home at last

 

Our busy, busy spell ...well 6 months of being manic is just about at an end.
Summer is here [ only 37 degrees C today...or 106 F if you want to sound scary] so not toooooo bad yet. we are kind of home bodies until August or September....seems a luxury to think of it.
Just did a visit to Oz, it was supposed to be relaxing, chill out time but I have come back feeling exhausted and feeling like I was running the whole time.
I certainly packed things into it.

 

Zac helped me at Context Art in the Blue Mountains, it was great to meet up with lots of old friends and time to sit and stitch with him....we are working on an exhibition for next year. Off the Wall is the working title, it is evolving to be a collaboration and kind of extension of the influences we have on each other....
His interest in graffiti got me looking and photographing it all over the world, loving the textures and patina as it ages and more is added on....sort of a metaphor for life....we are working in a similar manner....he starts something I nudge, I have an idea he edits.....looking interesting, much to do and rather exciting to see where it leads us.

Visited my baby's farm, such a beautiful location. he is madly working to fix fences and clearing ground to start a home on it. Happy boy.

 Spent time with my biggest boy and his little family, our grandson is at that smiling wriggling stage, such a bundle of fun.

and we had a week at the beach house we all love, it was relaxing, I slept a lot and just sat and looked at the view, as well as stitching and planning, theoretically I should be all rested and feeling fit as a fiddle but really I think I need 6 months slobbing to catch up on sleep. Oh well nice dream :)
It was lovely to be there...
and then a marathon homewards trip. 4 hours drive to get to airport, 18 hours in transit on planes and the 5 hours driving to arrive in Jaipur at 4.59pm! due to give a talk at Maahi Roj at 5.00pm.
Talk about cutting it fine.
It was a really stimulating evening with the discussions that arose about making, social enterprise rather than charity, sustainable practices and value for work, made by hand rather than cheap, mass produced and throw away.
Making and makers are important.
Glad to be able to make things everyday.
There is our gear in the beautiful AnanTaya shop,

Getting ready to start....

I am pleased we are a business with a strong social agenda, there are women and men we have trained do a good job with care and they earn every penny they are paid and are proud of their results.

It makes me happy to be part of this.

 

 

Talking Needles

 

Talking Needles,

Is happening and stitching together well.

I really appreciate Anne of Timeless Textiles saying, “Yes this is a good idea.” and then the women at NCEATA getting involved and now so many members of the community involved.

We have been loading pictures on FB and it makes me realise how wide my community is – it stretches all across the globe- thank you guys.

When I suggested this idea I was looking for a way to connect our Ladies a little to where their work goes, when I explained it to Praveen he was immediately supportive and has spent a lot of time helping me think it through and steering conversations to help create a context for our women to see what we were doing.

Where their work goes, the size and breadth of the world is sometimes a little hard to grasp when you come from a very small village in rural India…..

I had not so much thought through the outside part of this story and now I am out here experiencing it I am very gratified, pleased, grateful, happy I am not sure of the word but the feeling brings a tear to me eye and warmth to my heart.

Thank you kind people.

Sitting in the gallery stitching each day, chatting, seeing people wander through is so similar to our little village, lots of stories, lots of laughs and a few sad things to hear….we are all so similar the world over it is just where we park our bottom that changes the surroundings. A big plus of the Newcastle gallery is I can understand the whole story without having to elbow Praveen and say, “What did she say?”

So this feels like a huge success and soon I will be home, we will show pictures and tell stories of what happened with the other side of the people in the event.

Anne has arranged an auction of flags and the Many Hands Quilts for Sunday, great…..the dream of starting a mobile library to take books to kids at schools in the area is getting a huge boost…..next big task will be to bring it to fruition- we’ll get there.

This is my piece "Forrest or the Trees?"

first thing I have made for years just for the purpose of saying something, expressing myself....all my creative juices go into The Stitching Project now....it was great to work this through......under the hammer to a new home on Sunday....I have proved I can find the time for my work and will continue at it :)

lots of pictures on this link

year ending

End of the year already...I must say I feel like I have been running all year and I had thought 2012 was busy!

