Festivals and Bazaaars.

Still raining,
Weather quite mild and the countryside is beautifully green,
Finding the struggle to get cloth dry and block printing happening a bit tiring, and then the sun peaks out and it is so humid my glasses fog up!
Crazy

this was a week ago, another foot or two taller now and green reaching out to cover the road.....such a different world to our usual dust and desert.

The busy time of year has really started to kick in- we were offered a place at the Dastkar Desert Crafts Bazaar in Delhi so are madly scrambling to ready a selection of our new khadi/blockprint/handstitch/ indigo ideas as well as a selection of our very popular recycled silk sari stitch work.
This is the first of 3 events we will participate in, in Delhi over the next few months, as well as many visitors to the workshop and running away to tours.
All fun in their own way.
If you are in Delhi, come and say Hello to us, let us know if there is something you would really like us to bring up for you.

 It has been busy but really enjoyed working on our latest offerings....this Apron inspired pinafore really seems to fit most sizes....it has ties at the back so adjusts and gives a flattering shape from the front, it feels quite romantic or feminine to wear but not hard to wear...I do like things practical. Pop a black Tshirt under it and I am ready for the day.

 It sounded easy- a nice loose dress- so inspired when I see designers like Daniela Griegs and TM Collection rock them...it has taken ages to get is just right.... This loose dress we have in 2 sizes S [which sits well on UK/AU 8-10-12 even 14] and L [fine for 14-16-18- 20 maybe 22] a wide range...I have been trying them on everyone I come across to see how they sit.

In Vietnam earlier in the year one of our guests had a lovely little shift dress on- liked her detailing. We did a nice shift last year, easy to wear over pants or with bare legs....so I used the shape and was inspired by her detailing and voila the new Rosie shift dress....some of our block print gave it all the pop it needed. Aqua/grey and Rose/orange were the colourways....  Mahendra my block print guy did not quite get my colour instructions so we have now have black/grey stripe as well. I like that look so much I have snapped one up!
Our little Etsy shop is starting to work well for us.
I have been working hard on tweaking the descriptions and sorting out all measurements and details....let me know if you have any suggestions.

Praveen and I have enjoyed getting these new ideas together....well yes a bit of muttering sometimes, translating ideas and getting through the workload but each one we say YES! too feels like a pat on the back.
The Dastkar event was good timing as we will get to see them out in the world, it really helps us understand how they look.

Office work is pretty much up to date- so a big day of stitching ahead and dreaming Ethiopia....we've just about got all in place for a reccy end of December, I am so excited..... source of the Blue Nile, Rock hewn churches, Omo Valley, crocodile market....doesn't the mind boggle, do you take them in on a lead?

Stitch away :)
This week is no less busy than last...possibly more, the big change is I am trying to master my response. I can get rather cross and snappy when tired and feeling like too much to do. Doesn't change the work load, really stresses Praveen out and leaves everyone miserable. Been trying to give myself a shake up. Stop work when I go home, break down things into do-able lists for today and make the occasional joke. Fake it until you make it....the laughs have come easier as the week progressed and we have made headway in a much happier manner.
Note to self- keep that idea in mind. :)
 

We're back!!

Lovely to be home after a very exciting trip.
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is excellent, well worth trying to include in any visit to India
Our stall in the Artisan Market was super busy, such a great response, we were so pleasantly surprised and so very, very happy.

Praveen's middle boy Monish is a permanent fixture at our place and it is so lovely to have him here.

I wondered how he would go out here in the country after living in the middle of intense Delhi, but I think he is so happy to go from being one amongst all the family [siblings, cousins, etc, etc] to being an only child with us.

 We might live in the country but life has been full of adventures with us, not only 2 parents trying to cram schooling and such into him but lots of real life applications to schooling...yes he was one of those boys who stared or flew out the window at school. He likes to primp and preen, we are directing that to design and developing new ideas for clothes, he is soaking it all up.
He is a lovely kid and it is a joy making a little family with him.

Our little stall was generally full power shopping central most of the day.

And the festival has lots to catch the eye, more than the little corner we saw.

 So back in the workshop, catching up on things, finishing off orders and playing with a few new ideas- yippee!!

it is a wonder how the 'children' revert back to being professional workshop people when we are around.

