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workshops 2017

30/1/2017

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One more day to go in January - hurrah!     It has been such a miserable and cold month, but good
for snuggling up and stitching.

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My New Year wishing star, plus two friends,
are in the process of being quilted and embellished (and there are two more out of sight!)     Hoping to finish by the end of the week.  It's a bit crazy and bright, but just right for January I think.   It cheered me up.   

Lovely bright colours and twinkling mirrors.

So now the evenings are getting lighter and we
can look forward to warmer days, and talking of which my 2017 workshop programme is now on the website!

Tiggy

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Having a little tidy up

18/1/2017

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It was one of those days when you can't quite get down to anything in particular, until I decided to sort out my Journal Quilts box, and it needed doing!

I joined the Contemporary Quilters Guild journal challenge in 2008, you can see the first year on my website, and carried on until 2013 when life became a bit complicated.

A lovely selection of little quilts, slightly different sizes each year, but no larger than 12 x12".   I kept a record with details of subject, design, techniques and materials used.   That was a nice way to while away the morning with a cup of coffee!

Some of the quilts have been out and about at quilting show all over the country - very exciting.

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                                                                     snow print  2012
                                         a rubbing taken from the sole of my walking boots
                                                            free machine embroidery

The challenge is open for this year, and I am tempted.   I have three weeks to make up my mind!

Tiggy

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Udaipur

17/1/2017

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We started and ended our journey in beautiful Udaipur.     A few days to relax, catch up with friends,
enjoy the town and surrounding countryside.

We strolled through the almost empty town which was rather pleasant, not good for the small shop keepers though.  Usually the narrow lanes are packed with tourists and traffic.

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                                                                     embroidered bags
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                                                           basket making in the market
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                                   just love these shops   I have a collection of smaller items
                                   what I would really like would be one big tin trunk (or two)
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                                                     beautiful architecture and windows
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                                           Lake Palace Hotel looking gorgeous in the sunset
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                                      the view from Lake Pichola Hotel - Ganguar Ghat at night
                                                       little diya lights floating on the lake
Tiggy
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Highways and byways

11/1/2017

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Rajasthan is as big a France, or so I have been told!    Certainly from main city to the next it takes about five hours allowing for leg stretching and chai drinking stops.

The roads are good, three lane highways most of the way.   You do have to make allowances for the occasional lorry or car driving the wrong way, not to mention shepherds with their flocks of sheep, goats and cows.   But this is India after all.

It can be tedious after a while, especially if you are in the back seat.    I found a solution - Podcasts.
I have about four to choose from.   Can you imagine listening to The Archers, an everyday story of country folk?  Surreal!

Travelling through the country side and small villages is wonderful, so a few images to share.

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                              driving through a small village we were stuck in a traffic jam
  lorries, tractors, cars, motorbikes, sheep, goats and people  - my view from the car window

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                             the village cobbler mending the farmer's tradition jutties (shoes)
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                                       ladies preparing cloth for dyeing - bhandani (circles)
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                                                     a little girl playing outside her house
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                                                               painting threads
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                                                                 village warrior shrine
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                                                                     details of a door
                                              I hope you enjoyed the little picture show

Outside the sun is shining, although the wind is very cold.   Tomorrow snow is forecast.
Our central heating has broken down twice since Christmas.   All is well now.
      
Keep warm where ever you are.

Tiggy

         
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Moving on

3/1/2017

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We last visited Bikaner ten years ago, travelling by train from Jodphur. On the final part of the journey it seemed as if the train was gliding along on the desert sand.   A few small villages amongst the sand dunes.

This time a five hour drive with the usual stops to stretch the legs and drink cups of chai.   Just outside Bikaner there was great excitement from my men.   Hundreds of vultures.

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                                                                  just hanging around
The quest for eagles and vultures was looking good. After a good nights sleep and breakfast we headed out towards the National Research Centre on Camels, who knew?!!!  Ahhh........so many camels and babies and there is even a museum.