Way too much and time to make some major changes.

Recently I was in Oz which was lovely and sad at the same time....this hassle with visas for Praveen is really wearing me down.... It does not feel like a holiday when I am on my own,  the pleasure of seeing everyone I love is diminished when I don't get to share it with him....

I know I should just buck up and get on with things- be happy for the opportunities I have but it is rather hard to do at the moment.

ohh well....

Pleasures of Oz...

 catching up with Alison Muir and Trudy Billingsley....here are some of Trudy's people from a recent exhibition- gorgeous.

 Checking out some of Zac's latest work....looking good

 a few days at the beach house with my younger boys and friends.... much fishing on their part but generally fish were totally safe.

 Being silly with Zac and my brother Steve.

My lovely biggest boy and his gorgeous wife...dinner at Four in Hand was fantastic...really yum.

 and then home again...inspired by Gramshree [ we visit them in our Raj Tour, by the way ] I am documenting timings, variations I explore in the things we make. Here is sari rip yarn knitted on various needles and the variation in size- all same amount of stitch....I have gone for the 15 mm needles - unfortunately 20mmm are just too loose and things would snag too easily even though so much quicker.
Life is always a compromise.

 Checking out new hotels to use in Jaipur...we are heading a bit more grand Heritage Hotel....affordable for our groups and memorable places....yeh and right next door to Hot Pink..a yummy boutique .
Intense office work has resulted in finishing off 2 tours- next years' Raj Tour and our Indian Inspiration Creative Camp- bit excited about this idea- I get to stay home, play and have visitors all at once!
Found a new programme to make CAS newsletters easier....once I got a handle on it I think it IS going to be a winner.... yeh.

 More samples- I am loving these crocheted bags...

after many dead ends trying ways to do the handle that made me happy I simply wrapped it,,,,now they feel finished!

 A lot of this madness is to do with the Trade Show in just a few weeks...still waiting to see what shape our stall is but finally I have a plan for presentation...well sort of.
Re-cycled and hand made is our theme...so coat hangers are to be colourful and wrapped....bright mats on the floor....
a poster- a bit boring but a fabric frame should set it off....

SSSSOOOOOO

to be kept in mind

my resolutions for the New Year

1. sit in the garden more often

2. keep doing the morning walking and yoga I have been onto the last week or so...it was complete GROOOOAAANNNN-a-rama to start but even a week later I can feel an improvement. Sore muscles from use feel a lot better than pain from Non-use and already the Claw formation my back liked to spasm into is softening.

3. I've put aside the demon alcohol....easy for a glass of red to call too loudly in the evening... and without it I get more sitting and stitching in a pleasant manner happening

4. I WANT a holiday...not a tour, not a work trip.... a holiday. Never could see the allure of going somewhere to do nothing, a slow learner but I think I could work it out now.

Trying to make more of this happen as part of the new me.
Happy New Year to you.

 

A Piece of Cloth Studio

It is early days still, but things are eveloving nicely, Jen Hyland is slowly opening the doors of her new studio space...I visited recently and love the location - it is an old, old blue stone mill complex being converted into workshops and studios- lovely huge old trees surround, a babbling river behind and a huge studio are.

Here you will see all her vintage treasures and yardage, a large area for workshops [ she is anticiapating the work tables to arrive any day to go next to the one she already has  [might be a small amount of teeth nashing - the guy is a month late]

AND

 this will be the home of The Stitching Project products in Australia- Jen is our distributor.

Look at those lovely big quilts on the wall- we stitched them for her....finally I can brag...I love the eleganze of her design ethetic and the feel of the hand quilted quilt when it is finsihed....does almost make me wish I lived in a colder climate so I could sleep under a stack of them.

So pop in and visit her,

a very big congratulations from us in India may a fabulous new adventure begin.

