XMAS EXHIBITION

As we all seem to want new new new all the time, this christmas I have designed a range of reversible handstitched  cotton throws.  Each one is unique.  Available in five different colourways.  Hot and calm....Reds,pinks,aquas,blues and autumn shades.  Enough variety to satisfy the wildest and most subdued  colour obsessives. (see Oct 26 blog)

In the handwoven,handstitched range I have new arrivals of reversible quilts in red check patchwork,stone and burgandy,blue checks and red stripes.  Also handwoven large body towels in red and navy stripes.

Superb special vintage pieces from Bihar, Bengal and Rajasthan  handstitched kantha, silk Phulkari and Shekawhati ebroidery.

There is also the clothing range.  Handwoven finest cotton kurta dresses,silk georgette spotted dresses,delicate white voile nightdresses,gingham pj's.  Heaps of others and lots of luscious discounts.

Fab presents...sarongs to die for, vintage and new...tie dye,shibori,block prints and handweaves.  Scarves in silks and cottons, handstitched purses and bags.  It's all there so no more worries what to buy who for christmas.

                                                 SHAPIRO GALLERY
                                                     WOOLLAHRA

                                                     OPEN 7 DAYS

                                                10 - 22 DECEMBER

This time my cushions are made from vintage fabrics sourced from India,China and Japan. Hand-stitched, appliqued and patched.  Squares, rectangles, oblongs in all sizes.

PURE INDIGO AND JAPANESE BORO

1950's CHINESE COTTON 

Collage of old sails

Recently I was approached by a gentleman who is a well known sailor and collector of boats and anything nautical. He had the inspiration to make a collage out of his collection of old sails and wondered if I could help design a wall hanging.

My inspiration was Japanese boro ( above) and I felt this method could be applied to scraps of beautifully textured parchment pieces with fabulous red stitching, layers of rust and copperised rings attached to ancient rigging.  All hand sewn by a master sail maker and voila we had a fabulous textile to hang on his wonderous penthouse wall.

A great experience made all the more enjoyable by working with a client who has such a passion for the beauty of objects weathered by the sea.

LATEST COLLECTION ! HAND-STITCHED QUILTS, THROWS

Made from vintage cotton saris, my new range of reversible quilts and throws come in five different colour ranges. Pinks, aquas, reds, blues and autumn shades. Each one is unique. They are lightweight, super soft and quilted with other saris. 

The throws are 200 x 100cm and the quilts 220 x 150cm. All totally machine washable.

They will be selling for the first time at my Christmas show at the Shapiro gallery in Woollahra early December

Details of my Xmas show will be published in November.

Organising a wedding tent

Have just returned from yet another wonderous trip to India.

While there I had a frantic  text message  "could you please find an amazing tent for a 50th birthday celebration.... in 10 days". I immediately phoned my great trader friends in Jaipur for an instant vintage wedding tent.  They were up for the challenge and called their tailor who cycled in from his village to commence work on the 12 metre x 6 metre tent.  He worked night and day, sewing together endless exquisite vintage applique panels and completed the tent in 5 days.  71 kilos all rolled into a giant bundle of bubble wrap and couriered express beyond express.  A vintage sari and turban followed, of course, to complete the maharajah and maharani celebrations.  I must say it was all rather nervewracking and I was totally thrilled it was so appreciated.  Couldn't have been done without mobile phone, photos, e-mails and texting....all done in 98% humidity and 35 degree heat, not to mention monsoon floods as the car floated across the street.


Here are some photos of the tent erected in pre party decor mode.....

The Wonderful world of Tie-Dye - Vintage and Modern

I am crazy about tie - dye ...whether it comes from India, Japan or Africa those tiny dots just do something to me.  The technique on fine cotton, silk or handmade paper works wonders, specially in natural dye. The tinier the dots the more amazing the skill.  Indian tie-dye known as bandhani seems to always be some sort of dot design whereas Japanese shibori  has lots of graphic circles,squares and lines on indigo.  Intricate tie-dye is expensive as it is such a time consuming task.

Here is a patchwork quilt I designed.I made two samples - one in queen size $695, one in king single $495. The shibori patches were created by a womens collective in Delhi, specialising in indigo and tie-dye. The fabric designs are very Japanese influenced. The indigo fabric was sourced from Hyderabad and hand-stitching done in Jaipur. Pure indigo is increasingly difficult to find in India. As an indigo fanatic, I have managed to find a few great sources. 

This is another fine example of indigo tie-dye, one sample quilt only.   Patched and cotton filled.

Single size $395

I purchased 6 metres of exquisitely tie dyed indigo tussar silk and designed 2 simple pintuck tunic dresses. Selling price $595.00  Contact me direct for purchase enquiries.

Here are three fine quality cotton voile sarongs...2 metre lengths, all with different tie-dye designs. Priced at $110.00

                                                                        

Vintage tie-dye is quite wonderful for its tiny superior dots and scrumptious faded vegetable colours.  The art of dying seems to have blown in the wind, not to mention the hot pinks,orange and reds. These are very hard colours to achieve. A dying artform. I am always on the look out for old cotton muslin turbans and soft cotton shawls so I can make sarongs and cushions.  Following are 3 amazing examples of electric pinks,oranges and reds in minute tie dye on cotton muslin.  I made them into 2 metre sarong lengths and voila an instant "to die for" outfit. Selling for $125.00 each

I found an old Rajasthani tie dyed shawl in heavenly faded ochre shades and made this cushion and a couple of bolsters.  I am thrilled with the results. $125.00 cushion 60 x 60cm.  $85 for a 60 x30cm bolster.

And so ends my first blog on tie dye.  I am off to India any minute to brave the monsoon,heat and dust to continue my endless rampage for wonderful textiles.