The guys from the workshop have been hatching something for a few days....and spilled the beans yesterday.

Dasrath and Sagir- two of our younger guys have recently bought themselves a motorbike- a big day here. Regular employment with us has certainly contributed to help that along....then Papu-ji [our production manager who is quite a charchater] was saying something at lunch a few days ago [I only catch half of what's said most of the time but I knew it was leading up to something] ...oh yes and no celebration for Ranjit's motorbike or Papu's motoerbike....

what to do?

Ranjit and Papu's bikes we supply as part of the workshop deal....but they certainly add to their status and convenience having them.

 Anyway the long and short of it was a celebration was needed. Usually when we have a works dinner [every month or so] we supply everything but this time the guys were incistant they bring all along. We have a strick rule nothing like a party at the workshop itself [it is in a residential area and we like to know exactly what happens there] so we use our farm house.

 Everyone trooped in after work and worked togather as a good tema slicing and dicing to Papu's direction.
A fantastic fish fry - fish rolled in a powered spice mix and then rolled in semolina and fried off- stunning and a fish curry, many chapatis and a little whiskey.
All in all the many 'new' motorbikes were well celebrated with a good team effort.

 I know they are all grown men, but they are rather sweet sometimes, it felt like having a bunch of excited boys in last night. I crashed out before everyone left and got up to find the kitchen a bit of a disaster but attempts had been made on the washing up and sorting out- a blackout hampered the finishing of that Praveen explained. Nice boys :)

 Otherwise I am in a little tizz wizz, yes I can hear you say so what's new? I am sorting and packing for Australia and my incarnation as a textile trader.
I have sorted in my mind where we are going with our Pukka Components block print fabic and have some ready to go to the printer to-day....wondering if people would use the heavy weight hand loom as well?
It softens up very nicely- ohh I should ask Dijanne she has been using some in her traveller's blankets....dahhh??

 As you can see chasing my tail- another question- I have a couple of these coal fired irons- probably more for deorative use than as a working item [I have considered them for black outs here and decided to go crumpled. Praveen, clever man took one look at the weight of it and never suggested I use it- even though he hates un-ironed with a vengence. Could call them huband tamers?]

Anyway due to postage they would need to sell for around $40 what do you think?
Off to play in the workshop, send parcels off and trials and tribulations -office work.
Have a good day :)

Shoe Wallah

This small bag of goodies represents a large measure of satisfaction for Praveen and I- we have discovered this fantastic shoe maker and been step-by-step trialling how relaible he is with due date and how reliable is he with sizes and designs....Not everything is as we hoped but enough to be really happy with our progress.

All tumbled out- we supply No 8 anchor threads for the embroidery as they only use horrble synthetic stuff these days....but boy can he stitch!!

 I am only going to wear his shoes now for the rest of my life- your feet should always be so beautifully adorned

 Our little stash...Om-ji can make orders to size, he can make orders to foot maps[ you draw around your foot onto a piece of paper, he works out the size- no half sizes]....he can copy samples brilliantly; he can't follow colour diagrams, even with lengthy explanations from Praveen, coloured sketches from me and notes on his part....still his taste is great and the combinations he comes up with work really well. A pretty good average.
I think especially as we live in India and I think Murphy's Law was invented here.

 Look at the cutout detailing on the bottom of the plain pair- brilliant detailing

 Dawn these were for you, right size from the foot map but the lilac, aqua and green combo I asked for changed to the zingiest vermillion and olive....which I think you will love!! but who would have guessed the transition??

Mine, all mine!!!
Praveen and I have gone a bit crazy with our success and taken heaps of pics look at this link and more blahdy blah blah- garriolous with success!

Govindgarh again

 Sunsets are rather wonderful at this time of year....love to sit on the steps to the garden courtyard as the sun goes down for a few minutes peace and quiet....and waiting for electricity to come on as it is out until around 6.00pm.

 Went back to Govindgarh, Louise a mate from NZ was with me when I picked up my jooti last week and she was enchanted so ordered herself a pair....when we went back to collect them they were not quiet ready so we had time to explore the old Fort some more....more pics here

 the more I look, the more I can see it was once a very elegant structure, it may have been primarily for defence to start but there was a later palace added....one day I hope to come across someone who can tell me more of the story....unitl them I am happy to look and try and work out what was where and create my own imagination about it its history.

 Lousie was really beaming at the jooti wallahs...

 our guy was a blur of activity, so deft in his movements, a real pleasure to watch

 I really enjoyed her huge smile....

and look at her sparkle toes.....next step is to see if he can make some from a foot map, then to see how it comes out when I give him my pattern...lots of plans

One hotel down...we are moving home

 We have been running 2 hotels for some time now, and a very big job it is. Tourism the world over is very slow and so it means for all the enrgy we put in returns are not there....and with our first hotel there is the added element of the owners being very difficult people and always in your face.
We are really thankful for the start the first hotel has given us in Pushkar, through being there we have met many wonderful people, lots about working together, much about managing staff; a real eye opener to me as work practices are much different here to Australia....
We do enjoy working with tourists, we are really concerned about providing a good experience for them.
We love our own home and being there, so we are developing the idea of a Homestay...work for us, but in a much more managable way, we won't be paying out huge rents to owners who won't do any maintainance, so we will be able to provide much better quality accomodation, home cooked meals, and a farm experience...
we are excited by the idea!

 Farewell Hotel OPP 1, thanks for the experience, we are so happy to move along as well.