 

 

A Piece of Cloth

Studio 9/100 Lower Paper Mill Road

Fyansford Victoria Australia
http://www.apieceofcloth.com.au/

0416052585

Open to Public 11am to 3pm Thursday to Saturday

Wholesale viewing by Appointment
http://apieceofclothstudio.blogspot.in/

She really has a lot of fabulous treasure- can't wait to visit again and browse

Australia, weddings etc and home

Home again and I fell in a heap, exhausted by all that has happened of late- I did not feel I wanted to move, think or do anything....

Getting over it now, but the recent fiasco with that 'fictional' Delhi police story I was mentioning a while ago and then no visa for Praveen due to the mistake of the visa agent and so having to do the trip to Oz alone just took the wind out of my sails...add to that a wonderful head cold and I was a teary mess coming home to fall into Praveen's arms.

I guess the best thing to do when feeling like that is to count your blessings, don't look at the length of the list of things to get onto rather like eating an elephant take it one bite at a time and DO start and move- wallowing as a blubbing mess will not help anyone.

OK there is a part of me that would like to sit and mould still but I am up to getting bored with that and moving on, I think.

Some of my blessings

1. Praveen did sort out the Delhi fiasco and is safe home

2. we might have worked like maniacs for the last 6 months getting paperwork in order for the visa, only to have the guy mess it up- we still have all the bookwork etc done, business registations, tax statements and a better system of officework sorted out to keep the million and one government agencies we have to deal with as an Indian small business sorted out- which must be a better foundation for our future dealing with Indian paperwork.

3. My eldest son got married!! This is in the suit shop...notice 3 boys in suits and the groom not? Yes, his did not arrive, whilst I was going to pull the head off the shop owner the boys restrained me, David was very cool and got her to cobble an outfit together that looked the business. This photo was to show his girl Niamh - only after the wedding.

4. I have never seen such a happy and present expression on my son's face- for that I am truely grateful. He has grown into a beautiful man and I thank Niamh for inspiring that- they make a great couple. I spent a lot of the wedding crying- a lot in happiness for them and a little in sadness I really missed not having Praveen with me to share in all this.

5. My best friend's daughter Bonnie married Mick. I have known Bonnie since she was a wee small thing, love her dearly and am so happy to see her with Mick he is a lovely guy. Again such a beautiful day.....

6. My little boys- well that is how I used to refer to them in reference to David who is 6 years older...not so little anymore [baby Ruben was 21 yesterday- on right] but still as silly as ever. We made them quilts using Tshirt offcuts from Zac's designs [Zac on left] bothe were well pleased.

7. Zac kindly took some time off work and was my co-driver to drive down to Geelong, we met up with Jen our distribtor and helped we set up a stall at the Geelong Fibre Forum. I really enjoyed having time with Zac as well as the comfort of his presence and co-driving.
This is Jen's blog and Facebook page - keep an eye on it as she has a whole new programme happening soon

8. Jen's business is antique quilts and designing quilts [I love her stuff] and it sits very well with ours- she was great helping with a style makeover consultation. Branding and presentation are such a big bit of selling your stuff, and I must admit not really an area of expertise of mine. We are re-branding all our stuff to the workshop name The Stitching Project [ she has had a few enquiries about Jamie Oliver getting into textiles with our name being Pukka Desirables- whilst I love Jamie that is not quite the association I had hoped for]
Now need to design and make new labels, build a new website with shopping cart etc heaps of work but it will be worth it in the long run...the our pukka place site is not up to scratch anyway....

9. yes whole trip was a bit like this- a blur and headless chook moments

10. very pleasing to be able to drop in and visit Anne at Timeless Textiles in Newcastle, fabulous gallery/shop and exhibtion programme - a must visit place if you are passing through Newcastle or interested in excellent workshop opportunities.