Our new Women's Co-ordinator Mrs Santosh is coming along nicely....here she is working through a quilt sample so she has all the points in her mind she needs to point out to The Stitching Ladies when she shows it as a new idea.

 We think we have the right person to be Workshop Supervisor- our right hand man as well.... just working through it now.
 We love our workshop, but we also love our tours and want to be able to switch between the two with out the 'children' running amuck- having the right supervisor will help everyone maintain focus.
Oh the joys of your own small business.
Still it was such a pleasure to be able to say "we create work for women in our rural area" when we were asked about ourselves at Mumbai.
That is where we started and we are so happy to see the step by step changes it brings about.
Regular income earned through skilled work is something to be proud of, and the income is well used to further the family- school, health, what ever is needed.
Rural India, in our area, has a lack of employment opportunities for men, let alone women. We feel what we are enjoying doing is also appreciated by those it touches- good all around.

 

home, home, home

I have had lovely journeys, with lovely people and visited lovely places....I am so conscious of that word lovely that I am being a little silly now. We were eating dinner together somewhere along the road, trying to have a conversation with a French speaking woman...and lovely was used a few times by some of our group....she started "What does this word mean??"

I hear English people say it all the time, now you Ozzies are using it....

we all had a bit of a chuckle and every time I went to use it after I wanted to smile again....

for me it is a soft word, gentle appreciation, an experience that is tasteful, fun, pleasant, happy to do again.... travelling with this year's group to Morocco was like that....a mellow experience of a lovely place, gentle people, fantastic landscapes easy to be with travelling companions.

A lovely time away but underlying it I was madly home sick...well Praveen sick actually....so used to sharing most everything with him it is hard to be away great lengths of time now.....can't even imagine how we coped in the days of yore before we lived here in lovely, hotter than hell Rajasthan.

 This is what I came home to....we had  agreed on an extension upstairs before I left; something to keep Praveen busy while I was away and desperately needed new space....well whilst I was away it grew to be a project bigger than Ben Hurr!
Glad I was not here as I would have argued at the extra expense....now it is almost a fait acompli I can appreciate it for how lovely it is all going to be....3 more rooms, lovely BIG rooms, 2 verandas creating more shaded work space down stairs and lovely sunny spots to sit and stitch in winter....it is all so cool. More than Lovely this time- absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

I have been using FB and Pinterest to post up some pictures of happenings have a peak if you like
Pinterest Morocco pictures Talking Needles pictures
FB- pages Creative Arts Safaris..... Stitching Project....maybe too many pictures of busy building sites at the moment but construction methods are amazing here in the world of Fred Flintstone building.
 Now I am home, there is a million details of paperwork to follow up on ...and diversions of pinning pictures to do with our next adventures via Creative Arts Safaris.....love to daydream.
Early next year will be Indian Inspiration Creative Camp and then a little later Textile Traditions of North Vietnam.......perhaps another jaunt to Morocco...depends on bookings and how much time we have free???? I wish all that was needed for tours was some happy pinning and dreaming over pictures....but now I need to get back to the slog of paperwork to organize them
My carrot is when Praveen has finished building we will have so much more space to play and our very own Print Studio upstairs!
happy, happy or as we say here kushi, kushi

 

Hope Intiative

Hola!
 I am in Madrid, taking a relaxing day.....due to late planes and many a miserable story it was quite an epic event getting here and my luggage lagged by a day.
There is  nothing in my luggage I could not live with out and yet being free of it seemed a huge nuisance. Funny creatures aren't we?
It did get a bit better when I was able to buy shampoo and conditioner and have a proper shower, clean my teeth etc....
now I have my stitching and even clean clothes it seems proper luxury!!

Talking Needles Update
Thank you to so many for support from all corners especially Anne Kempton of Timeless Textiles and endless energy. Our next big task will be setting up a mobile library to encourage and educate people locally. Lots of books for kids' literacy and a growing stack of craft how-to books for Mums.
I can't say thank you in a big enough way except to try and run with what you all helped start.

A bit blurry but that is how we were by that time- a very big week....and such an enjoyable one.

 Quite a significant amount was raised- in Indian terms lots and lots of books- WOW!!