Suffice to say we didn't stop long but drove the short distance to the 'perfume garden' aka the carcus dump.  Yuck.  However there were so many different eagles and vultures it was astonishing.    Keith and Samshu were besides themselves with excitement   Perfumed hanky to nose it was just bearable!  Having said that seeing the birds flying and soaring in the sky made up for the smell.

That's my best photo above.  If you want to see magnificent photos you can check out Keiths website - see link.    

So, big tick let's move on to some textile things!
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                                    a wall painting advertising a womens' cooperative
                                          how lovely, they are all busy stitching quilts
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`A revisit to the Prachina Cultural Museum was a must.   Curated by the Princess it is stuffed full with exquisite Rajasthani costumes, jewellery and textiles.   Everything is under glass to a bit difficult to take photos.  However, above details of two silk skirts, heavily embroidered and just gorgeous.

Wandering around the old city you will find ladies preparing cloth for dyeing and see the results laid out to dry over walls and bushes.
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Silkscreen printing is a big cottage industry - dupattas (large scarves/shawls) and saries.   These are often laid out on big stretches of sand/earth to dry.   A colourful sight indeed.

On our last night in Bikaner the air was full of very loud (but cool) music and amazing fireworks.
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Udaipur to Bikaner

2/1/2017

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With enough rupees for petrol we set off on our first long trip to Bikaner, on the edge of the Thar Dessert and not so far from the Pakistan.     The quest - eagles and vultures, but first we have to get there.

First destination Rankapur, driving through the beautiful Aravalli Hills, up then down driving on roads damaged in the monsoon and still be be repaired.    Hairpin bends to take your breath away even though we know this road well.   We stopped often to enjoy the view, bird watching and, of course, the naughty monkeys waiting for tasty offerings.

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Just the two at this stop, normally they are in very large troups.  Note, should you be travelling this way,
​do not open the car window!  

We tried booking in at a friends hotel (still being completed). It was full.  Not surprising really after all it is the Indian Wedding Season.


We found a simple lodge in beautiful surroundings.   Everything was a bit run down and being renovated.
The room was basic and clean.   Samshu cooked supper, declicious, and we ate out under the stars.  All
was peaceful apart from a few jungly noises during the night.
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                                                      first light the geyser for a hot shower having gathered
                                                               paper, sticks, dry leaves and twigs

It was fabulous.   We watched the dawn come up over the lake, took breakfast, vegetable parathas,
and I used up the last of my 'old money' to pay the bill,with just enough left to pay for a chai stop.

On to Pushkar, another five hours on the road.   We stayed in another friends haveli, The Chand Hotel. Fortunately they took bank cards.   Another evening under the stars and enjoying supper around the firepit in very good company.
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                                                                  the two cooks
                            Breakfast, a walk down the lane before going into Pushkar to a) try and find cash
                           and b) buy petrol.  No cash and no petrol.   Non Indian credit cards not accepted.  
                                              Ha! Ha!  We had just enough of both to get to Bikaner.
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                                                              another Indian bathroom option!
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2017

1/1/2017

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                                                                    a wishing star for the New Year
                                    a found object you might say - retrieved from a bag of bits.  It's half
                                                 finished so that's a gentle project for the coming days.

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                    It seems to be the case that our central heating brakes down on Boxing Day.  
                                          How does it know?!!!!   This year was no exception.
                             Our lovely plumber was playing golf and would fix it next morning.

     The first real frost of the year and it was so cold. A great gathering of quilts, books and the ipad.  
     Layers of clothing including possibly the best Christmas present from my son Nic, a woven jacket
     from Thailand.    We snuggled up, and occasionally down.   Lunch was steaming bowls of soup, for
    supper curry!    A glass or two of red helped.  

           The lounge was full of candles which made it look cosy and they did give a little warmth.

              Suffice to say not many of layers were removed going to bed.    The temperature?  14c.

                                   
                      All good wishes to everyone, where ever you are, for a happy and peaceful 2017.  

​Tiggy

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    Author
    Tiggy Rawling

    Here I will ramble about my    travels stitching, dyeing and life in general

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