was very much enjoyable to be collecting leaves on beautiful autumn days on Sussex Gardens (to those who don't know its not actually a garden, just a road!) when people passing you by giving strange looks. Probably thinking "What is this crazy woman up-to?"!

I don't want to give too much away but here's a sneak...

workshop with India Flint, Switzerland

BEING so caught up in daily life and work in London, I find it hard to believe that not that long ago I had an escape to a tiny town in Switzerland, amidst the countryside. The much anticipated workshop with India Flint has come and gone... and it was such undiluted pleasure of the simple life that so many of us are beginning to crave. The location it has to be said, was perfectly fitting. Anne- Marie's farmhouse where everyone was welcomed and perhaps pampered with her delicious home cooked meals and desserts. For days after I came back I was daydreaming of her after lunch coffee and cakes. ummmm...

Meeting India was an absolute delight. It becomes immediately apparent what a gentle soul she is. So are her ways with colour, plants and textile - gentle, caring, interesting and in harmony with nature - beautiful. There's something about the experience of picking up leaves and weeds from the garden and bundling them in cloth with other objects found, then unwrapping them the next day and finding out how the plants have transferred their beauty into textile, something that will last longer and give someone the pleasure of colour and pattern. Suddenly there is so much possibility all around!

Although I'd done similar things before, it was different when its done in open spaces with a garden and others of a similar mind, love and care towards textile and the environment as well. Along the way I was picking up some tips - small and big - of doing things, perhaps slightly different methods which would be so useful. A true revelation for me however was stitching. I had only done it before for coursework, never for pleasure. But there's something about siting by a table under a canopy of fragrant wisterias, or huddled around a fire with everyone while it rains outside, or by the window overlooking the garden sipping coffee that will definitely change your mind about hand stitching. At least it did mine. In a matter of only 2 days I was suddenly drawn into the meditative repetition of hand stitching. I'd never thought of it as therapeutic until that day. I almost couldn't get enough of it! So much so That I found myself stitching on the flight back!

The simplicity of the whole process was just brilliantly beautiful. At times it felt quite ancient, with the uses of such simple methods and the most basic tools. At times it felt gentle, kinder, simpler and for all these reasons and more, it felt beautiful and satisfying. After much pondering, I think the right word is ...connected - to nature, the environment, the seasons. To be a part of it and have that relationship of co-existance in total harmony, even for a few days, that was the peace and pleasure. hunting and gathering for plant material that's the adventure, unwrapping the bundles in anticipation and then finding surprises, that's the excitement!

I met some really amazing and interesting people during the workshop. Much appreciation goes to Janet who made all the arrangements, organised the workshop and drove me to the workshop everyday! And a warm gratitude to Anne-Marie who took good care of us and for her amazing meals. And to India, a heart-felt thank you for sharing your wisdom and stories and your generosity. This was most definitely an unforgettable time.

workshop with India Flint

oooh Finally!

Tomorrow I make my way to switzerland not for leisure but to participate in a workshop by India Flint herself!! This couldn't get any better!

I haven't been doing much work lately. So much going on ... but I'm hoping the workshop will inspire and enchant me so that I get back on track. Last experiments I did were parcially rewarding. Eucalyptus! All my research says they should produce brilliant reds, browns, oranges and even blacks in some cases. but untill recently my attempts had been in vain.

I finally managed to get my hands on some decent fresh ecalyptus and voila! some definate orangy-reds came to life. I've not yet been able to get the brilliant red that I am so fascinated by, but then again the geographical and climatic conditions in the UK do make it almost impossible for that I'm told as compared to the Australian varieties where this plant is a native.

I better go and pack now... more update after the workshop!

The Begining

It all started with my final major project at University. I was attempting to make natural watercolours. What inspired me to take on the project was a chance encounter with a book in Waterstone's. Its called 'Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles' by author and artist India Flint. Now, I'd done a bit of vegetable dyeing before but this was a something beyond imagination (at least back then). I got completely hooked and still am today!

You can read more about India Flint at

http://www.indiaflint.com/

After graduation I was doing what pretty much everybody was doing... hunting for jobs. When things settled down a bit I began to do experimenting of my own. Buying clothes from charity shops, cutting up bedsheets etc and trying to dye them with onion skins, turmeric, anything else from the kitchen.. finally I went to a workshop for natural dyeing which to my surprise and pleasure were using and promoting the techniques mentioned by India Flint in her book Eco Colour. That gave me a confidence boost and I started making more samples, buying fabrics and hunting for materials, equipment etc. There was no stopping me then!

Here are some pictures of my experiments:

1) First try on cotton, no mordant.

Threw in a key amongst the leaves and what a surprise!

Fabric: Cotton

2) The Awesome Onion skins!

Fabric: Wool

3) Sample 1 & 2 washed and dried.

4) Alas! Very first experiment on silk! How ecstatic I was with the result!

Fabric: Habotabi silk

And so the Curiosity continues with spring arriving, experimenting with leaves and flowers continuing to be astonished with the delicate hidden secrets of nature and its colours....!