YEH!!

thank you.

 

To work

The Hope Initiative

is what we will call our Trust, if the powers that be deem it a suitable name...the legal side of the structure for the library to take shape within.

We have made all relevant enquiries and once I am back will launch into the paperwork scramble necessary to get it all sorted.

We want a legal entity formed- it will protect the idea and what will grow from it.

A library, initially it will be mobile- books in boxes we can take to schools on a regular basis....in time we will need a location to work from, where we could start an computer centre, perhaps in time run community classes.....ideas do keep bubbling up.

As a legal entity we will have to keep proper accounts, be audited regularly, be able to offer receipts for donations which contributors can claim a tax break on....we won't be vulnerable to powers that be looking for handouts so they don't notice us and take us to task for not being registered.....

Talking Needles Project

started over a year ago when I was sitting at a trade show filling in my time, stitching "Forrest or the Trees"

That was the first piece of art I had conceived for many years...once my mind was always on my next exhibition and what I wanted to say, but The Stitching Project had consumed all my creative juices for some while.

At the trade fair is was great to have people from all over the world, look at our work, comment, order things....I was wishing we could share it with our ladies who contribute such a lot to our vision through their work. It was talking about this with Praveen that lead to the idea of what became Talking Needles.

As the idea progressed we started to see ways we could use it as an educational tool for our women,

the students exhibition at our house, Sanju showing her women's Sujani work and talking about her work, guests who visit on tours showing their journals etc.

All small things but ways of planting seeds in our women's mind.....rural women have so much to do and so little spare money that taking up a hobby is not something that happens.

The looks on women's faces as Praveen outlined what we wanted from them for Talking Needles revealed so much, I was watching intently there was a real excitement to be able to make a piece they wanted to make.

We tied this in with a business incentive- once the show was up and pieces sold, costs covered- materials, post, and the basic rate paid to each woman for stitching the piece [this is their work, and with no leisure time I did not want to ask women to work for free], a percentage of profit would go to the maker and the rest into the book fund. My expenses for travel etc are out  of our own pocket not part of these equations.

It will be interesting when I get home- I have photos of all our women's works- some were quiet spectacular and some more simple...a few sold for significant amounts so the amount going to that women will be a real windfall....I think this will help sharpen people's concentration for future opportunities.

 We also made 2 quilts under the same deal. I called these "Many Hands Quilts" and think we will do more of them from time to time to encourage the women's own design efforts and  entrepreneurial attitude.

Some of the panels we will use in The Stitching Project commercial work, we will pay the designer a designer's fee and name the quilt design after her.
Our secret plan is to stimulate a feeling of entrepreneurial possibilities in the women, one day perhaps they could form a co-operative, and we could work with them that way....we could have a small shop in Pushkar with theirs and our Fair Trade work for sale, one the women could run????
Lots of dreams for the future......where there is hope there are possibilities.

Lovely violin music wafting in the window.....time to chill in Madrid.

 "Moorish Delights of Andalusia and Morocco 2014 " hits the road tomorrow.

I have my favourite local café solo place to visit and around the corner the best local hot chocolate and churrios imaginable once the after Church crowd of local matrons are finished.

 

 

running

Talking Needles was wonderful.....so much more than I had imagined, I am really touched by all the wonderful support.....
big task now to get this ship sailing along.

Rushed home to India- 2 days with Praveen having a week end away visiting the Rock Garden in Chandigarh.....amazing
and now leaving on a jet plane again for Madrid to start the Morocco tour.....
few days to rest in Madrid,
catch up, sleep
talk soon :)

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

I’ve arrived in Oz,

Lovely balmy weather the first few days and disbelief I always seem to freeze when I get here, then

 

last night a southerly blew in – sideways, it was so strong- and it is cold and sssoooooo windy.

Still nice

I am up at my mates’ Dawns’ place, boys have been around to visit and I am finishing off on some quilts for Talking Needles. These quilts I am calling Many Hands Quilts….the panels I gave out and said “go for it”……following on the theme of the flags where they could do as they liked.

When I sell these quilts profit will go back to those who stitched and some for the money jar for the library idea…..some of the stitched blocks are cool, so I have photographed those ones and will find out who did them and name the block for that woman.