11. Home with Praveen- it is such a comfort to be with him again and settle down, stop crying and try and get on with things...this was a bit of a highlight this week- new quilt coming togther. We arranged the blocks to make steps...love making quilts

12. Treasure, my mate in the UK helped get these for us. John James long darner needles...our Stitching Ladies have been eyeing off the few I have in my personal stash for some time...we were able to buy 1000 as a bulk order, then I got worried they would get 'lost' in the post [I am waiting more than 6 weeks for 3 books I ordered from the UK and so rightly nervous I think]....anyway Anne sent them to Dawn in Oz, I picked them up from Dawn and now they are in our workshop being handed our very fruggaly and happily to our Ladies.....

message to self- keep looking on the bright side ...and just get on with it!!

Rain is still here-

 Rain is still here and it dawned on me last night  I was not taking the time to appreciate what a blessing it is and how beautiful it makes our world.
 I have been totally focused on trying to wash and dry fabric for the workshop- nothing dries even inside under the fan!], print instructions for our new bag kits [ink bleeds and paper goes soggy] find saris and wash them for new stitching work [sari market dwindles when it rains and then when you finally find them you can't wash them becuse they won't dry].
This year the rain was late coming, hardly any insects have hatched but mould is running rampet...I am trying to set the house up all beatiful because when we are away 2 tour groups will be visiting and I want it to look nice. We have deputised Ranjit to be our host and he will do a great job, but I want to know we have helped as much as possible leaving the house perfect.
Anyway stressing over things I can't change won't help.

 So I stopped for a few seconds to look at the beautiful sunset- none of the photos picked up the extraudinary range of hues in the light....what was interesting was the difference in colours the photos did pick up- it is all in the angle you look through.
Interesting observation that???

 As I mentioned our first company tax was anything but simple and took two months to sort out...Tis a bit of the Indian way to fiddle around and  normally these days I can live with it...but this time we needed it now, to then do our personal tax and have all htese mountains of paper to present for a visa for Praveen [or his offivial name Kanhiya Lal] to visit Australia.
We have a number of clients to visit and work to follow up on, both in the Stitching workshop realm and the tours and students study groups realm.
A rather large bonus will be my son David's wedding and 3 days later my best friend's daughter's wedding, all such happy and exciting events to share.
so please get out rabbit's foots, lucky charms, beseach any God you hold dear....you know alll good vibes that it is granted.

 Our visiting Fiona was such a blessing, we are both wishing we had kept her captive- lovely company and fabulous samples for our Ladies to follow. This is a new idea coming along. Block print on light hand loom, backed onto heavy weight handloom half to be black and half to be white, then stitched together. It is going to be one amazing reversable quilt I think. we are very appreciative of her company and help, keeping captive sounds a bit rough....you know what I mean?
It is rather wonderful becuase we are here- friend's of friends or even someone who has simply found us on the internet will come to visit. Generally a lovely experience.

OK off to Delhi tonight to put in visas- may we be successful....it is a lot of work to run away from home for 2 weeks mostly work and a weekend of joys- I do hope we are successful.
Australia advertises on the TV here come visit, when we tried about 6 years ago Praveen was rejected because they thought he would run away and hide....never have we wanted to live there, just visit family and now work connections as well. Many things have changed so hopefully success.
 

almost home again...

My lovely Dawn....so nice to hang out, we speak all the time on the phone but hanging around together is such a heart warming pleasure....here she is modelling one of the Tasty Old Chooks numbers....great to look and see how the dress takes to a body.

We were delivering work to the local gallery where I used to live, blossoming under the care of Donna Cavanaugh with lots of interesting stuff. Let me know if you want more details and I can pass her email onto you...website for them is hoped for one day....

Con Detterer delivering one of his sculptures; lovingly crafted from junk.

Had a big pow-wow with Zac- got the thumbs up on our interpretations of his artwork transfered to Tshirts and Hoodies...stay tuned Watts Wright Designs are all go. I need to tweak a few details he and everyone else noted but generally heading in the right direction.
It was rather wonderful having design session with Zac, Dawn and the gang; when the boys and I were down at my biggest boy David's place....bodies scattered all over the room, samples everywhere and patterns being measured....that is almost how they grew up- when they were all very small I supported us through making clothes...everything was all around and the boys had to paly around it....now we were all hanging together confering over where to go with Zac'd designs Praveen and I are making......such a winderful loop and such a long way we have all come from those days.

