Indigo Blues

Yesterday the sun shone on the Indigo workshop. As I arrived at the studio the grapes looked so enticing, real vibrant shades of green against the blue sky.

The Indigo workshop teaches you how to make up your own synthetic Indigo vat which can be used for both animal and plant fibres. You make up a bucket vat and a smaller jar vat. This is one of my favourite workshops to teach as I demystify the magical process of making up an indigo vat. If you have never seen fibres change from yellow/green to blue as they oxidise then come and do a workshop with me to join in with the magic.

This is Jackie with the bucket Vat.

As the day progressed the washing lines filled up.

I love the texture that Lis has got on this fabric with vertical and horizontal grids.

As well as fibres, the vat will also dye buttons, shells and other treasures. This collection belonged to Lis.

 Pat and Kate did several pieces using a range of shibori techniques.

In the image above there is a subtle difference between the two dyed fabrics. The one on the lower right hasn't fully oxidised.

This is always a popular workshop and there are just four places available. The next Indigo workshop is on Saturday 20th April 2013. Contact me if you would like more information or book a place.  

Indigo Blues workshop

 Saturday started a little grey but the sun soon shone on the Indigo workshop. Vats were made.

 Everyone had fun stitching, resisting and dipping a variety of fabrics and threads.

 I love the washing lines on these days so full of gorgeous blues. The sun was still shining.

 In this net bag Enid put lots of beads, shells and buttons.

 We all had lunch outside in the sunshine but at about 2.30 the sky got blacker. The rain came down so heavily and so quickly that we all ran for cover upstairs. Some fabric that wasn't dry was left on the washing line for a natural rinse. if you click onto the photo you can see the lines of rain!

 For about 30 minutes it rained but then it stopped and the sun came out again.

 We raced back downstairs and made up some indigo stock in jars.

In this workshop you learn how to make up an indigo vat in a bucket to use on the day and you then make up a smaller jar vat of Indigo stock which you can take home. All the remaining workshops for this year are full but I am arranging more dates for next year. They take place at my studio in Spalding. Contact me for more details.

Dundee 2012

It seems like months ago now that I traveled up to Dundee for the Quilters Guild AGM and Conference but I haven't blogged about it. It was at the Caird Hall, a fantastic old building that was right in the center of Dundee and a very short walk from the hotel.

This is my last year at the Young Quilters Officer so I was still able to work with the young people who always amaze me with their skill and creativity. On Friday of conference some 14-15 year old girls joined us for a workshop on stitched book covers from a local school.

This  quilt below won first prize in the 10 and under category.I loved the Koala bears that had been printed onto fabric.

Room with a view in the fog! My hotel room did have a stunning view over the Tay road bridge and river but the last morning it was covered in fog so you can't appreciate the view!!

On Saturday after all the workshops had finished I went off to explore Dundee. This statue in the main shopping area was of characters from The Beano, I think this is Desperate Dan.

I was anxious to look round the McManus gallery and Museum and it contained the most amazing, diverse and eclectic mix of things. There was also a coffee shop for afterwards!

There were some displays with artifacts from the 60's and 70's. I remember my mum making these dolls to cover a toilet roll.

This piece of indigo dyed cloth was from the early 20th Century by the Igbo people. It was usually worn as a wrap but could also be used as a wall hanging to indicate the inner sanctum of a lodge. The repeated triangular motif symbolises the spirit of the leopard. The blue was just fantastic but doesn't show up well as the photo was taken without the flash on through glass

As the Conference was in Scotland it started and ended with a traditional Scottish Piper.
 Next year it will be in Nottingham so only a 90 minute journey for me!

Studio Open Day

Yesterday was the studio open day. I had good intentions of blogging last night but collapsed in a heap. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped me and visited me during the course of the day and gave me lots of gifts. I was so touched and really wasn't expecting it.  It was so lovely to see so many friends and to meet some new blog friends as well.

I had lots of cards, you can see the wonderful plant given to me by Lynn and just see the Easter cakes made by Ann.

As I love natural dyeing I did a mini display to share the passion. The piece on the right is stitched with pieces dyed from Logwood and daffodil. In the jars I had daffodil heads, onion skins, rose hips, Logwood chips and marigold flowers. Debbie who visited gave me some madder root to play with. She took lots of photos and has fantastic photographs on her blog here.

The fabric on the left is about two Indigo dyeing days that I will be doing at the studio. I have already filled some places but have spaces on both days - 7th July and 8th September. Please contact me if you would like more information. They will be on the website soon. I am planning lots of exciting things in the studio and will be updating the website really soon (OK DH will be updating the website but the ideas and stitching are all mine)

This is Trudi who blogs as Quilt Prolifically setting up the quilting frame before everyone arrived.

It is very rare that I have my photo taken but Jackie sent me this one (so I thought I would post it). I would love to say I am on the left but that is Rebecca who is already very talented at 17. I am on the right!

Jackie gave me this wonderful sign she has made for the door. It does say open on the reverse but at the end of the day the studio was "closed". I was a very tired but happy bunny!

Now I am going to sit and enjoy these. Whatever you are doing I hope you have a peaceful Easter day.