Festival of Quilts 2013 - Day 1

I'm just having a little pause and taking the opportunity to post a report on my first day at Festival of Quilts 2013. This year I am staying for the full four days and thought I would therefore have plenty of time to see everything but, with lectures and workshops (and the limitations of having a foot in a pot), I'm not sure that even four days will be long enough. This is an incredible show with a wonderful variety of exhibits, to say nothing of the traders (yet).

Yesterday I heard Alice Fox speak about her work, and especially her artist in residency at Spurn Point Lighthouse. It was lovely to learn how her work developed and today I hope to see her again in the “virtual studio” where she will be demonstrating some of her mark-making techniques. I am inspired to go to the beach and see what I can find to use in textile projects.

I met up with several friends and bloggers yesterday which was lovely. Julie Mackinder pointed me in the direction of the exhibition of Banjara: Historic Indian Textiles, collected by Jan Petranek. These were intricate and aged pieces of cloth, created for everyday use and now preserved by Jan. I took a few pictures but please excuse the reflections of the lights.

I was delighted to meet up with Janine, one of my Indigo Sisters. She was with an interesting collection of quilts entitled Crossroads – A Middle Eastern Festival. There was a wide variety of quilts reflecting this area of the world and demonstrating dynamic colour choices and themes. Janine was able to tell me some of the history of quilts in the Middle East and I was especially interested to hear how all the cotton filling was removed from her quilts during the summer and aerated and left in the sun, fresh and ready to be put back into the quilts, which were then re-quilted, for the winter.  

Lots more to share but it's time to eat :-)

WIPs

I've been quietly working on two pieces of stitching, both of which stem from my trip to Japan last year (how long ago that seems now).  The boro cloth is made up of lots of sample pieces of the various techniques we learned with Bryan and the silk panel was dyed using material found at Fuji-san and is embroidered with threads given to me by my friends in Japan.  They are both pieces full of memories and I am enjoying creating them.  There is no rush, just a few stitches at a time.  Today I hope to have the plaster cast removed from my foot and, if healing is progressing well, I shall be more mobile.  The healing is like the stitching, a project, patience is required and I cannot be in a rush.

A Gift in the Post

Well isn't it interesting how things turn out?  A little while ago Visit Japan from the UK posted a giveaway on Facebook of little mobile phone cleaners.  I fancied one and sent in my details.  Today I have received a package from the Japan National Tourism Organisation containing loads of tempting maps and brochures plus, not a phone cleaner (they quickly ran out when they received 280 applications within the first hour) but this:

They said they didn't want to disappoint applicants who didn't get in soon enough and so found other things to send.  I am delighted!  Inside the little glass bottle on the keyring are grains of Star Sand from Iriomote Beach in Okinawa.  Here is a link to the legend of how these came to be created:
http://okinawa.com/research/folktales/birth-of-star-sand
and while I was Googling "Star Sand" I found the science bit:
http://www.sand-atlas.com/en/finally-star-sand/
Who knew there was a sand atlas?  Cool.

I love walking on the beach and am one of those people you see with head down, scanning the sand or rocks for little treasures. 

 DS in Norfolk, like Mother, like Son!

There are laws about what one is allowed to remove from a beach (sometimes nothing can be taken in which case I will take photographs) but if I can I collect a souvenir from beaches I visit.  I was over the moon when I found my Indigo Sisters collecting pebbles while we were out and about in Japan.  I had taken them all a little sea-polished carnelian from "my" beach in Norfolk.  I'd hesitated over sharing them in case they thought it was daft, as soon as I saw them collecting I knew they'd love the little gems - and they did!
Thank you JNTO, you made my day!

A Parcel from Japan

Today I received an exciting parcel from sensei Bryan in Japan

Look at these wonderful stamps, I have a neighbour who is going to be over the moon to get these

I knew the parcel was on the way because I received a demand for money from Parcel Force

I can (just about) accept paying the VAT but the "handling fee" was beyond the pale, especially when Bryan had already paid 2100 yen in postage

Never mind, the contents were well worth the cost and hassle

When we were in Fujino we overdyed skeins of cotton thread that had already been dyed with madder.  We dipped them in the indigo vat leaving some areas of red and letting some areas become a rich purple.  The combined threads, knitted up by Kurihara san, created a harmonious mix of red, white and blue, perfect for Jubilee year and the Olympics (she writes with her tongue firmly in her cheek).  Seriously, I love the accent the madder gives to the indigo blue, a very successful mix I think.  Thanks Bryan and all my Indigo Sisters, we shared the length of knitted fabric.  Bryan suggested making pygamas, I'm wondering whether a skirt is possible...