Dawn's grand daughter fishing around in bag for a present I bought for her- a camel bell, she is msot interested to meet my camel Baba and is waiting for Nana Dawn to bring her to visit one day- what a wonderful idea.....little children bought back many memories for Dawn and I ...our kids are around the same age...so we always had a gagle of her girls and my boys around...we were always making clothes for them...now they are all growing up or grown up and starting to come back with their kids in tow....so lovely to see. and here we were at Dawn's doing the first inspection of one of the kids designs....last year Cait one of Dawn's girls had her first fashion parades.....good to have things in common with your kids and see them prepared to have a go with their creative sides

My big boy David and his lovely fiance Naimh put on the most wonderful Christams spread and had the younger boys and I down to hang with them in Sydney for a few days- ssssooooo good for an old Mummy.
We dined [ yes it sounds fancy and it was!!] at Dave's workplace Toko- a rather flash Japeanes restaurant in Surry Hills- delicious and a huge over-indulgence....what fun....

and now I am stuck in Delhi for a few days.....half way between my lovely Aussies and my man....I have to get a visa for Ghana in January and so using the opportunity to do a little more textile research, try and catch up on emails, dwell on all the wonderful things that happened in a few short days and work on ideas that were generated.....life is full of such wonderuful experiences, if you let them in.....

I believe in an open arms policy :)

whirlwinds....

It is so nice to be in Oz and see friends and kids....such a pleasure to see my boys, but mostly it is a whirlwind...rush to get here, rush around fitting as much as possible while I am here...today is the onlt day where I will spend a few hours sitting still on my mates verandah and chatting over a cup of tea....whilst catching up on officework, drawing up a pattern or two, organizing a bit of posting....should not have started that list it does not sound like to\\he restful day i have been promoting to myself!

 Had 2 and a half brief and busy days at the Orange Forum- great buzz...met so many old friends. students, tour clients and new people I have met via the cyber world it was great to put flesh and blood to, and lots of cheery warmth.

 I was being a real tourist taking pictures of the natives trying my clothes- the ladies back home will love to oggle the locals just like my tour clients take pictures of the locals to show their mates back home.....gave me a drippy smile thinking I am being a tourist in reverse....does that make sense to you?
In this instance we Ozzies are the exotic creatures....

Also wonderful to see my garments on bodies....hard to tell much when I only have me to look at in the mirror or men to try them on [just would not work asking the ladies]
We have very favourable comments [and people putting their money where their mouth is] and a few leads on shops that might like to stock us....all very encouraging

 I shared a space with 2 wonderful women and in the quiet times between shoppers we had a great laugh, Julianna with a cheeky smile will stock some Pukka Desirables products in her Gallery/shop....details coming and Carol who we wtached work and crate beuatiful sculptural jewelery from morning to night

 This necklace in particular l\took my eye, colour spot on and form so soothing- i imagined it framed and able to be lifted out to be worn- duel purpose...someone elegant and dressed in black would look stunning wearing it.

 Australia is a very beautiful place....my eyes are so happy to feast on her....early morning departure from Orange heading back to the Hunter Valley

 Another mystery lady i met in  Newcastle yesterday, kindly modeling more of my clothes for tourist shots....keep your eyes glued to this blog I will have more to say soon, but I hold great hopes for a very elegant Textile Gallery Studio to be arriving soon. Great to be around at the beginning and have a chance to watch it all unfold.....

 And hanging out with my best friend...we have been cooking togther for years feeding our kids, but now they are all so big and would you believe helpful, still larikins as well!
Dawn's baby....

 My Zac towering over the BBQ....

and my baby Ruben. It is so nice to see them and see what beautiful people they have grown into .....
happy visits....