 A few weeks ago we went exploring in Govindgarh...the initail impulse centred on visiting the jooti wallah and ordering a new pair of shoes.....underlying that was to check out his workmanship [we already know he produces quality work Praveen has a pair of his shoes he has given a real thrashing to for over a year and they still look great!] So I took an old pair I love and asked him to copy them....he has done a wonderful job.
Next is to get a drawing of my mates foot and see if he can make a pair that will fit her [Dawn hurry up and post it!] .....then all going well, I can offer bespoke shoes for people....work for him, if we don't spend money with local craft people how will they continue?, also income for us...I am going to draw up some stitching designs myself and sell a few on etsy I think....there are a lot of other jooti wallahs in the same town....hmmm

Notice traditional Indian shoes don't come with a left and right....you wear them a few days and they mold to suit your feet.
Praveen is just taking the boys home to Delhi....it is so quiet at the moment...I miss them. Still this visit was a huge success and many more will follow. Fantastic.

Exploring Govindgarh

 My travelling companions- Praveen and our mate Gopal-ji....we are heading off to Govindgarh which is just up the road from Gopal-ji's farm...looking for a Juuti-wallah, that is a guy who makes traditional style Rajasthani shoes. Praveen bought a pair last year and they look really sexy as well as are lasting very well.
I need a new pair and this old guy is good...he is also just a short drive from our place [18km] and so would make a good excursion for people staying with us for a little time who fancied a pair of hand made shoes specifically to their size.....ideas and clever thinking happening here!

 The perfect snack food to start- Indian junk food is so tasty and

nutritious- these katori are filled with a spiced lentil mix and yummy!

 Our gentleman, I showed him a pair I have had for years....now days they use synthetic wool for the embroidery but I want cotton....it can be done....so we will need to drop back to him some cotton colours I like....my plan is to see how he goes and all going well bespoke a few pairs to take and sell in Oz at the Orange Forum....as well as introduce our guests to him....

A simple pair....so comfortable, stylish and hard wearing

 The name of the place is Govindgarh that would translate to Govind's Fort....so I thought hmmmm where is it?
A bit of poking around revealed a very picturesque and interesting little village...

 the old mandir or temple in the fort....

 and this town has many brass makers....look at these lovely serving bowls and spoons....guess who will have some soon? and what a great little gaunt for a cooking school group? [We are planning to offer week long experiences at The Pukka Studio....stay tuned]

Camel bells- of course!

 Into the brass guys place to see the kiln he works from, they are happy to show us everything....and for us to bring guests later.

 Gopal-ji and his grandchild

Checking camel food, it will be delivered tomorrow for Baba.....
a very good day out and today we have to head up to Jaipur to buy dye, meet the wood block carver, look at paper for "Books 'n' Block" workshop, catch up with a freiend re textiles and buy fabric....ohh boy what a day!

House update -2000 and 3 it must be....

It feels like a lot of house obsession- my excuse?
I am so excited by it and I want to share it with my friends...the good news is, if you are bored you can ignore it and I am none the wiser...still just indulging in my excietment.
There are some advantages of this cyber world...do you remeber the old days of slide night at someone's place, trying to stay awake and enjoy their memories when really a few zzzzedss would  be good?

We had a few ladies in to turn over the soil and remove weeds for our Mung Beans crop, last night we finally got another good shower of rain so they should be a success. We had lovely rain over a week ago and nothing more- jusy hot humid weather so we were starting to worry the Monsoon promises were encased in empty clouds....thanks be to all, it has changed.

Seem to work in a similar fashion to roadside crews in Australia- one actally works, the others hang around chat and think about it....still they got the field done.

We shared morning tea at our hosue with our friends Kanchen and Panalal- such a pleasure, they are great people, and were so kind to me when Praveen was in hospital. We work happily together with various stitching things and have a lovely time hanging out- really looking forward to cooking them dinner as our first official guests when we move in!

August is a special time in India- the height of the monsoon, the festival of Teeg or Sawan is celebrated and ladies especially are focused on as the symbol of fertility and embodiemnet of the Goddess in the family, and so seen as the path of prosperity into a home.

Kanchen is in a new green sari with a leharia pattern [traditional Rajasthani tie and dye pattern of wavy lines- to me it could be seen as the ripples of water- which we hope the monsoon will bring]

Ladies should relax at this time of year, there are many days when they should do no work...any trees should have a swing so they can enjoy its use

Good to find Panalal doing the right thing in our garden, swinging his wife whilst she was relaxing....lovely.

and morning tea and chocolate cake in our kitchen.

Plumber has been we now have taps and water....yet another step closer to finishing...only another week is the estimate....hopefully :)

Guest bathroom ready- hint, hint

Kitchen needs a cleaning but also functional....

Still madly packing and organizing for Australia- I got out my mud cloth yesterday and it brought back such good memeories of being in Ghana and purchasing it...I have lusted over mud cloth for years....something about its raw strength of design and to feel it and find it soft and lovely as well was the bees knees!

The top piece is for me...it is a recycled piece- I can see the earthy coloured pattern on the back of what is was, if you really beat these clothes in water they will fade out....and on the front is the crisp new black and white design- a double wammy.

I bought a whole heap of shawl size pieces, any luck when I am in Australia it will be cold enogh for me to wear one- I think it would make a great neck peice with a big pin in it to hold it....never be cold enough here at home

Look at those lovely re-cycled glass beads...can still almost see the fire they were melted in....

and then there are the earth coloured ones- so hard to decide what I like best...think I need to put one of these aside for myself as welll

Note to self- the rational behind buying these pieces was to re-sell them!!!- Don't forget that

......hmmm, might need to build an extension  to the house so I have more wall space, I do have a lot to hang in our new home...