Our First Dips in the Indigo Vat

The sun was shining and it was time for our first dips in the indigo vat.  Bryan had to resuscitate the vat by the front door of the Best Exotic Indigo Hotel.  A balance of water, slaked lime, indigo and deoxidiser.  The expert touch knows what to do.  I likened it to making a batter for a Yorkshire Pudding - how much milk do you add to the flour and egg?  Until it looks and feels right!  No exact measurements. 

 The sulky indigo was soon blossoming.

Bryan had installed a new vat especially for the Tour.  It needed the delicate, expert mixing and it also needed a blessing, cue saki and incense.  This vat was made with purchased indigo.

My first piece of indigo resist dyeing was this piece which I dyed using the "chopstick" method, itajime shibori.  

 Where the chopsticks hold the fabric the dye cannot penetrate and so the cloth stays white.  Some of my sisters refolded their fabric and redyed it to create a squared design, I liked the bamboo (or maybe X-ray) pattern and left well alone!

Cynthia and Nat had fun at the indigo vat.

 Nat and Myra showed off their itajime while Janine was wondering how hers was going to look (and I don't know who the bottom belongs to!).

Our pieces dried in the sunshine on the lines outside the house

and on the convenient hedges and bushes.

After another practice tenugui (hand towel, above) I was very pleased to create this beautiful cotton shawl (centre) which I was delighted with.

PS 1 For more details about the indigo vat please have a look at Bryan's blog: 
stinking-indigo-vat-at-my-door
or just sit down with a nice cup of tea (green, of course) and start at his first post......

PS 2  I saw the doctor this afternoon and as I explained I'd picked up a little cold in Japan and then my head started to explode during the flight from Tokyo to London she said, "I bet you've got sinusitis".  A few questions and probings later and the diagnosis is confirmed, mega antibiotics prescribed.  I don't feel any less ill than I did but I feel a whole lot better now I know why I feel so wretched!  Thanks for your good wishes, they are appreciated.

Our Home in Fujino - The Best Exotic Indigo Hotel

Where on earth shall I begin?
I want to share my wonderful trip to Japan with you and I am overwhelmed with the things we did, the photos I took number nearly 1000 and I haven't got my journal up to date.
I am very grateful that our sensei and host, Bryan, is sharing the tour of the Indigo Sisters on his blog,
http://japanesetextileworkshops.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/thank-you-indigo-sisters.html
he has all the correct technical terms of course, the names of the lovely Japanese people we met (I am sure some of them just came by to look at us, a group of eight Western woman of uncertain ages but strong personalities in a tiny mountain village in Japan) and a great knowledge of all things Japanese textile.
http://japanesetextileworkshops.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/early-this-morning-highway-to-takao-was.html
That is where I should begin, with a photo tour of Bryan's home, an old silk farm in the village of Fujino, about and hour and a quarter south west of Tokyo.

Bryan and his friends worked very hard to prepare the house for us,
http://japanesetextileworkshops.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/rocket-lamp-and-shibori-prep.html
even adding a wonderful electric Japanese toilet, and we were warm and comfortable and made very welcome.

 It was a loo with a view...

We ate, studied, stitched and relaxed around this low wooden table, what stories it could tell...

Not much has changed over the years as this sketch from a book of life in Fujino c 1930 shows:

 Every corner of the house was filled with a treasure to enjoy, a scene to delight the senses:

Beautiful glass work in the windows

 and on the stairs

Sometimes we chose to work upstairs,

and hide from the rain and the thunder

Sometimes the sun shone and we worked outside

We marvelled at the looms and wonderful pieces of textile-related gorgeousness around the house

Those of us in need of a massage could enjoy the electric chair

but my favourite chair was really Snoopy's and everytime I moved she would reclaim it

Thank you Bryan, we felt so welcome, we moved in, took over your home and had a fantastic time.