The Artisans of Bhuj

I have just returned from working in India and managed to escape a bomb, earthquake and flood.  All this occurred in 2 days. Caught in the flood our car surfed across the street,narrowly missing stranded cars,cows and camels.  Naked street children were laughing  hysterically  as they leapt onto toot toots to hitch a ride or hurled their bodies into the raging muddy waters. So much was happening in the chaos it was too scary to look out the car window.  It seems daily, somewhere in India there is always a catastrophe.  All this and we are trying to make it to a meeting on time.  All part of the daily working experience,  gradually the panic leaves the body and calm takes over.

Part of this trip was to visit artisans in Bhuj (a desert town in Gujurat).  I had put in orders earlier in the year for an exquisite pure indigo tie dyed scarf range and some beautiful ajrakh fabrics.  The heat was to be believed but Bhuj was amazing.

Jabbar Khatri looked after us brilliantly.  His natural dyes are magical, not to mention his tiny weeny wonderous tie dye designs.

Jabbar took us out to the villages and to visit Dr. Ismail Khatri who is the best ajrakh printer in India. It was all a thrill.

The ajrakh will be made into men's shirts, kurta dresses and beach wraps.  Some of his prints are so fine they look like cobwebs.  All on handwoven cottons. They will all be selling at my Christmas show in the Shapiro gallery, Woollahra.

I also visited the exquisite compound of Shamji whose family has been weaving amazing woollen blankets,throws and shawls for generations.  Even a hand woven coat for their fridge.

Images from my last trip to India

GANESH FESTIVAL

                        

RAJASTHAN WEDDING

                                 

SIKKIM MONASTERY

Injection of Inspiration

I have just returned from 2 heavenly spots in Italy .... Sicily and Puglia. And it was a holiday! I had forgotten how to relax and chill. As I drifted from frescos,mosaics, ruins, endless eating and drinking, the inspiration was soaring through my veins.  All stresses were washed away in the exquisite transparent aqua waters of the mediterranean.

One of the dream locations in Puglia was Alistair McAlpine and his gorgeous wife Athena's Il Convento. A 14th century grey stone convent with a brilliantly stylish makeover by Athena and decorated with all the beyond amazing textiles, sculptures and art works Alistair has collected over the years, not to mention thousands of art reference books. Outside are many secret walled gardens, from cactus to English country garden to wild flowers, bonsai and rare plant specimens...a private world of creative chaos and beauty (Alistair's  passion for collecting continues).  A wonderful local duo of mother and son create daily dishes to die for, and served elegantly in one of the walled gardens. All too much really.  I was reeling from one fabulous experience to the next....and had the pleasure of being shown some of Alistair's textile treasures he unearthed from priceless lacquered trunks with handmade indigo covers. 30 years of collecting Japanese boro and Indian kanthas.  I cannot imagine anywhere else in the world with such textile treasures.  Here are just a few scrumptious photos to wet your whistles.

MOROCCAN, INDIAN, AFRICAN CHAIRS AND CUSHIONS

AFRICAN FLAGS

JAPANESE INDIGO BORO, IKAT AND EMBROIDERY

MOROCCAN EMBROIDERY

HANDWOVEN MOROCCAN WOOL BLANKETS

INDIAN KANTHAS

NEW QUILTS

Here are my latest range of new quilts.  They all have matching cushions in different sizes.  All are reversible and handwoven cotton. Available in king singles and queen sizes.  I also have a wonderful new selection of vintage patchworks in pinks,reds,greens and blues.

STONE AND RED TICKING

RED PATCHWORK

PINK AND AQUA 

PINK AND RED STRIPE

BLUE CHECKS - SMALL AND LARGE

BLUE AND TAN TICKING

SAGE AND GINGER

CAMEL STRIPE