If we use a block as the basis of a quilt we will pay the woman a designer’s fee and name the design for her. All part of a devious plan to engage the woman more I what we do and lay the foundation for one day being able to help them start their own co-op or little shop in Pushkar to sell Their Work.

Isn't this the coolest chair?

The trip here was most inspiring…as I was passing by I was able to stop and meet Anita in Singapore….early days- you know major plotting and planning days – but keep your eye out in the next wee while Moirai will be the place to visit when you are visiting the tropical paradise of Singapore.

Every time I visit Singapore I am delighted with the gardens and trees and greenery – wish more governments had such a thing for gardens- has to be good for people’s moral as well as environment

Anyway- hello all, many dear friends I owe an email to....I do think of you but life has been so busy lately I have been remiss. xxx.
Stitching in the gallery tomorrow as part of the Talking Needles project/event/ exhibition? Don't know what to call it but it will be fun :)
 

Craftmark and...

Been on the hoof again....a few days ago we dropped a whole pile of our work up to Jaipur to be displayed at Ananataya as part of the Maahi Roj- Green Jaipur event.
We feel rather awed to be ask to contribute some work...Anantaya is pretty is awesome...if you have ever entered Delhi through the new airport you may have noticed to massive hand sculptures above the Arrivals Hall, just like the one in this picture- The are the work of Ayush of Anantaya

If you have a chance look at there new website- their work is great and the videos they have made of some of the crafts people they work with are brilliant. Sums up their energy and approach very well.

thttp://www.anantayadecor.com/

 Then back home and onto the train up to Delhi for a 2 day seminar at Craftmark, mentoring type event and jury selection panel for their new catalogue. We had to trot out our stuff in front a team of industry experts- [covering marketing, craft sector advocates, cultural heritage person and ground breaking people who have done so much to revive a flagging craft sector, bring to the table right to fair livelihood, promoting excellence and empowerment of people involved in the sector.]
When I thought of it that way- a bit intimidating yet the panel we met asked insightful questions, showed a great deal of interest and understanding and all in all were great to have the experience of presenting ourselves before them.

into the room....we did kind of explode with a range of our stuff....

then afterwards dragged it all out to give the next person a chance and exploded in a fit of nervous giggles.

So now madly to get samples ready to send up for photographs and a PowerPoint presentation of our work....we have been asked to be in their new catalogue which they use to help drum up a market their members with quality buyers from around the globe.

Wow....

Spent last night waiting for the alarm to go off to get up for my super early morning train and trying not to make lists....home again to a very hot Rajasthan and back into it- whew!

 

Scurrying....

Yep, that is what it feels like....so much to do

 we are getting there with orders but just as you need them extra tailors are busy so we are all pulling overtime to try and keep up with the work load.

One of those things it will all settle in place soon, and I will have my very own studio space upstairs, as well as a print workshop and more space to spread out for hand quilting quilts.....

all one of these days very soon.....

but it can't be soon enough for my liking

 Frantic but lots of love going into the work....as always.
Our training day went well- we have lots of nice stitching coming back and many little purses soon to be ready....quality is excellent. This concentrated effort of the women having to come here and gentle competition was a good idea. This amount of concentration the old way of talking in a mixed group took ages to generate.
We said only 5 places but so far they are all good enough so we have 11 new women.

And a big yippee!! one lady can crotchet. at the moment we have shaggy bags on order....they are just a starter though I can see so much more we can do with the idea.

And our exhibition/ interaction idea is coming to Fruition thanks to the support of Anne Kempton of Timeless Textiles.

We have been laying the groundwork for this for the last year, through what we have shown our women- students' exhibition at our house, women from our last tour group showing their work and journals, Sanju of Bihar talking of her story cloths....

the nerve racking moment though was actually asking our ladies if they would like to have a go....well here is Mrs Hema  concentrating on colours now but moments ago jumping with ideas as we spoke. Resounding "yes please!!

I am happy to make my own story cloth."

wow- fantastic we are now on a roll.

 

Below is Anne's media release

come and join us if you are close.

