Blog Posts - I'd rather be in India

the website had a little holiday

19/9/2018

So, I am back on line at last. My laptop was getting slower and slower and very difficult to deal with. As of two days ago, I have a new computer. A whole new learning curve.

What a fantastic summer it was. Days on Studland beach, walks in the beautiful Dorset countryside. Indigo workshops producing beautiful dark blue cloth, stitching workshops under the sun. As I write the wind is blowing hard, hmmm, I think is definitely autumn.

So apart from enjoying myself I have produced a book on Indigo and Shibori. I was so excited I managed to delete my website. Thanks to Joh at Weebly Help Centre, and a great deal of searching, he found it and here we are!

still coming to terms with the new computer and having to use a
mouse for the first time in years. Somewhere in the system is a photo of
The Book. I am now going to try my Indigo page and will add details there

Oh, I think I need a cup of tea and a sit down in a comfy chair!

it's good to be back.

Tiggy

Prep

22/7/2018

Tomorrow I am taking a Banjara bag workshop at No 46. It is so hot we could imagine we have been transported to India!

The Banjara people were nomads back in the day, so travelling a lot required many bags of different sizes, Their life style has changed. It is now almost impossible to find Banjara work. If you do find good examples they are now so expensive. Smaller work is cut up to be incorporated into clothing or 'boho' bags.

a picnic basket full to overflowing with Banjara embroidery
it seems I have gathered quite a few good pieces over the years

Tomorrow's project is a typical Banjara envelope bag, completed with mirrors,
cowrie shells and perhaps a tassel

a small piece inspired by Banjara work

Tiggy

Just added more indigo cloth and indigo threads

22/6/2018

The Header on the website is a picture of Japanese Larch - Karamatsu Shibori

A beautiful piece of Mokumi Shibori.
Hand stitched and gathered tightly to resemble wood grain. The still gathered cloth is at the bottom. The opened out cloth shows the pattern.

How long did this take?!!! I wasn't counting. It measures 96mmx72mm. Lets just say it whiled away the winter evenings!

Tiggy

Indigo - I've made a start!

20/6/2018

Mainly plain dyed cloth using different fabrics. Tomorrow there will be all sorts!

Tiggy

Blogging on my mind

18/6/2018

Sometimes when life goes a little haywire you just have to sit it out and be patient until all is well.

I did manage to get out and about with Keith as my chauffeur, which was rather nice!

Two lovely days at South Petherton, Somerset as a trader at The Quirky Quilters Exhibition. Lovely quilts on display which I admired when I could get away from my 'pop up shop'

We stayed at The Phelips Arms in Montecute before going on to our next destination. Mr. R really
enjoyed that!

On to Harberton, Devon to take a workshop, Indian Applique, with WCE Totness. A lovely group of ladies who produced wonderful samples. Looking forward to seeing them sometime! There we stayed over in The Tall House, which I would throughly recommend. The village was lovely, as was the pub serving wood smoked pizzas!

So back home, and the weather was gorgeous. My poor foot suffered, however, it did mean I had to sit on the balcony and get a sun tan!

Perfect weather for the indigo vat, so good I
managed two sessions. I will be adding dyed
indigo fabric to my web shop shortly

Then there is the colourful bunch. It all turned out to be a bit of a dyeing feast what with
topping up my thread basket as well

It is looking to be a busy summer with workshops at my home, and if you are interested check out
my website, and then some group workshops as well - motto, have needle will travel.

A little blog break

9/4/2018

We took some time out to visit Rajasthan, which was lovely. Unfortunately we had to return home a little earlier than expected due to a family emergency.

So a few photos taken in Udaipur.

a very old wall hanging in our bedroom a delightful window seat

painted panel on wood

So here we are still looking out at the rain and very soggy garden.

I am gearing up for a busy time taking workshops here and there.
First one tomorrow at Wareham is a Shoal of Fish

Just the one here, but there could be many..
A very watery subject for another rainy day!

I'll leave you with a bright and cheerful kantha piece to warm your hands on

Tiggy

lots of colour

19/2/2018

I've been waiting for the conservatory to warm up a bit, ha, ha! So, I decamped to the kitchen and had a blast dyeing hanks of find cotton yarn. Oh, bliss to be working next to a radiator!

This afternoon another colourful occasion, Keith's book has just been published and copies delivered. It's amazing. Check out his website for more details.
www.keithrawling.com

We're off to Udaipur, Rajasthan for the book launch in May.

Tiggy

keeping warm

4/2/2018

Wet, windy and very cold would best describe Saturday. I did have a colourful day though!

Warm and cosy, the Indian Stitchery workshop box was opened and the workshop samples of mirror work refreshed. Lovely colours and sparkling mirrors. Just right for a grey day.

Today it is still freezing cold, but the sun is shining. After lunch I might just wrap myself up and do a little light gardening. Well, that's the plan! On the other hand stitching might we a warmer task!

Tiggy

Good bye January!

31/1/2018

It seems to have been a very long month. It was so cold and so grey. Living in the south we had only a flutter of snow and one or two really frosty days, but then there was the rain. The garden is a soggy mess, and we live on top of a hill! Still, flowers are emerging and the birds think that Spring is on the way. Hurrah!

Workshop boxes were tidied. Indian Stitchery was the first one. It's amazing what gathers when you are not looking! A piece of embroidery from Gujarat surfaced with a bit which looks like it had been chopped off. It's a mystery - now transformed into a needle case.

"Bloomin Spring" a little Journal Quilt made a couple of years back.

Tiggy

Travels in Rajasthan

13/1/2018

It's sometimes crazy, annoying but always enjoyable - a good sense of humour is essential

Good companions - Keith and our dear friend Samshu surveying the lake for fishing opportunities.

We have been travelling togther for the last ten years or so, going to the most amazing places, well off the tourist map.

Off road and stuck in sand but with the help of local farmers who managed to get us to firmer ground.

6.30 am on a chilly November morning, and we were lucky to find a female
leopard with her three young cubs. A glorious sight which more than made
up for the early start.

The roads have improved over the years we have been travelling. The motorways are good, though the driving leaves a lot to be desired. An average trip usually takes around six hours, with stops for chai, bird watching and food at a Dhaba (a road side restaurant for lorry drivers, and the food is delicious and freshly cooked.)

My top tip here is the iPad and Podcasts. Imagine driving through the countryside listening to the every day story of country folks - The Archers. Another tip is take some stitching for quieter moments when they come along.

I have had a busy time updating my website - not before time I have to say. The hamburger banners have gone! I have added four different packs of my dye painted threads and when the weather improves they will be more! It's too cold to consider dyeing at the moment.

Next week I will be posting details of my workshops for 2018

Keep Warm

Tiggy