Talking needles- stitching the Strip with Fiona Wright

Much loved Fibre artist, Fiona Wright, who now lives in rural India is returning to the Hunter. For many years Fiona has been working with locals, mostly women in “ The Stitching Project’.  The Stitching Project is a social enterprise dedicated to making fine textile products with a style that is a little bit ethnic and lot contemporary. The Project produces quality hand worked home wares, garments, and craft supplies.

‘I spend much of my time working with a group of people, endeavouring to find a way for us all to produce an income, an income that will feed our bodies and our soul. We look at our business as a social enterprise and can see the benefits for all….most of our people are women and they bring hand stitch to our work. Our women are happy with the work- it helps feed their bodies; we have seen how sharing finished pieces with them and later pictures of our foreign clients and their appreciation has added to their satisfaction and encouraged them in their involvement with the work and its quality.

The idea for this exhibition arose from our latest designs: a series called “Hopes and Dreams”, which fit so well with what we want to share in the world and held the germ of an idea of how to give our Stitching Ladies a chance to bring their own creativity to the mix.

 

Talking Needles: Hopes and Dreams- exhibition will showcase a collection of Hope Flags [similar to the idea of Tibetan prayer flags] that have been block printed in English and Hindi and stitched into using a range of coloured threads and embellishments Themes are: Compassion, Hope, Peace, Love, Sharing and Dreaming’.

 

The Hope Flags will be created by the Stitching Women in India and more will be made here as a result of workshops held @ Timeless Textiles Gallery with Fiona - joining up with the creativity across continents and cultures.

Come and create ‘ Hope flags’ with Fiona- listen to her wonderful tales, whilst you stitch- focusing on the themes of compassion; hope; peace; love; sharing and dreaming

The workshop dates are May Monday (4^th), Tuesday (5^th), Wednesday (6^th)  Thursday (7^th)and Saturday  (10th) May 2014- so drop into Timeless Textiles Gallery anytime between 10 am and 3.30 pm and create a Hope Flag.

This is a free event, and Hand-loom cotton flags are available to stitch into ($5 each).

150 metres of stitched white ribbon was created from the International Women’s Day stitch a thon will be used to hang ‘Hope’ embroidered flags, in the Talking Needles exhibition opening on May 11^th 2014.

The flags will flutter along The Strip- Islington a vibrant community of independent retailers located on Maitland Rd Islington, focusing on the unique, eclectic and unusual. Starting at Madame Mo’s and rounding the corner to end up at Timeless Textiles Gallery

 

The Hope flags will be auctioned off at the opening of the Talking Needles exhibition 6pm on Sunday 11 May. All proceeds will be donated to create a library for The Stitching Women, increasing their literacy. The Hope Flags which are not sold will be returned to the Stitching Project and will be stitched together as a quilt.

Venue: Timeless Textiles Gallery

7 Beaumont St, Islington

Newcastle. NSW

 

Stitching the Strip

A little project we have been concocting with Anne of Timeless Textiles

Talking Needles
Her description is very kind.....we wanted a way to bring the outside world to our women a little...so lots of photos will be taken and then shown on our phones or computer later....
it will be a chance in both places to talk about fair trade and women's things [poor Praveen is becoming a good translator of such things] and how life all around the globe is very similar for all the differences, although we do need to ensure a fair bite of that apple for all.
Morning soap box :)



Much loved Fibre artist, Fiona Wright, who now lives in rural India is returning to the Hunter. For many years Fiona has been working with locals, mostly women in “ The Stitching Project’.  This workshop enables you to be part of a joined up Hopes and Dreams project with Fiona and “The Stitching Women’- joining up with the creativity across continents and cultures.
Come and create ‘ Hope flags’ with Fiona- listen to her wonderful tales, whilst you stitch- focusing on the themes of compassion; hope; peace; love; sharing and dreaming

Exhibition idea...

Talking Needles: Hopes and Dreams

For many years I have been very conscious of my thoughts and intention when I make work, to the point where I started adding text to pieces; vocalising the wishes and thoughts with which I was imbuing the work.

I now live in rural India and spend much of my time working with a group of people, endeavouring to find a way for us all to produce an income, an income that will feed our bodies and our soul. We look at our business as a social enterprise and can see the benefits for all….most of our people are women and they bring hand stitch to our work. Our women are happy with the work- it helps feed their bodies; we have seen how sharing finished pieces with them and later pictures of our foreign clients and their appreciation has added to their satisfaction and encouraged them in their involvement with the work and its quality.

The idea for this exhibition arose from our latest designs: a series called “Hopes and Dreams”, which fit so well with what we want to share in the world and held the germ of an idea of how to give our Stitching Ladies a chance to bring their own creativity to the mix.

Exhibition

First layer of my idea

·         Larger wall pieces produced by myself

·         A collection of Hope Flags [similar to the idea of Tibetan prayer flags] – after discussion the woman and us will decide on a set of words to be used…these will be block printed in English and Hindi on each flag and then the woman will have a choice of coloured threads and space to stitch the piece as she pleases. Should be able to display as an interesting installation across the gallery perhaps. Producing work as a leisure activity is not something people have time for here- we will pay for each piece based on same method of calculation as usual work. If any pieces sell in exhibition we will pass along profits on their work.

·         Hope Flags not sold will be brought home and made into quilts which we will draw lots for amongst those who contributed to the project.

·         Running in the gallery I would like a computer short video slide presentation of the women [saying hello] – it will create excitement here just making it and I think be interesting for gallery visitors. I would invite gallery visitors to make quick videos [ any camera or phone will record them these days] which can added to the gallery presentation and will also be shown back home here. I know this will create a lot of excitement here and create a link with the people and places our work travels to.

Second Layer of the idea

·         This idea lends itself to the possibility of being developed in conjunction with a textile group[s].

·         In this case we would ask the members of the group to cover the costs for their pieces [textiles are mostly a hobby in the developed world], creatively working into their pieces they need to keep in mind it will later need to be washed if they are used in a quilt for the women.

·         Again Hope Flags would be available for sale….any Indian women’s sales the profit goes to the women- any developed world women’s sales the profit goes to a group designated charity.

·         We would be happy to produce a quilt from the works to sell/ raffle at the gallery with profit going to a charity…any other work will come here to be made into quilts for the women’s use.

·         If the idea was to travel to more than one gallery the slide presentation would grow and grow.

comments, suggestions, possible involvement?? 

Our first Trade Fair

Pictures are doing something weird and all jumbling up....a bit how I feel.
All was exciting, all was exhausting and now there is so much to do I am not sure what to start on first.....
above old Buda-ji a bit worried over us going so far away- gorgeous fellow....animals are in safe hands while we are away.

As pleased as punch with ourselves....seeing all our designs out there.
and would you believe after all the will we get in, we won't, oh we are....we were right in the front door new the Registration desk- FRONT and CENTRE!! amazing...the Gods are kind.

Ok still pleased the next day- had a bit of a re-arrange to show off the quilts a bit better. Simple, cheap bamboo ladders were the basis of our stall furniture and they worked wonderfully well.

I love our Stack...says it all....

 

The fine art of delegation, Praveen is a master...and was rousing on me when I was being un-indian and getting in the way of our helpers and getting my hands dirty.
The firewarden and Uncle-ji both kindly gentlemen. Uncle-ji organized everything for us and after a million phone calls asking Praveen every detail it all went so smoothly. Great man happy to have his help again.

Got a chance to stitch a bit and dream a lot....I have an idea for an Exhibition "Talking Needles- Hopes and Dreams"
some will be my work but most exciting for me is an idea of how to involve our Ladies in the project.
They are happy to ahve work, as they have seen finished articles [ there work comes to them as pieces we later assemble- more manageable  size and just how things go together] and when i have brought my tourist photos are textile events home to them they have been very interested to see the foreign ladies....
an exhibtion with a video loop running of them greeting the visiotrs and the recording the visitors greeting them...which I could show back here would close a loop of Stitching Ladies meeting Ladies interested in Stitch from afar....does this all make sense?

Need to find a venue, write it up a bit more clearly and see...
it opens itself up to being even more interactive with Stitched work exchanged....more plotting and planning needed. Need a taextile group or 2 interested in an exchange
I know it would be interesting to you out there and very interesting to our Ladies and helpful to open their world a little wider, increase there idea of further a field and appreciate what is thought of their stitching and the role stitch plays for other people.
 

ohh to get back to things...we have a group of Stitching Ladies arriving in Delhi tonight- travelling with Gillian Travis we have organized a tour for them and an embroidery workshop with Sanju of Bihar- stayed tuned for pictures- we are so excited to have her visit our home and to actually learn form her is a great privaledge....
and Morocoo Tour to work on details, Rajasthan Tour is almost full/ completely full....samples, samples, smaples to do for new clients....oooohhhhhh the to do list is doing my head in.....and need to plan post Moroco- Praveen and I having 10 days in France doing teh leg work for a textile tour next years and it ahs been years now I miss Paris.....and we have good leads on co-ops in Lucknow for chickankari embroidery, handloom in Agra area....and so much more
Ooops sorry I am raving a bit- need to steady off and do things.
See ya

a lovely distraction...

All is a little mad here, in a surprisingly organized way, and we had a lovely distraction arrive yesterday....a group of Kiwis and token Ozzie tripping around India.
Keen textile people they had a lovely time ferriting through all our stuff. A few things were off limits because of the Trade Show but for the rest of it I did not need to feel guilty about the mess as it was like Christmas for them wading through and having a look.

Our stitched scarves and jackets are always a winner and fun for dressing up - it was really pleasing to see the big WOW response we receieved for some of our new cushion designs....whew! makes us feel better jumping off the edge and testing to waters at the Trade Show.
There always has to be a first time for everything.


Having people for dinner, of course there is the opportunity ot get gypsy dancers in....fun.
we asked along Nandu as well for a night out for her- she might be a quiet block print lady by day but by night she is an enthusiastic dancer- what a laugh  :)
and our little Radhi is currently a puppy- grogeous boy showing off a new pouffe design.

OK fingers crossed- we leave early tomorrow for Delhi and the trade show- may we be blessed with sales and orders.

Catalogue time...

Just talking to my mate and there are lots of things she has not seen yet...I was trying to describe what will be in our catalgue...so Dawn here are a few quick pics, next week we will have a go at improving them somewhat...

We had a real Rosalie Gasgoigne moment with type...I love the idea these quilts are for dreaming under....and scattered with aspirations that are universal.
All crazy here but headway is being made.
Finally received the written invitation to the show yesterday with a phone book worth of instructions- thankfully in English [or Indian English which is sometimes a mystery to me]
Post arrived at 4.15 pm...last date for payment was yesterday....frantically got a payment through on-line so hope it is acceptable.

We finally know where we will be located....It appears we have a corner stall on the first corner you come to as you enter Hall 9.- what a score!! should be the best exposure in Hall 9...thank you Ganesha...you had us worried about obstacle removing, silly of us to doubt....
Now hopefully we have things that take some buyers eye :)

 

The Pukka Studio is getting going

It really is all systems go at the moment,


Possibly frantic but it is so good to be home and have things moving along….

A new resolution though will be to move our Indian Tour to early in the year rather than around this time at the beginning of the season…..

The Pukka Studio is shaping up well, our friends Pannalala and Kanchen have given me an enormous print table to use, here it is arriving on the truck amidst much laughter and joking!

Praveen has found a lady to do our housework- Rhenka, she has her face covered at the moment so is shy or it is because non-family older men are present??? Not sure why it is a village way…I am sure this will change as she gets to know our family…

 

Kanchen in orange and her friend Sanju

we fell about laughing at the look on Pannalal's face when he reached up to get the lid and could only reach thin air!

The Pukka Studio will be opened with my first tour group in a few weeks [must get onto updating the website!!]

and our Indian Gourmet Cooking Classes have been opened with 2 lovley young English travellers Ania and Stu....we had a really great evening with them and I thank them for setting the tone of our cooking classes in our new kitchen...may they all have a much interesting converstaion and laughter!. Here is a link to their travel blog- lucky guys just starting out on a year's travels...

I was interviewed for this book The Art Quilt Collection quite some time ago...and forgot about it really... so was thrilled to hear of it being released only to arrive home to a copy of it waiting for me- isn't that lovely?

This is the publisher's link

Flicking through the collection they are showcaseing I feel really privaledged to be included- most inspring works.

Amazing times, wonderful things keep happening...how lucky is that?!